Beyond the Beach: The Raffia Bag

How to wear summer’s most obvious holiday bag everywhere else.

Long before raffia bags appeared on every summer moodboard—and long before Loewe turned the basket bag into a luxury It bag—Jane Birkin was carrying her wicker basket absolutely everywhere.

To the market, to restaurants, through airports and even to the Cannes Festival, paired with a sequinned dress. Talk about friction!

She didn’t treat it as a holiday accessory or save it for days when she happened to be within walking distance of the sea. It was simply her bag.

And when I say raffia bag throughout this article, I’m using the term loosely. It could be raffia, wicker, woven leather , straw or anything else that feels light, textured and summery. You know the one: it comes to the beach, occasionally accompanies you to the supermarket, or sits permanently in your hallway “decorating the entrance” because you love the aesthetic but haven’t quite worked out how to translate it into your everyday wardrobe.

The answer, according to Jane, is very simple: wear it with absolutely everything.

There’s something wonderfully ironic about the fact that one of fashion’s most famous and coveted handbags was created for a woman who had spent years happily carrying a wicker basket she picked up in a market in London instead. Her style was never about displaying how much something cost. It was about personality, practicality and wearing things in a way that felt completely her own.

The story behind the Birkin bag is equally charming as it is relatable. According to fashion lore, Birkin’s partner, Jacques Doillon, disliked her basket bag so much that he eventually ran it over with his car. How dare he. She was therefore travelling with a different bag when she happened to sit beside Jean-Louis Dumas, then chairman of Hermès, on a flight.

As she tried to settle into her seat, the contents of her bag spilled everywhere. Dumas commented that she needed something more practical, with pockets. Birkin replied that Hermès didn’t make the kind of bag she needed, to which he revealed that he was, in fact, the man running Hermès, so he would make it for her.

Birkin then described—and sketched on an aeroplane sick bag—the roomy, practical and “mum-friendly” bag she wanted. That chance conversation eventually led to the creation of the Birkin bag.

But the part I find most interesting isn’t really the luxury bag that came as a result of it, which, in my opinion, is wildly overrated. It’s the way she wore that original basket: without rules, without waiting for the right setting and without worrying whether it looked “too summery” or '“to gimmicky”. It added so much charm and character to her personal style, and I think those candid photos of her carrying that basket did far more to make fashion people fall in love with her than the fact that she was the original Birkin girl.

So perhaps the best way to style your raffia/wicker/woven bag beyond the beach is to borrow a little of that attitude. Stop treating it like a seasonal prop and start using it as a way to bring more texture, individuality and personality into your everyday looks.

LOOK 1: With Jeans + an Oversized Shirt + Colourful Shoes

Because I know how much you love a specific formula: start with your favourite denim: wide-leg jeans—always my pick—, denim shorts while it’s still hot, skinnies if you are still into them, or vintage Levi’s if you are one of those people who has made peace with limited movement. Basically, whatever makes you feel most like yourself.

Then add a slightly oversized shirt. It brings that relaxed, effortless feeling we want and gives the raffia bag something a little more polished to sit against. The contrast between the crisp shirt, everyday denim and natural texture of the bag is what makes the whole outfit work.

Finally, add a pair of colourful shoes. You know, the ones you bought this season and have since been staring at you from the bottom of your wardrobe? This is the perfect outfit for them. The denim and shirt keep everything grounded, while the shoes add enough colour to stop the look feeling too predictable.

Outfit: Sensei Studio raffia bag / Toteme shirt / Chloé sunglasses (sales) / Agolde denim shorts / Reformation mules / Missoma earrings

The styling formula

Favourite denim

• slightly oversized shirt

• raffia bag

• colourful shoes

A few things that make it work

• Roll or push up the shirt sleeves to keep the shape relaxed.

• Leave the shirt loose, half-tuck it, or unbutton the bottom slightly depending on the proportions of your denim.

• Think about proportions too: denim shorts look great with an oversized raffia tote, while wide-leg trousers usually work better with a smaller, more structured basket bag.

• Repeat the shoe colour somewhere small—sunglasses, earrings or a necklace—if you want the outfit to feel more connected.

• Don’t over-style it. The raffia texture and colourful shoes are already doing plenty for your fashion cred.

LOOK 2: With Tailoring

Just like with the sarong skirt, tailoring is the answer when you want to take a raffia bag beyond the beach. It’s all about that friction… again!

I love the idea of wearing a huge, relaxed straw bag with pieces that have a little more structure. The tailoring gives the outfit shape, while the raffia stops it from feeling too corporate or boring.

The rest of the look can still be soft and fluid. Try a tailored waistcoat with a pleated skirt, a crisp shirt with wide-leg trousers, or a structured blazer over something floaty. It doesn’t all need to be rigid—one polished element is enough to give the outfit some backbone.

Think about it! the weather starts becoming less exciting, you are forced back into reality and, instead of reaching for your very sensible laptop bag, you carry the raffia one that still smells faintly of the sea and contains approximately half the sand from the last beach you were in.

That little reminder of summer is exactly what keeps a polished outfit from feeling too sensible.

Outfit: Massimo Dutti blazer / Missoma necklace / Etsy bag / Massimo Dutti silk skirt / COS silk top / Freda Salvador fisherman sandals / Loewe cat-eye sunglasses (sales)

The styling formula

One tailored/structured piece

• simple top

• raffia bag

• polished sunglasses and simple jewellery

A few things that make it work

• The sharper the tailoring, the more relaxed the bag can be.

• A huge raffia tote looks especially good with a clean, fitted blazer.

• Keep the colour palette fairly restrained and let the texture of the bag do the work.

• Add leather shoes, a belt or structured sunglasses to give the outfit a stronger frame.

LOOK 3: With a Neutral Dress

A neutral dress is probably the easiest way to let a raffia bag do all the interesting work without the outfit feeling too styled.

Start with something simple in black, white, cream, navy or brown. It could be a slip dress, a loose linen style, a knitted dress or something slightly more structured. The clean base gives the texture of the bag room to stand out, while still feeling like an outfit you could wear anywhere beyond the beach.

This is also where accessories can quietly change the whole mood. Add polished sandals, ballet flats or loafers, then bring in sunglasses, gold jewellery or a belt if the dress needs a little more shape. The raffia bag keeps the look relaxed, but the rest of the details stop it from drifting into holiday vibes.

Outfit: COS dress / Fendi sunglasses (sales) / COS mismatched earrings / Guest in Residence scarf / Dragon Diffusion leather bag / Massimo Dutti shoes

The styling formula

Neutral dress

• raffia bag

• polished shoes

• statement sunglasses

A few things that make it work

• A black or navy dress makes raffia feel especially chic and less obviously beachy.

• A white or cream dress creates a softer, more summery version.

• If the dress is loose, choose a smaller or more structured basket bag.

• If the dress is sleek or fitted, an oversized raffia tote adds a nice bit of drama.

• Add one polished detail—a leather sandal, sculptural earring or sharp pair of sunglasses—to keep the whole thing from becoming too rustic.

I hope these outfits help you create your own versions using pieces you already have in your wardrobe. And when in doubt, think: what would Jane Birkin do?

Sometimes the pieces that make an outfit feel the most personal are the ones that don’t quite “belong”. The relaxed bag with the tailored trousers. The oversized basket with the very sensible dress. That little bit of tension is usually where the interesting styling happens.

So keep yours out a little longer. Carry it somewhere completely ordinary and let it bring a tiny bit of holiday energy with it.

Love,

Noelia x