just because something’s a trend doesn’t indicate it’s something that can be widely adopted into the lives and wardrobes of actual women. lots of trends are nonfunctional, too formal, too juvenile, too prohibitively expensive—fashion has whims, and they don’t always line up with reality. At first, that was my thought with the basket bag trend. Last year, the elegant and unencumbered were carrying literal baskets as handbags, which seemed both a little silly and completely irrelevant for women who want to do a lot more with their bag than pose for an Instagram. I was unimpressed.
That trend swiftly transitioned into merchants carrying the next best thing that they could find, which was a bunch of straw totes, normally big and beach-appropriate. and those are fine—I have no problem with them. Usually, though, they looked a little too much like literal beach bags to look at home anywhere but on a deck chair. This summer, though, the trend has finally moved into a spot where I think it can be widely appreciated: elegant little basket bags (emphasis on bags) are everywhere.
Instead of oversized beach bags or difficult-to-use baskets, these bags employ straw, wicker, rattan and raffia to make cute little bucket bags, tiny crossbodies, clutches, tiny totes and everything else you could imagine. They range from aggressively summer-feeling and heavily embellished to understated and trimmed with exotic leathers, and some are even finished so precisely that you might not notice they’re woven raffia without an up-close inspection. They’re all terrific day bags for casual activities that don’t take you anywhere near a pool, and several of them just might be sleek enough for a summer night. check out our picks below.
Aranaz Ella bucket Bag
$240 by means of Shopbop
Diane von Furstenberg Steamer Bag
$528 by means of Shopbop
Fendi Kan I tiny Bag
$2,850 by means of Net-a-Porter
Gucci Wicker small bucket Bag
$3,200 by means of Gucci
Hunting season Iraca Trunk Bag
$850 by means of Net-a-Porter
Kara large carry Bag
$375 by means of Net-a-Porter
Kate Spade Bloom street Sam Rattan Bag
$398 by means of Nordstrom
Kayu Pinata Tote
$125 by means of Net-a-Porter
Loeffler Randall Straw Tassel Pouch
$195 by means of Nordstrom
Mar y Sol Fortaleza open Tote
$139 by means of Shopbop
Mercedes Salazar Canasto Universo Honeypot Bag
$210 by means of Shopbop
Miu Miu Raffia Paglia Ricamo Bag
$1,290 by means of Nordstrom
Muun Caba tiny Straw Bag
$215 by means of Net-a-Porter
Nannacay baby Roge Bag
$210 by means of Net-a-Porter
Pamela Munson Isla Bahia Tote
$240 by means of Shopbop
Rocio Mandy Wicker Bag
$435 by means of Shopbop
Rosie Assoulin Jug carry Bag
$595 by means of Net-a-Porter
Sensi studio Pom Pom Tote
$265 by means of Shopbop
Serpui Marie Suzy Tasseled Box Bag
$338 by means of Anthropologie
Ulla Johnson Tautou Bag
$265 by means of Net-a-Porter
WaiWai Balaio Bag
$600 by means of Shopbop