Every summer, without a doubt, Jane Birkin is our vacation avatar. Decked out in Breton stripes, toting a straw bag and wearing espadrilles, she’s the figure that haunts our Pinterest board, which unwittingly has become a style icon for the ages. Everyone from Alexa Chung to Laura Jackson does a mean Birkin impression. But, there’s one element of this ‘70s French goddess’ style that feels more current than ever…her affinity for deeply impractical, endearingly rustic straw bags. One flick through Instagram and you’ll see that every well-dressed girl has a handwoven handbag swinging from her hands or lopped over the crook of her elbow. Though thrift stores do a mean line in straw summer bags, the Insta-set tend to call on Edit.58, Muun, Blooming Dreamer and Etsy of their top notch totes.
1. Going Dotty
Brilliantly combining the essence of summer and the height of Instagram heart-ability, Fashion Gone Rouge editor Debora Dosa’s threw on a simple straw bag, Comme Des Garcons Converses and a Mango blouse.
2. Summer Breeze
Part ‘50s housewife, part pure gold, Atlanta de Cadenet Taylor just defined the singular allure of the straw bag. Cast an eye at how diametrically opposite her rainbow-bright dress is to her simple, earthy bag, and you’ll understand the magical quality of this dreamy sunshine-ready accessory.
3. Blagging It
For better or worse, Manchester is not Californian. And, that means, sometimes you have to forget the sun isn’t shining and work around it. Coalescing vacation accessories with weather appropriate clothing is something blogger Alice Catherine does best. Hello, can you see how she’s made military-inspired separates and espadrilles work together?
4. Turn Up The Heat
Jane Birkin may have favoured a natural coloured straw, but give your 2017 accessory a contemporary twist with a vivid red wash. Laura Jackson’s capacious square tote is just the thing to hit multiple trends running.
5. Bigger The Better
A trip to the beach always requires the iddiest biddiest bikini and the biggest bag in the world. While clothing may be optional, accessories are not as you’ll need something as big as Blanca Miró Scrimieri’s straw tote to lug around all the towels, books and sunscreen you’ll need throughout your tanning session.
6. Blazing The Way
It seems counter-intuitive to team a blazer with a bag that’s so ubiquitous with the seaside. But, that’s what’s so delightful about this folly - it’s an irrational accent that lends a little Jane Birkin lustre to the most metropolitan of outfits.
7. Bag One
City or the seaside, a circular straw bag is definitely the answer. Look to blogger Olivia Purvis on how to wear it with bright white jeans and a linen shirt.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.