Our Favourite Basket Bags Right Now

For three summers I thought basket bags were something you pulled out of your suitcase for holiday costume purposes. You wear them once on holidays in Sicily and then file them away in your memory with your raffia hat bought in a hysterical rush at the airport terminal. I was mistaken. And I’ve come around to them begrudgingly, slowly, stubbornly – like you come around to your mum being right about something.
When it does its job well, a basket bag breathes ease in ways your other bags simply can’t. It isn’t trying to look expensive or trying to look sleek, it’s just quietly doing a good job of holding your stuff and looking like it sprouted from the ground itself. The best ones have some sort of structure through the base so they’re not clinging to your legs like a sad heap of straw the second you pop your water bottle inside, and rigid enough handles that don’t feel like they’ll snap the first time you tug it whilst running for a train. Leather trim is also bonus, not because of how it looks particularly, but because if it’s cheap it’s usually the first bit to go.

The exciting thing is everything it doesn’t immediately feel like it should go with. Wear it with something sharp like a tailored shirt or a slip skirt or even some proper trousers and it goes from outdoor-play prop to doing what any good bag should do; counteract whatever’s too stiffly put together about your outfit.
My coworker plucked it off my desk refusing to believe I hadn’t plundered a garden centre and then demanded to know where I got it from five minutes after seeing it paired with a plain black dress. See what I mean? It looks considered because it looks like it shouldn’t be partnered with considered.

Keep the hardware minimal and let the natural shape speak for itself; a softer round shape will dress down something too sharp, and a more structured rectangular basket will stand up to something more fanciful. They’re great for the obvious (picnics in the park, boon markets, anything where sun is involved) but equally as nice for unintimidating bulk on a mundane Tuesday when you just want a bag that doesn’t scream effort. Don’t sweat if a little bit of straw starts poking through the edge – that isn’t wear, that’s your basket bag working its way into your heart.

Top Picks

CASEY’S PICK CERQULARHeart Basket Bag Turquoise - Straw Bag - Iraca Palm Handbag, Top Handle Purse

$80.00 CERQULAR

QUINN’S PICK BROCHU WALKERThe Dune Basket Bag

$188.00 BROCHU WALKER

BROOKLYN’S PICK W CONCEPT (US)FRUITS BOUTIQUE BASKET Canvas Bag [Yellow/Navy]

$140.00 W CONCEPT (US)

CARL’S PICK ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Raffia Basket Bag

$198.00 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)

SYDNEY’S PICK FARMRIORaffia Basket Tote Bag Large

$478.00 FARMRIO

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDsatin basket bucket bag bow woven handbag fashionable versatile single shoulder woven bag $29.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

CERQULARHeart Basket Bag Turquoise - Straw Bag - Iraca Palm Handbag, Top Handle Purse $80.00 CERQULAR

FARMRIOPrinted Raffia Basket Bag $318.00 FARMRIO

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDsatin basket bucket bag bow woven handbag fashionable versatile single shoulder woven bag - Sky blue $29.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

THE LUXURY CLOSETChloe Marcie Large Off White/Natural Raffia and Leather Basket Bag $695.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

SHOPBOPHunting Season The Lattice Basket Tote Bag Natural/Oyster One $395.00 SHOPBOP

THE LUXURY CLOSETCeline Triomphe Black/Beige Raffia and Printed Coated Canvas Basket Bag $526.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

HARVEY NICHOLS USAlemais Macrame Midi Woven Basket bag - Beige $502.32 HARVEY NICHOLS US

MARISSA COLLECTIONSHorse Medal Basket Bag $890.00 MARISSA COLLECTIONS

RENT THE RUNWAYClaudie Pierlot Accessories Woven Basket Bucket Bag Brown $231.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

SHOPBOPHunting Season The Large Trapeze Basket Tote Bag Nuez/Cognac One $595.00 SHOPBOP

CERQULARHeart Basket Bag Pink - Straw Bag - Iraca Palm Handbag, Top Handle Purse $80.00 CERQULAR

DAILY SALE, INC.Fishing Net Hanging Dryer Bag Mesh Clothes Drying Basket Rack - 3 Layer $21.00 DAILY SALE, INC.

BROCHU WALKERThe Dune Basket Bag $188.00 BROCHU WALKER

W CONCEPT (US)FRUITS BOUTIQUE APPLE BASKET CANVAS BAG [Red] $140.00 W CONCEPT (US)

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDsatin basket bucket bag bow woven handbag fashionable versatile single shoulder woven bag - yellow $29.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

MARISSA COLLECTIONSKnot Large Basket Bag $795.00 MARISSA COLLECTIONS

ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Raffia Basket Bag $198.00 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)

FARMRIORaffia Basket Tote Bag Large $478.00 FARMRIO

W CONCEPT (US)BAKOO Portable Foldable Shopping Market Basket Bag Mermaid $47.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)FRUITS BOUTIQUE BASKET Canvas Bag [Yellow/Navy] $140.00 W CONCEPT (US)

TENNIS EXPRESSBall Hopper EZ Basket 150 Bag $34.99 TENNIS EXPRESS

HARVEY NICHOLS USChloe Woody Raffia Basket bag - Natural $759.93 HARVEY NICHOLS US

HARVEY NICHOLS USChloe Woody Logo-embroidered Raffia Basket bag - Blue $837.21 HARVEY NICHOLS US

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ACCESSORIZE UKTan Double Strap Jute Basket Bag$35.00 $24.50 ACCESSORIZE UK