When the weather heats up, it’s time for straw bags.
They’re lightweight and affordable, making them popular and practical for many people. These classic photos of Kenall Jenner and Gao Yuanyuan never get old; both were spotted carrying them. With their French flair, straw bags are perfect for those who love vintage and French styles. French blogger Jeanne Damas carries them from spring to winter. With many countries now offering visa-free travel, more friends are heading abroad, and everyone wants a straw bag to complement their vacation outfits.
Luxury brands offer beautiful designs in abundance. Just a little research, and you’ll be tempted by several options. Today, let’s review some worth-buying straw bags from major brands.
Miu Miu
Miu Miu truly understands women’s tastes. Their woven handbags have a rich, elegant style. The hollow design looks light and airy, perfect for hand-carrying or crossbody use in the summer. They’re not only beautiful but also practical. The handles are designed to be just the right length, and the lightweight bag won’t tire you out. Inside, there’s a canvas bag for securely storing keys, wallets, etc. They also offer a mini bucket bag with a hollow design, which is very cute and soft. It can be hand-carried or used as an inner bag for a larger one.
Pineapple Bag Charm
This little pineapple bag charm immediately caught my eye. It adds a fun touch when hung on the mini bucket bag. However, it’s not available on the domestic website, so you’ll need a proxy. Cute charms like this are versatile and perfect for any bag. The tote with a leather shield patch and woven handles is also popular. Priced at around 8,650 yuan, it’s often out of stock after being seen on Jang Won-young. The brand also released several fabric totes in vertical and horizontal versions with rich colors. These are better for daily use, with a refreshing light blue and a deep green tulip color that perfectly matches my taste. However, these are not yet available in online boutiques.
Loro Piana
The popular Extra Pocket 19 from Loro Piana also comes in a bamboo woven version. Most bamboo bags have a vacation vibe, but Loro Piana’s maintains an elegant feel, thanks to its boxy shape and calf leather accents. True to Loro Piana’s heritage, this bag embodies the “old money” aesthetic. This year, they introduced the playful Ghiera Bag with a chic mix of beige and brown. Its soft square shape makes it suitable for daily commutes. However, it does have a significant amount of leather and metal, which might make it heavy.
The bag features a ring-shaped metal clasp that opens with a push, which is more convenient and secure than string or magnetic closures. It comes in mini and small sizes; the small one looks quite large in model photos, which might be overwhelming for petite women. It can be hand-carried, crossbody, or shoulder-carried, making it perfect for both vacations and daily use. It’s not yet available in China, but there’s plenty of pre-release material online for those interested.
Bottega Veneta
Bottega Veneta is known for its weaving techniques and offers various straw bags. The standout is the Sardine, a beautifully designed bag with a refined feminine touch, perfect for pairing with dresses. Its rattan material combined with a luxurious sardine-shaped handle creates an artistic look. The thoughtful leather magnetic clasp provides security, and the shoulder strap is a stylish combination of leather and metal. It’s comfortable to carry and can fit an iPad mini, though it lacks internal compartments. For important items, it’s best to use an inner wallet.
Loewe
Loewe is a favorite brand, known for its summer straw bags. The small panda color dumpling bag I bought back then has increased in price, and the new oversized version now features a hollow design. Loewe takes straw bags to the next level. Many of their straw bags have leather or metal chain accents, making them suitable for less formal work settings. The Puzzle fold in woven design is another classic that can be carried into fall and winter. Loewe’s straw bags are handmade by artisans in Monaco, Madagascar, and Colombia. Each sale supports local arts and crafts organizations, which is meaningful.
Prada
Prada has also put significant effort into their straw bag collection this year, offering bags, shoes, and hats. The popular fisherman sandals are among them, though they aren’t the most cost-effective. We’ve previously featured Jenny Walton, a walking ambassador for straw bags, who often carries Prada. She once said she couldn’t resist anything by Miuccia Prada. The tote with shoulder straps is frequently seen and pairs perfectly with summer outfits. Jenny likes to match it with blue items for an instant layered look. Made of raffia, it’s lightweight, durable, and practical. The shoulder strap design is very useful, and the casual underarm carry is stylish.
Prada’s new season ads have a beautiful oil painting style, featuring many straw bags. The classic straw tote now comes in a smaller size, not for shoulder carry, but with sufficient capacity. The iconic 2000 reissue dumpling bag also comes in a woven version with a zipper and a detachable wide shoulder strap, making it a lightweight and practical option. The price on the domestic website is 18,500 yuan.
Celine
Celine is a hot contender in the straw bag market. The Hobo bag, with its round shape, fits snugly under the arm and is very stylish. It can hold essentials like a sunshade, phone, and wallet, making it perfect for daily commutes or shopping. The newly released Teen Couffin straw dumpling bag is also beautiful, with a golden Arc de Triomphe pattern and brown leather, combining vintage charm with a modern twist. It can be hand-carried or shoulder-carried, and the magnetic flap provides some protection for the contents while adding a finishing touch to the design. The Triomphe basket bag from the 24 new arrivals also caught my eye.