The Trendiest Bag of Summer 2018 Is The Straw Bag
If you’re anything like me, you’re watching Season 2 of the summer’s hottest Netflix show, "Queer Eye." Each episode is dedicated to making over one person’s life and look — grooming, cooking, home design, culture and fashion included. Tan France, the show’s fashion guru, always finds ways to refine the person’s clothing choices while staying true to the individual’s personality. The relationship between style and identity that Queer Eye points out inspired me to revisit my closet last weekend and analyze which pieces make me feel most like myself.
After a brief but thorough assessment of my closet, I recognized that handbags are an essential aspect to any look I’m creating.
The perfect bag has the ability to really pull an outfit together, but this season’s hottest trend bag, the straw bag, does so like none other. Seen on celebrities and social media influencers alike, the wicker/woven/rafia bag trend can be found at local shops and department stores alike and screams “summer."
This piece is not just for the beach. It’s much more versatile than that and can easily be incorporated into your everyday look.
THE OCCASION: CASUAL SATURDAY
Whether your Saturday consists of running errands or meeting friends for lunch, a straw bag is the perfect complement for your look.
To highlight the bag, I paired a simple white tee with gingham shorts. I tied the tee up for a fun and flirty touch. The details on the structured shorts gave the look a romantic flair as well, without overwhelming the texture of the bag. To finish the look, I added a pair of ankle-strap kitten heels.
The result was a perfectly balanced Saturday ensemble to leave me feeling trés chic all day long.
THE OCCASION: HAPPY HOUR
Pop your clutch off an outfit that will make the transition from the office to girls’ night out seamlessly: a jumpsuit. The vertical stripes in this Forever 21 jumpsuit create an elongated silhouette, while also playing into the pattern of the woven bag. For a softer look, you can also pop your straw clutch off a muted jumpsuit in trend colors like lavender or blush. Both the striped and solid options work well to balance the lightness of the straw bag.
PRO TIP
To enhance your look, always add accessories that fit with the rest of the outfit. For this jumpsuit, I added simple, silver hoop earrings and reworked the purse by turning it into a clutch for the night. These two elements are clean, fresh and perfect for a night out.
THE OCCASION: DATE NIGHT
This summer outfit is easy as pie to pull together. All you need is a printed dress! Any floral dress will work. This particular dress is a wrap. Wrap dresses work for every body type, and for my shape, it’s able to emphasize the curve of my waist.
Like the striped jumpsuit, the bold pattern balances the architecture and simplicity of the neutral bag.
Throw on a pair of heels and you’re ready for the evening!
Now we want to know! Leave us a comment below and share your favorite way to rock your summer woven bag.
About Bailey Bosworth
A California native, Bailey uprooted her life in Los Angeles and moved to Austin last fall, site unseen. She immediately fell in love with her new city and the quirky different styles found in the Live Music Capital of the World. Prior to moving to Austin, she interned at both Trunk Club and The Zoe Report where she learned the in's and out's of the fashion scene. With her newfound residence in Texas, she continues to evolve her style and pursue her passion for the fashion industry.
