8 Summer Bags That Are Anti-Trend, Classic and Always Spark Compliments

Call me optimistic but this weekend I started the process of shifting the contents of my wardrobe from winter to summer, packing away my thicker knitwear and woollen coats away for what I hope will be a sunny few months. In doing so, I pulled out the linen and cotton pieces I haven't seen since last September and, along with them, a couple of basket bags I only ever carry in the warmer months. Seeing them sitting next to the black leather bag I've carried for most of 2024, I realised just how much a difference a bag can make to your summer outfits. Lifting up said black leather bag, it almost looked too harsh set against the lightweight clothing I'd just unpacked.

This lead me to think about the bags that come back around each year like clockwork. Of course, summer bags can look very trend led if you want them to but there are certain styles that feel equally as relevant this year as they did 10 years ago. I decided I would chronicle these everlasting summer bag trends for you below, just in case you're looking to switch up or add to your collection this season. And mark my words: Everything you're about to see will still look the stylish part 10 summers from now.

8 Summer Handbag Trends That Will Never Go Out of Style

1. Braided Leather

Style Notes: Where leather bags can sometimes feel too harsh and stark when styled with warm-weather clothing, brands have worked out a way to make them feel softer and more summery. Braided leather mirrors the look of a straw tote (more on those later), making the leather feel more summer appropriate in the process. Just look at Dragon Diffusion, whose designs have become a regular feature on the arms of fashion people in the summer months.

Shop the Bag:

DRAGON DIFFUSION

Santa Croce Big Woven Leather Tote

£370

Melie Bianco

Brigitte Woven Faux-Leather Shoulder Bag

£135

Hush

Kikapu Leather Weave Tote Bag

£269

2. Structured Raffia

Style Notes: When the topic of summer fashion comes up, basket bags will always be mentioned in the conversation. So much so, two straw styles have made it into my edit. The first? I always see dinky raffia bags in structured shapes make a comeback in the summertime, often acting as a cute evening bag solution; one that's more refined than a standard basket tote but still retains the same charm.

Shop the Bag:

DeMellier

Small Vancouver Bag in Natural Raffia and Tan Leather

£375

mango

Rattan Bag With Double Handle

£60

CHANEL

Pre-Owned 1998 CC Turn-Lock Basket Bag

£10387

3. White Tones

Style Notes: When it comes to versatility, a white bag is hard to beat. They work with all of the same pieces you'd pair with your trusty black handbag, but also tend to work better with lighter or pastel palettes, too. A no-brainer for summer, then, when these hues tend to dominate.

Shop the Bag:

COPERNI

Croco Swipe Sound Mini Leather Top Handle Bag

£660

H&M

Shoulder Bag

£33

COS

The Structured Tote - Leather

£225

4. Market Baskets

Style Notes: Is there anything more wholesome than heading to the market to pick up fresh veg and carting your purchases home in a basket bag? These sturdy bags might have been made with grocery shopping in mind but fashion people have adopted them for general errands-running, beach days, or even as chic alts to laptop bags.

Shop the Bag:

THE ROW

Emilie Large Raffia Tote

£860

Arket

Large Raffia Bag

£35

DeMellier

The Santorini Natural Basket in Tan Smooth

£265

5. Colourful Suede

Style Notes: Again, where leather can feel to heavy for summer, we tend to see style tendencies shift towards suede bags in the warmer months. If you're into bright colours, I also recommend choosing a suede finish as, in my opinion, the soft hide tends to diffuse bolder tones slightly, making them look more premium.

Shop the Bag:

THE ROW

Abby Suede Shoulder Bag

£1350

Polo Ralph Lauren

Polo ID Suede Mini Shoulder Bag

£449

MÉTIER

+ Fernando Jorge Roma Mini Embellished Suede Shoulder Bag

£2050

6. Canvas Materials

Style Notes: I'm not talking about the tote bags you can pick up for a £1 in your local supermarket. Over the past few seasons, we've seen high-end designers serve up their takes on canvas bags, which make for a very sleek alternative to traditional baskets. I especially like styles with contrasting leather handles and trims as they look inherently classic and refined.

Shop the Bag:

ZARA

Canvas Maxi Bag

£46

FERRAGAMO

Fiamma Leather-Trimmed Canvas Shoulder Bag

£1545

Arket

Light Canvas Tote

£97

7. Metallic Finishes

Style Notes: In the summer months we tend to pack in more occasions than we do any other time in the year, which is likely the reason why metallic bags become so popular in this period. Whether worn on holiday with wide-leg linen trousers and a simple strap top, or paired with an embellished dress for a garden wedding, a metallic bag will make any outfit feel glossy.

Shop the Bag:

VERSACE

Small Croc-Effect Metallic Leather Shoulder Bag

£1290

ZARA

Mini City Bag

£26

mango

Metallic Clutch Bag

£50

8. Crochet Weaves

Style Notes: It might technically be knitted, but crochet comes into its own in the summer months, with the open weave work bestowing it with a breezy vibe. In bright colours and varied silhouettes, it's easy to see why fashion people find them so appealing.

Shop the Bag:

Tory Burch

Mini Fleming Crochet-Knit Shoulder Bag

£615

Prada

Prada Re-Edition 2005 Crochet Bag

£1750

Nannacay

Mini Vera Crochet Tote Bag

£170