When thinking of of warm summer days, one material immediately comes to mind: raffia. Natural or synthetic, this fiber packs a surprising visual punch and designers often use it to create the summer season’s must-have accessories. Purses made with this fabric stand out, be it a cute mini crossbody bag, a maxi tote held up with thin straps, or an eye-catching oversized bag. Check out our gallery of bohemian yet glamorous purses to top off your summer outfits.
Handcrafted look
Flexible raffia threads can be woven together in intricate series of patterns. On the Oscar de la Renta runway this artisanal vibe was seen in all its splendor with head-to-toe raffia looks including handbags with fringes.
Light and airy
One of the characteristics of raffia purses, like the Coachello Bag by Florabella which has crochet accents, is that they weigh practically nothing. Nevertheless, it’s best to only carry the essentials in them to ensure they don’t get misshapen (Revolve, $165).
Mixed media trends
Another plus point of these purses is that they can easily incorporate patches and leather embellishments, as well as chunky chain straps. Loewe designs tend to combine all three for maximum contrast.
Classic
If you’re looking to exude elegance in the hottest weeks of the year, there’s nothing better than a raffia bag with a minimalist knit in the toffee or caramel range. The Baozi Bag by Elleme also has a structured tote-style base (Shopbop, $405).
Fun
It’s also a great idea to go for designs that have distinctive silhouettes and marine embellishments, like the Raffia Fringe Bag by Poolside Bags (Shopbop, $195). Ideal for weekends.
Unusual shapes
At the spring/summer 2020 fashion weeks, accessories of all shapes and sizes were on display. From classic basket bags by Celine with punky golden studs to envelope handbags, crossbody bags and balloon bags.
Colorful
Raffia is made from palm trees only found in South America and Africa. Naturally yellow, it can be dyed a single color or certain sections of it can be dyed, as seen in the Raffia Crossbody Bag by
Zara
($22.90). The pops of color are great for breaking up the bag’s neutral beige.
Luxurious
Raffia purses are manufactured with care and can include luxury details such as tortoiseshell or high-quality wood, like the X Revolve Capri Bag by Cleobella ($198). It has a spontaneous, chic vibe.
That je ne sais quoi
Accessories whose aesthetic pleases admirers of retro fashion while also being incredibly modern are a win-win. Pierpaolo Piccioli fused these two ideas in his designs for the new Valentino
collection. Oversized raffia sophistication perfect for summer.
Authentic
Any trimmed design in a soft texture is clearly on-trend this summer. If it’s a bag like the Raffia Stripe Tote by Zimmermann, with that almost imperceptible stripe motif, it will be your most versatile piece to go with any summer look (Revolve, $375).
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