When you think about French-girl fashion, what do you picture? Probably a woman, her hair perfectly unkempt and messy, wearing tailored blue jeans, a Breton striped shirt, and ballet flats. Her handbag of choice? A basket bag. The wicker style is synonymous with a je-ne-sais-quoi aesthetic due to style icons like Jane Birkin toting them as everyday carry-alls throughout Paris in the '60s and '70s (the British model's bag was known to house all her essentials: hairbrushes, spare lipsticks, baguettes, etc). And while the best basket bags are undeniably timeless and will always be on fashion's list of cult classics, the artisanal style is experiencing its fair share of trendy buzz for summer 2023.
Crafty textures (think: raffia and straw) are a leading factor in summer 2023's trending bags, and, as a result, woven basket bags are gaining momentum as a seasonal style. And the best of this summer's basket bags are fit for a range of occasions and possibilities: Cesta Collective's hand-woven tote is your new go-to beach bag, while Patou's wicker basket is the one you carry daily à la Jane Birkin. Also to note is that today's top iterations come complete with life-proofing details that ensure they'll last throughout your daily wear-and-tear. Case in point: Loewe's basket bag, a fashion insider fave that is woven from palm leaves and reinforced with durable leather straps and detailing.
Keep scrolling to shop our picks for the best basket bags that will help you tap into an insouciant Parisian-girl spirit for summer 2023. (If you're searching for even more summer bag inspiration, team Marie Claire has also rounded up the best weekender bags for quick getaways and the best shoulder bags to polish off your warm-weather looks). Bonjour, été!
The Best Basket Bags
- Best Budget: Universal Thread Straw Basket Crossbody Bag
- Best Splurge: Khaite Lotus Medium Leather-Trimmed Raffia Tote
- Best Trending Basket Bag: Loewe Basket Bag
- Best Wicker Basket Bag: Patou Wicker Basket Bag
- Best Mini Basket Bag: SENSEI STUDIO Mini Mini Canasta Bag
- Best Designer Basket Bag: Chloé Woody Large Basket Bag
Best Lined Basket Bag
Cute and small (but not too small), this basket bag from Mango goes the extra mile to keep your goods secure with its interior cinched sack. You can also wear it as a crossbody or, if you want to carry it in hand, remove the long strap and turn it into a handbag. Versatile in form and classic in look, this is a crowd-pleasing style you'll want in your summer 2023 bag rotation. Can't you already envision yourself carrying this basket-sack hybrid while visiting that trendy vineyard for a weekend wine tasting?
Best Trending Basket Bag
Every It-girl on your Instagram feed, from the New York-based to the Parisian style savants to the Chinese trendsetters, has this tote basket bag from Loewe. It's handwoven from palm leaves and features a calfskin leather embossed logo patch and top handles, mastering the perfect balance between an arts-and-crafts energy and sleek refinement. You also have an assortment of colors and sizes to shop if this medium and chestnut brown style isn't for you. Ranging from mini to large and offered in additional sky blue and sunny yellow shades, find the Loewe basket bag that makes your heart sing.
Best Budget Basket Bag
If you're looking for Jane Birkin style but on a budget, look no further than this $35—yes, that's correct: $35!—basket bag by Universal Thread. The structured crossbody is woven from straw into a domed, half-circle shape and features one interior compartment, a snap-button enclosure, and an adjustable shoulder strap. "I've been eyeing a similar purse from another retailer," describes a Target shopper, but "when I saw this [bag] and its price, it was a win-win! Spacious enough for my phone and wallet. Great summer accessory!
Best Straw Basket Bag
Please don't get offended but consider this your official notice: it's time to throw away that canvas tote bag you've worn threadbare. It served its duties as a reliable errand-running buddy, but it's time to upgrade. And we recommend this Banana Republic bag as a worthwhile replacement. The tote boasts an open-woven straw design and vegan leather handles and works for any activity on your summer docket. "It's the perfect size for everyday shopping, beach days, and small out-of-town trips," gushes a Banana Republic Factory reviewer. "The color goes with everything, and it's comfortable on the shoulder."
Best Wicker Basket Bag
Here is a basket bag that's quintessential of summer 2023's take on the quirky style. Patou's is woven from wicker hemp, creating the signature basket look and feel, but decorated with a golden brass embellishment of an open-mouthed figure that pays homage to the iconic Bocca della Verità sculpture in Rome. The bag is classic at its core but done with an intriguing twist that elevates it to a more conceptual and artistic level. Add this option to your cart if you're an art history buff or someone with a penchant for eccentricity.
