Summer Belongs To The Straw Bag – Here Are 15 Of The Very Best You’ll Find This Year

Hands up if you've got a summer alter-ego who, despite only being on holiday for a fortnight every July, gravitates towards the kind of wardrobe suited to a walk-on part in Mamma Mia? Here’s the thing. At the risk of sounding like a seasonal killjoy, how much wear are you actually going to get out of that embroidered cheesecloth blouse? Because while it might be great for taking selfies beside the Aegean Sea, its real-life shelf-life probably isn’t much longer than your suntan’s. There is, however, a way to lean into the side of your personality that wants to wear a turquoise ring, suede sandals and denim cut-offs without throwing money down the drain. It’s an outfit plus-one tailormade for a holiday, while still being appropriate for the commute: the straw bag (otherwise known, this summer, as the work-to-beach bag).

For summer 2025, the kind of tote bag you’d usually carry to your nearest sunlounger has smartened up its act (Dua Lipa swears by Bottega Veneta's). The message? It might be made of straw but it’s 100% appropriate for the city. Clearly, shoppers as well aware of its multi-tasking potential. At John Lewis, searches for 'raffia bags' are up 80% week on week.

DeMellier’s structured raffia bag has more than enough room for your beach towel, flip-flops, paperback and a family pack of Lays, but, crucially, it could also accommodate your laptop when you’re back on dry land. Dragon Diffusion’s bags are an influencer-favourite, making them a sleek option for your summer work bag that can double as a carry-on when you’re OOO.

Also serving top-notch work-to-beach bags are Marni, Ganni and COS. Pair with a bikini or office-bound Bermudas.

Shop: The Best Straw Bags 2025

Natalie Hammond is senior fashion news editor at Grazia. She loves winter, hates summer and can often be found writing about the weather (and what on earth to wear).