Can YOU tell the difference between a £15 and £695 handbag? Our fashion expert reveals the best raffia bags for summer and 3 key tips to making yours last
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Gone are the days when the humble raffia bag was consigned to the back of the wardrobe for 50 weeks of the year. This summer, the hottest piece of arm candy is the fashionable take on the wicker basket.
Ever since Jane Birkin and Audrey Hepburn were seen sporting the simple charms of a straw carrier, the basket bag has had iconic status. Loved by the arty, bohemian crowd, it was the height of laissez-faire style and French-girl insouciance.
But now, in 2024, the humble raffia bag has undergone an upgrade. No longer confined to the classic basket design, you can now find straw bags in every shape — from structured mini-bags to slouchy totes, from hold-alls to hold-littles.
What’s more, this summer they are far from being just an off-duty look: they’re now cutting the mustard in smart city offices, out on the town, on the school run and at weddings.
If you’re looking for inspiration, then start with the Spring/Summer 2024 collections. Bottega Veneta sent the perfect oversized number down their latest catwalk — a bag so roomy that you could probably fit your weekly shop in it (and far more chic than a Tesco Bag for Life).
Can YOU tell the difference between a £15 and £695 handbag? Our fashion expert reveals the best raffia bags for summer and 3 key tips to making yours last
For many fashionistas, a luxe straw bag is an accessible way to buy into a designer label, simply because they are often more affordable than the leather bags created by these brands.
Loewe’s basket bag, which comes with leather handles and stamped with a leather logo, starts at £395 for the smaller styles and is already a cult staple, seen everywhere from Ibiza yachts to London parks.
Meanwhile, Prada’s crochet raffia tote bags, ranging from £1,240 to £2,000, are a celebrity favourite, with everyone from model and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to pop icon and Glastonbury headliner Dua Lipa posing on social media with theirs.
If £1,000-plus feels a bit steep, fear not: the high street has woven its magic. From oversized styles to fit all your essentials to structural designs that look like a piece of art, you can grab some real bargains.
A word of warning, though: make sure you pay attention to the quality when you’re looking on the high street. When it comes to these natural fibres, it’s all in the craftsmanship.
Real leather straps will certainly wear better than plastic; and if you’re wearing delicate fabrics, avoid the more rustic designs with pieces of straw sticking out, as they’ll brush against the material and may cause snagging.
A top tip to make them last is to keep toiletries in a separate bag, to avoid possible leakages.
But with so many designs on the market, how do you choose the one for you?
Left: Dress, £139, whistles. com; mules, £159, penelopechilvers.com; knot bracelet, £70, ring, £55, oliviaburton. com; bracelet, £250, monicavinader.com Right: Dress, £32.99, sandals, £49.99, zara.com; chunky wristwatch, £149, oliviaburton.com; bracelet, £138, monicavinader.com
Left: Dress, £99, mintvelvet.com; sandals, £195, bobbies.com; cuff, £375, monicavinader.com Right: Dress, £149, ghost.co.uk; sandals, £35,99, mango.com; bracelet, £138, ring, £150, monicavinader.com
To give you a little help, we’ve selected a range of the hottest new styles, from designer to supermarket. But from sight alone, can you guess which of these is the most expensive, at £695, and which is the cheapest, at just £15?
Zara’s basket bag would fool anyone. Its sculptural shape and leather-look strap could have come straight off the catwalk, yet it will set you back just £49.99.
You can even pick one up in your supermarket, with a faux leather straw bag from Tu at Sainsburys (£18). This one is perfect for the office and comes with a detachable shoulder strap if you want to go hands-free while shopping.
Primark’s clever fringe shopper hits the growing boho trend — and it even has a zip which will keep all your belongings safe and private. (Allowing the world to see the contents of your bag can, at times, feel like the fashion equivalent of walking down the street in your knickers.)
At £15, this is the cheapest here and a real bargain, even if you lose a few tassels along the way.
Left: Asymmetrical fringe dress, £258, rails.com; wedges, £95, dunelondon.com; cuff, £49, mintvelvet.com; bracelet, £250, monicavinader.com Right: Skirt, £400, motherdenim.com; wedges, £95, dunelondon.com; bracelet, £138, monicavinader.com; ring, £29, mintvelvet.com
Left: Midi dress, £415, wiggykit.com; sandals, £129, thewhitecompany.com Right: Midi dress in cotton poplin with a cinched waist, £288, rails.com; sandals, £195, russellandbromley. co.uk; bracelet, £89, boss.com; rings, £256, monicavinader.com
And now for the high-end version that tops our straw poll. At £695, the Mulberry mini tote might be a splurge but it could also prove to be the most versatile addition to your wardrobe.
Whether you wear it crossbody, using the detachable strap, for lunch out, or held by the handles, with any occasionwear, this elegant bag is one that you’ll be getting out season after season. From the beautiful, sand colour raffia to the real leather handles, it is the epitome of understated luxury.
It’s also logo-free, which gives it a subtle appeal. (For those of you who like your labels on display, Mulberry has larger totes on which the famous logo takes pride of place.)
Like anything light in colour, this bag will get dirty if not looked after. But if, for any reason, yours gets damaged, Mulberry has a great repairs team on hand to restore your bag and make it look as if it were brand new.
Of course, if you have a straw bag at the back of your wardrobe, still sandy from last year’s hols, it’s a perfect time to dust it off!
