The humble basket bag has been in style for generations, and this summer is no different. In fact, I like to wear basket bags well into autumn and winter; see below for tips on how to style a basket bag and the best styles to wear at the moment.
Good question! There are so many types. Basket bags are straw, raffia, jute, or grasses. The materials are woven to create various colours and bag shapes in multiple styles.
Wicker isn’t a fibre itself; it is the method of weaving the material together. So, it could be made from raffia palm leaf fronds, straws, reeds, or other plant-based materials, or even synthetic in some cases. Rattan, bamboo, vines, rye, oak, and willow are also used to weave into baskets. Any plant material that can be dried and is strong and pliable can be woven into a basket bag.
How to style a basket bagBasket bags look great with an outfit you would usually wear in summer. In the images, I’ve worn a regular-fitting tee from Organic Basics and Bam regular straight-leg jeans—two of my fave brands for organic clothes. I’ve bought the tee in every colour. Otherwise, a summer dress would be a good option—or shorts and a tee, depending on the weather!
A French basket looks great with oversized linen shirts in any shape or form, whether left to drape open or tied at the waist. The linen and basket material look great together during the summer months. If you love linen too, these are great summer tops.
A summer basket can also look great as home decor, on a shelf or dotted around on hooks. I’ve got basket plant pots and love how they look at home.
How long will a wicker basket last?Take care of it, and it will last indefinitely. There are lots of vintage basket bags that still look like new on eBay and Etsy. Ensure it doesn’t get wet or sit in the sun too long; otherwise, it could get mouldy or faded. Keep the bag in a wardrobe or drawer so dust doesn’t get stuck in the crevices.
A summer basket can be more fragile than other materials, meaning they can snap or break if not handled carefully. I want to take the small bag in the images on holiday, but it will get crushed in my suitcase, so I don’t dare!
What happens if a basket gets wet?It’s okay for wicker to get wet now and then as long as it’s dried again at the end of the day. If it rains, scrunch up old newspapers to dry it out and keep the shape of the bag. Otherwise, the bag may end up getting mouldy, which will be challenging to sort afterwards.
The big French basket in the images is from Hare & Wild. This is the small version; they also make a large one. They weave sustainable palm leaves together to make it. For a similar style, try Etsy.
Almost every brand has its take on the basket bag, especially recently. Loewe is best known for this style, there are a lot of them on Vestaire at the mo. They have even updated the iconic puzzle bag with a basket weave design made with black, brown, and beige raffia, although I prefer the tote version.
The smaller bag in the images is from Alba on Etsy. It’s been my go-to bag for summer. The opening is so squeaky, which I kind of love. I found lots of basket bags on Etsy. It turned out they were all from the same shop – the bargain cute dumpy straw bag, the red and beige reed bag, the Jane Birkin wicker basket bag, and the round handled bag.
Betsy and Floss sell a nice square raffia shoulder bag. Like most of the bags on this list, it’s handmade. The shoulder straps make it easier to wear every day.
The handmade market bag from a seller on Etsy is similar but with smaller handles. The handles are shorter, but there is an image of the bag on the shoulders in the link, so it would be easy to carry. I love this one; it looks so effortless.
If you love reusable tote bags, this is a huge list!
I don’t know how practical this one is, but it’s so cute, and it’s British-made. It’s called the round shopping basket and reminds me of a little soup tureen. It is buff and green willow.
Sensi Studio is my favourite place for summer hats. They also have a great collection of bags. This woven straw tote would look great with any outfit. It has a pattern, but the muted colours make it easy to style. Sensi employs local Ecuadorian artisans to make their products.
This is a wild card, but pebble pearls with recycled offcuts are a definite winner. The Solé bag from Polène reminds me of car seat covers my parents tried out once. The design is much better as a bag, though!
For vintage styles, eBay, Etsy and Vestaire Collective are the best bets.
If you love vintage clothes and bags, you might love these 5 vintage shops in Edinburgh, and these favourite Oxfam Online finds.
What about making your own?Didn’t everyone have a basket making kit when they were younger?! The Complete Book of Basketry Techniques by Sue Gabriel and and Sally Goymer looks particularly interesting. There are a few used copies on eBay too.
Wool and the Gang sells kits for making various tote bags from viscose raffia, which comes in a myriad of different colours. They currently have 25 different crochet patterns using the wood-based raffia, from bigger totes to smaller evening bags. This bag is particularly nice if only I had better crocheting skills.
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The Green Edition is a journey to help slow down and appreciate the smaller things in life. With tips for shopping more consciously and simplifying your life.
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