‘Materialists’ gave us more than memes—it gave us the perfect work tote

It’s been a month of following the cast of Materialists being annoyingly adorable through their press tour. How often have you replayed videos of Pedro Pascal going fifty shades of red and choking on his laughter as Dakota Johnson spoke of getting whiplash while shooting Fifty Shades of Grey? Be honest.

The film itself, though, has drawn rather opposing reactions from cheerleaders for romance on one hand and logic on the other. Lucy (Johnson) is a matchmaker for high-value clients. Every potential client is deconstructed according to height, wealth, personality, and hairline. Love is easy, dating is hard, and every match is an investment that yields a lifetime of returns to both parties. It’s math—and pragmatism. And costume designer Katina Danabassis finds a totem that distils all this in physical form: Lucy’s $650 Calella distressed-leather tote from Hereu.

Hereu, which means ‘heir’, is a Spanish brand run by Albert and Jose Luis; according to their website, their goods are produced by a “network of family-run manufacturers”. Hereu joins the list of other Spain-made handbag labels that we’re obsessing over (hello, Polène). The Calella bag also briefly made an appearance in season four of Succession, on the arm of Shiv Roy, played by actor Sarah Snook.

Working women know that if there’s one thing they’d avoid swapping day in and day out, it’s the work bag; no one wants to be halfway through their commute one morning only to discover their Kindle and Aquaphor having the day off in yesterday’s Le City. Your work tote, thus, is your everyday aesthetic made more solid.

The Calella is slouchy, clean without being sans personality, with the perfect handle-to-body ratio that makes it easy for Lucy to slip her Aritzia-blazer-clad sleeve into. In Materialists, you notice it right from the opening scene, where it’s paired with a Versace pinstripe skirt, Banana Republic blouse, and a pair of knee-high Paris Texas boots—it’s boardroom dressing, but not for your regular corporate employee. The bag is also there when Lucy’s packed up for her Iceland trip. It’s niche enough to be considered cool, but it’s no unicorn either, and it captures the high-low mix that defines much of Lucy’s wardrobe. As Danabassis told The Zoe Report, “She’ll splurge on certain things but also wear the Zara jeans... well-made pieces that you hopefully are hanging on to in your wardrobe for a long time.”

Through repetition—something reinforced through Lucy’s jewellery (Sophie Buhai silver bagel hoop earrings and snake-chain necklace) and off-duty footwear (Nike Ld-1000 sneakers)—Danabassis manages to capture how real women with real jobs dress. So yesterday’s tote is today’s tote is tomorrow’s tote.