The raffia bag has left the beach and hit the runway. This season, the summer staple isn’t limited to the oversized totes we’re used to seeing; it’s also popping up in the shape of handy clutches, crossbodies, and shoulder bags that can elevate the most basic outfit.
The woven bag has a rich history in fashion. Style icons like Audrey Hepburn and Jane Birkin both made versions of the cane basket their signature accessory, upgrading it from a practical picnic piece to a desirable fashion buy. Fast forward to 2024, and Isabel Marant’s latest version is the only thing you should pair with your white jeans and t-shirt. For something equally fashionable but half the price, there is DeMellier’s Capri tote, which offers enough structure and support for you to carry all your essentials from workout to workday. Among other favourites is the Saint Laurent raffia tote that has taken more rounds on the arms of celebrities than the Brat album has on our playlists. For more modern-day styling cues, look to Angelina Jolie at the airport or Suki Waterhouse doing her daily coffee run out in LA—you’ll see, everyone is wearing these woven wonders.
Below, our style guide for bags you can wear through the summer and beyond.
