This Summer’s Hottest Handbag Is a Soft-Sided Status Cooler

Full disclosure: I’m a food writer, not a fashion writer. That said, I have built a purse collection that consists of lots of vintage Coach, one vintage Bottega Veneta, and a custom-made leather tote, so you should take what you’re about to read at least 81% seriously.

I would like the record to reflect that I am not a Stanley girl, nor did I set out to carry a cooler bag from a trendy brand as a purse this summer. But when I unboxed a cream-colored Stanley All Day Julienne Midi Cooler with gray accents, I thought, This is really cute, in a fun, athleisure kinda way.

Stanley Julienne Midi Cooler Bag

At that point, I still didn’t plan to carry my new soft-sided Stanley cooler as a purse. I figured I’d use it for my next trip to the pool or the park, and I left it sitting on my dining room table so I wouldn’t forget it when the time came.

Then on a sweltering Friday afternoon, as I was preparing to pick up my kids, I remembered I needed to stop by the store for a few groceries, including some small perishables. A perfect first run for my new cooler bag, I thought! But I didn’t want to carry that and my purse because I was already sweaty and miserable, so I secured my wallet in the front zipper pouch, slid my phone and sunglasses into the stretchy side pouches, and tossed a packable tote into the main compartment.

Minutes after walking into the grocery store a woman complimented my “cute bag.”

“Thanks, it’s a cooler!” I chirped back—the handbag equivalent of bragging about a dress with pockets.

I decided I’d keep using my cooler bag as my main handbag over the weekend because I knew I’d be out and about with my kids and didn’t want their snacks—or the red lipstick I almost always have on me—to melt under the brutal late-June sun.

I haven’t really stopped carrying it since.

The Julienne Midi is such a practical summer bag because, unlike with the black leather purse I usually carry, I don’t have to worry about my iPhone overheating or my lipstick or sunscreen stick melting when I’m spending a significant amount of time outside.

It has an 11-liter capacity, which is enough room for a small lunch in addition to “purse things” and I can even keep cold items—like a can of La Croix for later—cold for a few hours if I slip a slim, lightweight ice pack in there with it. My 13-inch Macbook Pro fits perfectly too (and before you say it, yes I’m careful not to mix a melty ice pack and liquids with my computer).

In addition to two handles, a padded shoulder strap makes this bag comfortable to carry even when it’s full, and the pink-and white-gingham lining makes it easy to find things (not the case with the black hole that is my leather tote). The straight-sided shell provides enough protection that I don’t have to worry about my stuff getting smashed, and searching for something in a structured bag with a flat base is so much easier than trying to dig through a slouchy one. Plus, if I ever happen to pick up a pint of ice cream on my way home, I can just pop it into my cooler purse to keep it cold.

I’ve also experimented with making a purse of Yeti’s 14-liter Daytrip insulated tote in a bright coral color. It’s great if you prefer something that functions more like a tote bag, and, like the Stanley, can stand up on its own. It has the quality insulation you’d expect for a soft-sided Yeti cooler, a magnetic top closure and a sizable front sleeve, which is nice for stashing my phone and keys. The long loop straps make it pretty comfortable to carry, but I did find myself wishing they converted to backpack straps to make this an even more versatile summer tote.

YETI Daytrip 14L Insulated Tote Bag, Papaya

While these high-end cooler bags aren’t quite perfect summer purses, they’re absolutely working for me this season. And should anyone want to collaborate, I’m happy to lend my thoughts and my name to what would surely become the Birkin of insulated handbags.