When it comes to switching your wardrobe for the warmer weather, there are a few items that you can always guarantee will pop up again year after year. The floral dress (not groundbreaking but always a classic), strappy sandals, and the basket bag.
Your winter accessory collection may consist of darker colour palettes with black, red or tan leading the way, but for something to match the lighter hues of your summer garments, you will want to call on more natural fabrics.
The basket bag has become a coverall term with materials ranging from straw and macramé, to raffia. These humble and traditionally handmade holdalls give immediate sunny weather feels, whether it matches what the British summer is serving up or not.
The style has been on the forefront of the SS fashion agenda since Jane Birkin popularised the effortlessly chic design in the 1960s and 70s, and is made for outdoor living. Whether you are channelling Birkin on the streets of Paris, filling up with fresh produce at a farmer’s market or stuffing to the brim for the airport, there’s everyday appeal. It is also, of course, beach-ready in its aesthetic and can be easily slung over one arm when donning a bikini and cut-offs.
The basket bag comes in all shapes and sizes, from micro to slip in just the essentials - passport, wallet, phone and keys - or an expansive interior where you can pack everything but the kitchen sink inside.
Loewe has been on the forefront of this style, offering one of the most covetable takes on the trend each year with its annual Paula’s Ibiza capsule. The handcrafted bags play on fibre, colours and weaves and are sure to be spotted on your Instagram feed. Prada’s raffia iteration has also been dubbed the it-bag of the moment but if you can’t get a hold of the sold-out original, or it’s just above your price point, there’s dupes aplenty across the high street.
Shop our favourite basket bags below.
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Loewe Woven raffia small basket bag
Each year, Loewe unveils its Paula’s Ibiza capsule collection with basket bags at the heart. The luxury Spanish house is particularly known for its accessories with the iconic Puzzle bag usually slung on the arm of the street style set.
Bringing your accessory collection in line with the warmer weather, this is one of the brand’s recurring basket bags that is perennially chic. The woven raffia construction is embellished with an embossed logo detailling and adjustable carrying handles in tan leather. Also comes in white and yellow.
Buy now £375.00, Selfridges
Kilometre Paris Undercover Ibiza woven straw tote bag
Taking inspiration from the Balearic summertime, this basket bag is made for adorning on the party island with its juxtaposition of straw with summer synonymous fabric crochet.
The latter comes in multicoloured hues to inject colour into your holiday ensembles. It is handmade in Morocco and if you’d rather pay homage to a different destination, there’s also Positano, Como, Burning Man and the most universal, Beach Club to choose from.
Buy now £320.00, MatchesFashion
ASOS DESIGN crochet straw sunflower tote in natural
The new addition to your bag collection should spark joy and that’s exactly what this tote bag will do. The combination of the sunny sunflower design in crochet with the straw construction is oozing with summer sentiments.
Buy now £11.75, ASOS
Prada logo straw tote bag
First spotted on the brand’s SS22 catwalk, this bag was an instant hit among the influencer set and led to an almost immediate sell-out. You can still get your hands on the style at Farfetch and it has a roomy interior and an attractive raffia interwoven design. While kept minimal, you can enjoy the logo touch, signalling to all that you were able to get your hands on the instant cult bag from the Italian fashion house.
Buy now £1450.00, Farfetch
H&M Straw shopper
If you’re saving your pennies for jetting off somewhere far flung, fabulous and hot, you can still tap into the raffia trend at H&M. The high street hero is offering this straw shopper for under £20 and in two colours; white and a darker pink hue - the latter may be best suited for the spillers among us.
Buy now £17.99, H&M
& Other Stories Large Woven Straw Tote
This bag was made to be hung over your shoulder as you sink your toes into golden sands. It has two handles - a larger and handheld - and has a woven straw construction. With its boho feel, pair with the muted colour palette of a linen co-ord and leave the colour to accessories and jewellery. We suggest a headscarf and rainbow necklaces.
Buy now £55.00, & Other Stories
ASOS DESIGN mini tote bag with straw happy face print in natural
We can guarantee that this bag will put a smile on your face every summer as you dust off your warm weather wares. The mood-boosting design works equally well for city breaks as it does beach vacays with the choice of two straps - an over the shoulder and a cross body chain.
Buy now £15.75, ASOS
Poolside The Stella Crochet Tote
With a bag this chic, you won’t mind having to empty the sand out at the end of your trip. It has a woven raffic construction that was made in Morocco and is adorned with hard-wearing leather straps so it can form the basis of your summer looks for years to come.
Buy now £252.00, Revolve
Anya Hindmarch Paper Eyes small raffia basket bag
This bag is instantly recognisably part of Anya Hindmarch’s hugely popular Eyes collection that has become a brand signature. The basket is woven raffia and comes complete with a leather handle for comfort and ease.
Buy now £395.00, MatchesFashion
Heimat Atlantica Shella mini shell-embellished rattan basket bag
To take the basket bag to even greater summer heights, Montserrat Alvarez, the designer behind Heimat Atlantica, has adorned it with seashells to create a floral daisy design. These are set on a beige rattan construction that has been handwoven by artisans in northern Spain and Portugal.
Buy now £260.00, MatchesFashion
Muuñ Line Net basket bag
To create this mini basket bag, a foundational item in your accessory collection, it takes Ghanian artisans three days. The skilled craftspeople use elephant grass that is paired alongside canvas straps. The latter comes in two varieties for ease in transporting from streets to sand.
Buy now £150.00, MatchesFashion
