Dagne Dover Tiny Tote Vs. Petite Tote: Comparison & Review

The Tiny Tote was launched on November 14th, 2014 and is Dagne Dover's smallest coated canvas Tote to date. It resembles the 15"/Legend Tote in that its handles cannot be folded down, but is a mere fraction of the size and comes with a cross body strap. The re-designed version, the Petite Tote, has slightly larger dimensions than Totes of this size that were released prior to March 2nd, 2017. Colorways introduced in March 2017 and beyond were not released as Tiny Totes; similarly, limited edition colors released prior to March 2017 are not available in the Petite Tote size.

• Tiny Tote Specs: 7"L x 6.7"H x 3.4"W , 3.5" handle drop, 1.2lb weight 
• Petite Tote Specs: 8"L x 7 ¼"H x 3 ¾"W , 4" handle drop, 1.3lb weight 

I finally got my hands on a Petite Tote, and while I was surprised by its new dimensions in person, I felt the most noticeable changes involved the interior. I'll refer to 'Side #1' as the side containing the pen/lipgloss holders.

Tiny Tote

• Side #1: Three pen/lipgloss holders (equally sized) with open bottoms
• Side #2: Zip pocket, slip pocket with magnetic closure (fits items like the iPhone 7/similar, card case, accordion wallet), two small layered slot pockets (the larger pocket just barely fits the card case that comes with the tote)
• Comes with a matching card case (with D-ring) and key leash

Petite Tote

• Side #1: Three pen/lipgloss holders (two short and one tall) with closed bottoms, large slip pocket (fits items like the iPhone 7/similar, card case, accordion wallet, accordion travel wallet; the magnetic insert from the Original Clutch Wallet is a tight fit)
• Side #2: Zip pocket
• Contains a small key clip in lieu of a key leash, does not come with a matching card case to my knowledge

Ease of Use

• The zipper flaps lie flatter in the Petite Tote than they do in the Tiny Tote, and they don't impede your ability to use the interior slip pocket. (The zip pocket can also be opened without necessarily having to move the flap.)  
• The zipper flaps on the Tiny Tote need to be pushed up in order to gain access to the interior slip/zip pockets. This isn't necessarily a con—if you're in an area where pick-pocketing is an issue, it offers a small but helpful layer of security. 
• The handles seem to be far more stiff/rigid on the Petite Tote than on the Tiny Tote.
• The Accordion Travel Wallet and the magnetic insert from the Original Clutch Wallets fit in the body of the Tiny Tote. Either one will fit in the body or the slip pocket of the Petite Tote, although the latter is a tight fit.
• Bringing a book? A 5" x 7.5" paperback (and smaller) fits in the body the Tiny Tote, and a 5.25"x 8" (and smaller) fits in the Petite Tote. 

Bye-bye, key leash!

Tiny Tote in Linen - 2016

Story time: I caught a pick-pocketer in action when I took my Tiny Tote in Linen to Europe a couple of years ago. It was one of the few times I carried the bag by the cross body strap in a crowded place instead of in the crook of my arm. I was sick and wasn't thinking straight. Something brushed my left leg as I walked down the steps out of the metro stop, and even though that distracted me, I could still feel the zipper being pulled down. I bellowed a sickly "HEY!" before the thief had it even halfway unzipped. (Having a hand reach from behind and slowly start unzipping your purse is a weird thing to see—I remember it vividly.) My Tiny Tote was awesome for that trip and fit nicely inside a larger purse that had room for my laptop. I'd definitely bring it again. Honestly, the thief got lucky—had she successfully unzipped my bag, she would have treated herself to a truly heaping handful of snotty tissues. 😜

• If you've acquired some of DD's newer accessories (like the Accordion Travel Wallet), you'll find that the design of the new Petite Tote goes hand in hand with those newest releases—for example, the Accordion Travel Wallet fits perfectly in the Petite Tote's slip pocket. 
• If you tend to use smaller accessories (like the Card Case or regular Accordion Wallet) and carry small loose items in general, the Tiny Tote might be the better option due to it having so many small slip pockets. 

Based on how I've used these bags, I tend to use the Tiny Tote most for touristy travel and the Petite Tote most for running errands. One thing I really like about using the Accordion Travel Wallet and the Petite Tote together is that when I go to pay for something, I can pull my credit card out of the back slot of the wallet without having to take the whole thing out of the bag. This ease of use is precisely why I wouldn't use it for "touristy" travel—the interior layout of the Tiny Tote provides more layers of security (at least in my mind), and the smaller dimensions make it easy to carry in crowded settings. If you're traveling with a laptop that you intend to leave in a hotel safe when possible, keep in mind that the Tiny Tote could fit nicely inside a larger bag with its own laptop compartment.

Please let me know if you have any questions or requests for additional comparison photos—I'll do my best to help. If you decide to make a first-time purchase through Dagne Dover, please consider clicking this link for $20 off your first $100+ purchase! (If you make a qualifying purchase, Dagne Dover will gift me $20 in spending credit as part of their new Dagne Rewards program!) The link will take you to Dagne Dover's home page, where a unique $20 off code should pop up after a few seconds. 

• Are you looking to buy used Dagne Dover items such as the Tiny Tote? Please consider using my Poshmark, Mercari, Tradesy, and/or thredUP referral codes to receive sign-up bonuses for yourself AND to support me and my shopping habit. (Your support is greatly appreciated!)