Be Colorful with Vera Bradley: Get Carried Away Tote Review & Giveaway

I can easily admit that I’ve been eying Vera Bradley bags for, literally, years. I’ve admired friends’ bags, carried them around the store trying to decide if I wanted to purchase one and played around on the Vera Bradley website checking out the hundreds of style and color combinations. Now that I have a Vera Bradley of my very own, I have to say I’m a convert.

About Very Bradley

Young, mature, sophisticated, playful… women of all ages love Vera Bradley! And our phenomenal growth rate for the past five years shows this!
Our Mission: To design, manufacture and internationally market a distinctive line of superior quality handbags, travel items, stationery, eyewear and accessories that convey the Vera Bradley image and unique lifestyle. Currently, we release new colors and styles each season.

Get Carried Away Tote

The ultimate in travel, our Get Carried Away Tote is designed to function as a travel companion. Unique, breakaway zipper gives the option of securely closing the bag (like a duffel or luggage item) or leaving it wide open! Tons of pockets (some plastic-lined!) and positionable shoulder pads make traveling comfortable and easy. Go ahead, Get Carried Away!

Tote Features

The Get Carried Away Tote is huge, like so big I can fit my 21 month old child inside. See:

Generous Sized Tote Bag

Technically, the Tote is 18¼ inches wide by 15½ inches tall and 7½ inches across with a 12½ inch strap. In mama’s terms, that means it’s plenty big enough to function as a diaper bag, more than enough room for a gym bag and perfect for a weekend getaway. I am already daydreaming about what I’m going to pack when I escape for a girls’ resort and spa night away in a few weeks, and it will literally be the only bag I bring. While it’s very roomy, the Tote isn’t overwhelming. Don’t you hate when you find a great bag, but the bag itself weighs a million pounds before you even put anything in it? Well, this isn’t like that. It’s made of 100% cotton so the material is lightweight (and machine washable!). And, if you pack heavy and fill this sucker up, there are padded shoulder straps to make it more comfortable to carry.

Great Organization

The pockets and storage on the Get Carried Away Tote are awesome. There are four outside pockets – one on every side. There are eight inside pockets. Two of the inside pockets are elasticized and plastic-lined, making them perfect for sippy cups or water bottles that may leak or sweat. The six interior slip pockets are about 7 inches deep, two are longer (about 7.5 inches) and four are about 4 inches wide. The bag can be zippered closed, which is a great benefit for traveling (and nosy kids).

Be Colorful

The only concern I’ve ever had about buying a Vera Bradley bag is what makes a Vera a Vera – the fabrics. I tend to go with more neutral, safe colors and patterns in my clothes and accessories. But, the funny thing is I always admire and like Vera Bradley bags when I see others carrying them. Now that I have one of my own, it’s totally grown on me and I love the blend of roses and pinks and purples in the Very Berry Paisley pattern. The paisley pattern that covers the majority of the bag is accented with a round flower pattern that also lines the inside of the bag.

Now, for those of you that shy away from the patterns, the Vera Vera Collection is made of solid black or brown microfiber. The collection has the same function and usefulness of all Vera Bradley bags, and a very different look.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… I think the conversion is official – I’m now a Vera Bradley Mama. (Next on my list? The Jewelry Box is perfect for travel.) I love how roomy the Tote is and really appreciate the pockets and storage options.

Or Not to Buy… I do wish there was an internal zipped pocket or an attached key fob or key hook. I tend to, um, misplace keys and that kind of helps me out a bit.

Shop! The Vera Bradley Get Carried Away Tote is $88 and the complete color collection is on VeraBradley.com. You can also find many Vera Bradley bags and accessories on Vera Bradley.

Win! A Vera Bradley Get Carried Away Tote in Very Berry Paisley!

How to Enter: Browse around Vera Bradley and leave a comment here with another bag or pattern that catches your eye.

Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

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Giveaway ends September 15. Open to US residents only.

I received a sample product and giveaway prize from Vera Bradley.