Best Mini Basket Bag
This teeny-tiny basket from SENSEI STUDIO proves that the mini bag trend continues to prevail, even in the recent surplus of "ludicrously capacious" (if you know, you know) styles. It's handwoven in Ecuador from 100 percent toquilla straw, features sculptural rounded handles that offer a strategic statement, and could easily be the hero piece of your summer. "Such a fantastic, chic little bag," writes one Revolve reviewer. "Perfect for dressing up or wearing casually. This will definitely be my summer wedding guest attire bag."
Best Soft Basket Bag
Not all basket bags need to be made of straw or raffia. This crossbody tote, courtesy of the woman-owned brand Naghedi, perfectly epitomizes that fact. It's made of 100-percent Terylene, a durable polyester fiber, so it achieves the crafty woven look but with a more sturdy material. Oh, and a bonus: the bag comes with a matching removable pouch to keep your essentials safe. "I'm so delighted with this crossbody bag," raves one Bloomingdale's shopper. "I bought Indigo blue and it's perfect. Perfect size, great fabric and color. Love the little bag that comes with it as well."
Best Splurge
Here's another designer bag you're probably seeing all over your social media feeds and IRL on industry insiders: Khaite's Lotus Tote. Inspired by the fluid look of a foulard scarf (think of the printed silk swatch an old Hollywood starlet would wrap around her head when driving a convertible), this unstructured and sculptural tote is synonymous with effortless refinement. This particular style is woven from raffia and trimmed with dark leather, giving it more of a beachy, boho feel than the traditional pebbled hide and suede city-slicker styles.
Best Round Basket Bag
Round bags are trending for summer 2023, so this circle-shaped basket bag by Anthropologie hits two trends at once. It's made from organic Ata Grass sourced from Bali that's sun-dried and smoked over coconut husks, a process that strengthens the stems and provides the natural golden shine. (Note: the process gives the bag a smoky scent which completely disappears over time). "This bag is adorable and very roomy," writes one Anthro shopper. "So many compliments throughout the day when I wear it. Like others said, it smelled right out of the bag, but that went away almost immediately."
Best Designer Basket Bag
Chloé's Woody Bag, a roomy tote recognizable by its double logo straps made of embroidered canvas, has become one of the French label's most iconic silhouettes. This particular iteration is one of our picks for the best basket bags of summer 2023 because its woven of paper straw by independent female artisans in Kenya. Plus, it's a big bag, which gives you more bang for your hard-earned buck. At 18.5 inches wide and 11.5 inches deep, you could even utilize it as a summery laptop bag if your office allows for more laidback style.
Best Black Basket Bag
If the tan, off-white, and brown hues of natural raffia and organic straw don't exactly blend in with your vibe or closet's color palette, try a black basket bag instead. COS' dark style keeps the beachy vibe that's inherent to the style with its breezy open weave, but injects an urban feel, too, with its leather trimmings. And despite its open design, your belonging will stay safe and sound due to the inner drawstring pouch that's made of recycled cotton.
Best Patterned Basket Bag
Have you ever seen a bag more perfect for a summer garden party than this hobo style by Frances Valentine? It's woven from wicker and fit with leather finishings, but the most exciting detail is its colorful floral lining, which peeks out from the top for a playful punch of flair. " This is a fantastic bag for the summer," details an impressed Nordstrom shopper. "I used this bag this past weekend, and it holds more than you can imagine: I have a continental wallet, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, hand lotion, Chapstick, lipgloss, plus more."
Best Crossbody Basket Bag
Coach's retro-inspired Kay crossbody bag feels straight out of the 1970s. The body is woven of straw while the top is crafted from smooth leather, creating a cottagecore-meets-metropolitan blend. It features an interior pocket, a fabric lining, and a turn-lock closure to secure your goods. "I've only carried the bag twice and have already received the most compliments I've ever received for one bag," writes one Coach shopper. "It is such a dainty and adorable bag [and] does not go unnoticed."
Best Embellished Basket Bag
Space age style, but make it beach-y casual; That's the best way of describing this unique basket bag by the illustrious Paco Rabanne. This particular style is woven from a ruby red raffia (hey, that's one of summer 2023's top color trends!) and embellished with one of the brand's most ubiquitous codes, metal coins. If you value unconventional flair and want to inject your beach outfits with some individualistic style this season, this is a summer bag worth picking up.
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Emma Childs is the fashion features editor at Marie Claire, who writes trend reports, long-form reported features, and shopping guides. Previously, she was Marie Claire's style editor, and wrote for The Zoe Report, Editorialist, Elite Daily, Bustle, and Mission Magazine. She studied Fashion Studies and New Media at Fordham University Lincoln Center. When she's not writing fashion deep-dives, you'll find her stalking eBay for designer vintage, reading literary fiction on her Kindle, and baking in her tiny NYC kitchen.
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