As the days are growing longer, and the weather is slowly creeping to the teens, we are all looking at updating our winter wardrobes for some spring/summer pieces. One of the best ways to update a wardrobe without spending too much is by buying a handbag which is on trend, adding a current nod to your old summer wardrobe. You can bring out your faves from previous summers, add a new bag, and instantly your outfit is updated without spending a fortune.
This season, one of the key trends for bags is the natural look. That's bags made with 'natural' fibres like rattan, raffia, straw and linen. You would have seen a lot of this last year, so for those that have already got a basket bag in storage, dig it out and dust it off! If not, the shops have outdone themselves this year, and have bought even heavier into the trend, perhaps due to the warm response it received last summer. These so called natural bags are easy to style with everything, a summer dress, linen whites, denim and a boho style blouse; the options are endless, and pairings with a pastel suit were seen at London Fashion Week recently.
The high street options are so good, that it doesn't really make much sense buying a designer one. Some of the prices for a designer raffia/basket bag are just too much to ask for what it is. The Gucci Cestino Basket bag sets you back £1210 and the Mark Cross option costs a whopping £1780. They are beautiful bags at the end of the day, and if you want to splurge and treat yourself, by all means take a look at my edit below. If you're not looking for an investment piece and want to dabble in the trend, then scroll down for my edit on the high street. I've covered a lot of ground, and have brought you some of the best bags out there.
Designer styles:
From left to right - 1. Mark Cross £1780 / €2035, 2. Loewe medium size £250 / €280 , 3. Prada £1990 / €2,200 , 4. Gucci £1210/ €1,490 , 5. Khokho £418 / €465 , 6. Heimat Atlantica £380/ €385 , 7. Miu Miu £685 / €750 , 8. Hunting Season £610 / €684 ,
High street styles:
Zara from left to right - 1. Wicker tote £29.99 / € 35.95, 2. Rattan minaudiere £29.99 / €29.95, 3. Rigid handle tote £29.99 / €39.95, 4. Round raffia basket bag £29.99 / €29.95, 5. Tote with wooden handles £29.99 / €29.95 , 6. Large round tote £39.95 / (not available in IE), 7. Two tone tote £29.99 / €39.95
Topshop from left to right - 1. Sia multi pom pom shopper £24 / €32, 2. Britney floral straw cross body £26 / €36, 3. Crab mini tote £22 / €29, 4. Barbar straw circle cross body £24 / €32, 5. Benny string shopper £22 / €29, 6. Shelly straw basket £26 / €36, 7. Bali pom tote £22 / €29, 8. Silver Shakira shopper £20 / €26, 9. Lattice bucket bag £32 / €44
Mango from left to right - 1. Net tote bag £49.99 / €49.95, 2. Jute bucket bag £35.99 / €35.95, 3. Leather flap raffia bag £89.99 / €89.95, 4. Contrast trim bag £39.99 / €39.95, 5. Mesh jute bag £39.99 / €39.95
From Left to right - 1. Next black circle bag £38 / €50 , 2. Next mini circle bag £26 / €35 , 3. & Other Stories straw circle bag £49/ €59, 4. & Other Stories woven straw bag £49 / €59, 5. Primark black pom pom tote €10, 6. Primark White pom pom large shopper €10 ( both Primark styles available in IE but check your local stores in your country as you may also have it!)
ASOS from left to right - 1. ASOS design straw square basket bag £25 /€33.78 , 2. South Beach pink pom pom beach bag £25 / €33.78 , 3. ASOS straw bucket £22 / €29,73