When I'm on the hunt for a bag, there's one thing I consider above everything: practicality. Take, for example, the time when Jacquemus debuted its unironically tiny (and now viral) Le Chiquito bag. Even as my Instagram feed was brimming with ways to style the petite phenomenon, I couldn't get on board. That's why, when it comes to summer, I'm all for a roomier tote bag, or anything, really, that can hold more than just a piece of chewing gum. I'm a chronic overpacker, do keep up.
Dragon Diffusion was the latest designer hold-all woven bag to do the rounds, and it was instantly more attractive to me than any small bag could ever possibly be. Last year, the brand's popularity reached new heights, so much so that even Ashley Olsen ditched The Row's Oregon bag in favour of Dragon Diffusion's Triple Jump Woven Leather Tote. So, it's easy to see the appeal of these now-cult bags. The only drawback is that some of the designs retail at over £300, and if you're not willing to sacrifice groceries for the month in the name of fashion, then I have a solution.
I've been scouring the internet for the best woven bags, and I stumbled upon Ellyla's totes just in time for the next British heatwave. Stocked at Nobody's Child, Ellyla's take on the woven tote has that textured, artisanal (all its bags are handwoven), Parisian-at-the-market feel, without somewhat of a substantial financial commitment. Available in two different styles and three different colours on Nobody's Child (burgundy, tan and brown), the bags offer a soft yet structured silhouette that's perfect for throwing on with tailored trousers or a floaty summer dress. Crucially, Ellyla's woven bags are big enough to be genuinely useful (they can even fit a beach towel in) and, perhaps most crucially, they don't force me to choose between taking my Rhode lip balm and my purse.
Shop: Ellyla's Woven Bag
Nobody's Childwww.nobodyschild.com
If you're on the hunt for a shoulder bag to throw on with a t-shirt and jeans - this is the bag to invest in. With a woven shoulder strap and a magnetic closure, style with a striped shirt and trousers, or with a floaty midi dress.
My thoughts? Even just trying the smaller size, the Hobo Bag rather than the Leather Tote, I need to report that these bags are incredibly roomy. Not only that but it also comes with a magnetic stud closure to keep all your valuables safe, rather than just one open pocket. I went for the colour brown/espresso, which is a really dark (almost black) shade, and honestly, it gives me the versatility I need when wanting to grab the first bag out of my wardrobe and throw it on with any outfit. The strap is also long enough to fit on your shoulder, which I love as it means I don't just have to hold it in my hand constantly, or worse, the bend of my arm.
If you're in the market for a new tote, whether to take to a European destination or to the office, a woven bag is the perfect fit for summer, whether you dress it for the warm weather with ballet flats and a mini dress, or when the weather gets cooler with a trench coat and jeans. Ultimately, it's a bag that's bound to do some heavy lifting this summer (and not just because I've filled it with everything-but-the-kitchen-sink).
Shop: Woven Beach Bags
Nobody's Child www.nobodyschild.com
The Woven Leather Tote Bag in tan is the perfect summer bag, simply because of its holds-everything size which means you don't have to sacrifice one item for another. Inside, there's a magnetic closure to keep your essentials safe, and one large compartment.
Nobody's Childwww.nobodyschild.com
The woven bag is also available in burgundy, which makes for an excellent transeasonal accessory. Style in the summer with a kaftan and bikini for long afternoons on the beach, or with wide-leg trousers and a chunky knit in the winter.
Gemma Lavers is a fashion commerce writer at Grazia, where she tracks down viral pieces and is as comfortable navigating the M&S new-in page as she is dissecting the latest celebrity look. When not writing, shopping or at Reformer Pilates (a cliché but she's hooked), Gemma will likely be planning her next holiday (and what she's going to wear). For a glimpse into said travels, outfit inspo and life as a journalist, follow her on Instagram or TikTok.