Keep chic and carry on
Stylish summer looks are in the bag
Any style fiend worth her maxi dresses and mules knows that summer bags are a completely different animal from those we carry around with us the rest of the year. I don’t mean just in shape — although they do tend to take on different forms, for sure — but primarily in material and aesthetic. Like everything else when we spend more time outdoors, they’re far more apt to take on a natural, organic appeal and bring in woven straw and softer fabrics, not to mention lighter, neutral hues that complement just about any look. This year’s are downright adorable — and worth keeping for seasons to come. And better still, since it’s midsummer at the moment, many of the best of them are on sale.
I love the tight circular form of the Round Corn Husk Bag ($49.99 at talbots.com), with its double brown leather straps and navy denim
lining. Made of 100% natural woven husk, it’s sturdy enough to hold my makeup and wallet, but feels light as a feather strapped across my body. Bonus: It’s as great for a casual evening look as it is for day.
A bit roomier and about as constructed as any hobo bag ever gets, the Everly Leather & Straw Hobo ($305.90 on nordstrom.com) from Tory Burch has even more texture to it, thanks to the pebbled leather and woven straw contrast. The gold chain adds a bit of glam, too, so it winds up mixing country style with polished savvy.
Want a goes-with-everything, inexpensive no-brainer? The Retro Style Pure Hand-Woven Package Beach Bag Circle Round Straw Household Storage Basket ($12.99 on amazon.com) is made of minimalist rattan and is the easiest thing to grab when you don’t want to think about what will match your sundress at the beach, the farmer’s market or on a date.
Beading is a cute and easy-to-love summer trend, and the Sinta Wood Tote Bag ($85 at needsupply.com) is a simple but cool way to carry it off (literally). Made of pretty, oblong wooden beads in a box pattern that exposes just a hint of its contents, the tote holds everything from cosmetics bags to work papers, and still has a subtle, natural vibe.
I’m as determined to recycle as everyone else these days, so for that — met with a welcome dose of dazzle — give me the Grey Mariner Stripe Tote ($175 at seabags.com) any day. The New England-based company brilliantly uses old sailboat sails and turns them into beautiful bags that stand the test of time. Moreover, because they’re made of sails, each one is unique. This one reminds me of a day somewhere in the South of France, with its classic French nautical stripes and rope handles, all dolled up with a stripe of gold metallic leather.