Tory Burch says the brand was founded in New York City in 2004, and the Tory Burch Foundation says the point of the company from the start was to build a global luxury brand and a foundation that would advance women's economic power. That second half matters to me. The Foundation was established in 2009 to give women entrepreneurs in the United States capital, education and community, so the label has always had a slightly more earnest streak than its pretty bags suggest.

The look, though, is the draw. The Double T logo, Tory Burch says, draws on the geometry of Moroccan architecture and the bold graphics of David Hicks' 1960s and '70s interiors, and you can feel that in how the bags are built: graphic, a little decorative, never fussy. So when I say Tory Burch bags are easy to wear with jeans and a trench, that is the reason. They have a clear point of view without shouting. If you want to keep going, Tory Burch Outlet: Bags, Loafers and Little Leather Goods Worth a Close Look is the one I would read next.

The first grid is the quilted one, and it is where I would start. Tory Burch describes the Fleming collection as defined by a pintuck pattern that adds subtle texture across its crossbody and convertible shoulder bags, which is exactly the right amount of detail. The Fleming Soft Leather Crossbody appears twice here, and I would pick it for a day of errands with a slip dress or a white tee. The Mini Fleming quilted tote bag and the Fleming Quilted Leather Carryall go the other way: roomier, better with tailoring and a long coat. I went deeper on a related idea in Tory Burch Miller Mini Crossbody Bag for Women: Small Bags, Real Days.

Then there is Kira. Tory Burch describes the Kira Satchel as made of soft chevron-quilted leather, carried by a top handle or an adjustable crossbody strap, and that dual carry is the whole trick. The Kira Chevron Tote and the Kira chevron shoulder bag lean polished. The Small Kira quilted shoulder bag and the Small Kira diamond quilt shoulder bag are my picks for dressing up denim. The Small Kira Pebbled Leather Top-Zip Crossbody is the practical one, since a zip top means nothing falls out on the train. The Mini Kira diamond quilt distressed top-handle crossbody has a worn-in look I like with a plain knit, and the Small Kira diamond-quilted velvet shoulder bag is the one for evenings.

The fitting-room test for any of these is simple. Put your phone, keys and a wallet in, then check where the bag lands against your hip when the strap is on your shoulder. If it bangs against you when you walk, shorten the strap.

Totes are where Tory Burch bags stop being pretty and start being useful. I think of this grid as the work week: laptop day, gym day, the day you carry a book and a sweater and nothing else.

Start with Ella. Tory Burch says the Ella Tote was originally introduced in 2008 as an ultra-lightweight silhouette, and the idea has held up. The Ella Drawstring Nylon Tote and the Ella natuura Drawstring Tote Bag are the easy ones to throw over a shoulder with sneakers and a big coat. The Ella logo-patch tote bag is the same shape with the brand showing a little more. I would keep the nylon ones for travel days and weekends, and reach for leather when the plan involves a meeting.

That leather is Perry. The Perry Leather Tote appears twice in this grid, and the Perry Mini Leather Tote Bag and the Perry Small Zip Tote shrink the idea down. I like the zip version most for commuting, because closing the top is the difference between a bag and a mess. Check that the handles sit comfortably on your shoulder over a coat sleeve, since that is when a tote usually annoys people.

The Romy Tote, which shows up twice, and the Robinson Pebbled Leather Tote are the structured pair. Pebbled leather hides scuffs better than smooth, which is a practical reason to pick the Robinson for daily use. The Monogrammed logo tote bag is the loud one, and I would wear it with plain clothes: a gray sweater, straight jeans, nothing competing.

Then the Lee Radziwill tote. Tory Burch says the Lee Radziwill bag collection was introduced in 2018 and is named for Lee Radziwill, whom it calls fearlessly unique. It describes the bags as contrasting structure and softness, with a signature T-lock belt closure. I like that it has a bit of fashion history behind it, and the closure gives it an identity that does not need a logo to be read from across the room.

A good tote test: fill it as you would on a normal Tuesday, lift it with one hand, and walk to the door. If you want to switch shoulders already, it is the wrong size.

The last grid is for lighter days and evenings, when a tote is too much. Crossbody bags and minis are what I carry when I am not working, and I like them best when the clothes are simple: a black slip, a camel coat, a good pair of trousers.

The Bunny Knot suede crossbodies are the most fun here. The Bunny Knot Suede Crossbody is the quieter one, and the Bunny Knot Embroidered Suede Crossbody adds decoration, so choose by how much else you are wearing. Suede wants dry weather, so I save these for clear evenings and not for a walk to the station in a downpour.

Charlie is the quilted chain family. The Charlie quilted chain crossbody bag, the Mini Charlie quilted top-handle crossbody and the Charlie quilted leather mini bag all play with a chain strap and a soft quilted face. A chain strap looks sharp over a wool coat and slips under your arm with a leather jacket, which is a small detail that changes how you use the bag. Try the chain doubled over your shoulder and then long, and see which length you actually like.

Romy appears again as a croc-effect mini and a small leather crossbody. The Romy croc-effect mini bag has a textured finish that does a lot with an all-black outfit. The Small Leather Romy Crossbody is the one I would give a friend who wants a first bag from this brand, because it holds the basics and looks right with nearly everything.

The Lee Radziwill Petite Leather Crossbody Bag brings back that T-lock belt closure in a small size. It is the most structured of the group, and it has a certain grown-up edge that suits a blazer.

What I would skip: do not buy a mini when your daily bag has to hold a charger, a water bottle and a notebook, because you will end up carrying a second bag. And do not wear a suede crossbody in the rain.

To choose among Tory Burch bags, I start with a plain test: what do I carry on an ordinary day. If the answer is only a phone, a card holder and keys, go for a Charlie or a Romy. If it is a laptop and a sweater, pick a Perry or a Robinson.

Then think about texture. Pintuck on the Fleming and chevron on the Kira give a quiet surface, so they pair well with plain knits and denim. Smooth leather and croc-effect pair with tailoring. Suede asks for dry weather.

Last, try the carry. Walk around the room with the bag loaded, and switch between hand, shoulder and crossbody. The one you keep reaching for without thinking is the one to take home.