Basket bag, Wicker bag, Woven bag or Straw bag whatever you call bags of this style they’re suddenly everywhere! Take a quick peek at my Pinterest page for a round-up of the best. It’s probably the season or perhaps we’re all merely tired of seeing the same leather cross body bags all over Instagram? As usual for me when I really like something I just wear it although eventually I’m back “on trend” by default anyway. And so this is how it happened with the basket bag…See me carrying one here in Paris last year pre-trend alert Hahahaha I know always ahead of the game me, ahem by accident. You may save this style of bag purely for the beach but that would be a crying shame when there are so many opportunities to use it throughout the year. Have a browse through the lovely selection I chose for you below, the pom poms are fun aren’t they?
What to Wear with a Basket Bag
For todays outfit post I wanted to showcase the Basket bag by styling an everyday Spring/Summer look from East Clothing. Clean lines of fresh white linen trousers paired with a stunning turquoise silk top make this simple combination “easy chic”. Adding the contrasting Basket bag completes the ensemble perfectly. Although this particular bag would be just as fabulous with a dress or jeans, a look I’ll bring you at some point in the future when I re-style it. The immaculate weave & rich molasses colour combine with the cane handle to make it the showstopper of any outfit, consequently a clever addition to your bag collection.
When I was little someone gave me a beautiful cane woven bag that I carried everywhere, boy I wish I had that bag now, it was a cracker.
Silk Shirt & Linen Pants
If you’re going to wear linen you absolutely have to get over the creasing aspect or you’ll go completely mental! I couldn’t bear to wear linen for this reason up until a few years ago when I finally realised the beauty of this cool natural fibre. Once I let go of the pristine ironed look I fell in love with its relaxed mediterranean vibe & off duty feel. Todays trousers are the perfect fit in a size 10, a little loose allowing me to plunge my hands into the side pockets without pulling across my butt. The length is just right for flats however I won’t be able to wear heels with them although I probably wouldn’t anyway to be fair. I think sometimes you have to make that decision from the get go with trouser length otherwise you end up dragging hems through the dirt or looking a muppet in unintentional ankle freezers.
My diaphanous silk top compliments the heavy linen keeping an unadorned look feminine & fresh. Turquoise is a colour that combines well with many so I can further style this blouse with navy blue, pink & best of all, red which looks incredible against it. This top comes up over-sized & is quite long so I took a small, unusual for me although if you like that look take your regular size. Note – The day I shot this a stiff breeze blew right up my jacksie, I looked like the Michelin Man in half the shots! Hahahaha
Prada Shoes for Life
Once again Prada is giving me a lifetime of wear with yet another pair of shoes. You can read more about my thoughts on this topic here. These orange T-bar flats are about 12 years old & I pretty much wear them every Summer. (Another example here. ) I can’t imagine Primark making that claim can you? BAM shots fired!
Here is a yummy collection of Prada sandals for your perusal, you’re welcome!
Ciao Bellissime xxx
Silk Top, Linen trousers & Basket Bag all courtesy of East Clothing
*This post is sponsored but as you know I only publish what I believe in & my opinion is completely honest.
For more from East check out What Lizzy Loves of the O40Co who also styled an outfit from their spring/summer collection.
Comments ( 28 )
Alberto Hugo Rojas
GreaT WORK ALWAYS:
MT
Thank you so much Alberto!
sequinist
Love the basket bag! It is so summery and fresh looking; the details are fabulous. Adding a bag like that to a pale summer outfit is inspired.. The fabric on the blouse looks like such great quality. I’m not sure I can do Linen trousers (although I do adore Linen bedding), but yours look fabulous on you. Superb stylng, Ma Belle xxx
MT
I’m so pleased you can see the quality of the silk Lisa, it really is superb. I love the fact that East is a British brand of such high standards which is why I did the post actually. xxx
Catherine
i BECAME HOOKED ON BASKET BAGS EVER SINCE i SAW A PHOTO OF JANE BIRKIN CARRYING bASKET-AS-BAG. aND SINCE i’M INCREDIBLY LAZY, i USE MY FRENCH mARKET BASKET AS BAG WHEN WE ARE ON VACATION IN THE SOUTH OF fRANCE, eVERYTHING GOES IN THE BAG . aCTUALLY, i SWITCH BETWEEN THE mARKET bASKET AND A BEAT UP Longchamp LE pLIAGE BECAUSE i USE THE lONGCHAMP AS A BEACH BAG.
i love THE BAG IN THE PARIS POST btw AND i TOTALLY “get” YOUR LOVE OF THE pRADA sANDALS, i FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT MY rONDINI SANDALS. i PURCASED MY FIRST PAIR TEN YEARS AGO AND i STARTED TO TREAT MYSELF TO A PAIR EACH SUMMER. i’M LOOKING FORWARD TO MY NEXT PAIR WHEN WE HIT sT. tROPEZ IN jUNE!
MT
I know that photo! Yes Jane Birkin has an innate sense of fashion, she’s so bloody cool. Those French Market bags are so pretty, you get them in Italy too I must pick up another when we’re there in Summer.
By the way Catherine, I’m so sorry for the strange capitals in my new comment box. I had no idea it’d do that until Abby mentioned in her comment above. I’ll fix that in back editor today. I was trying to add the option for you guys to receive email replies to only your comment. There’s nothing worse than being inundated by comment replies in your email box right?
Abby@Midlifecrisisnut
I look at you Michelle and I see summer. I look outside the window and I see bloody freezing rain. Totally JEALOUS. 😉 Looking fAb! (the capital letters that’s not me though, I’m afraid it’s your new comment box). ❤️ xx Abby
MT
Thanks Abby & thank you for alerting me to the capitals Arrrgh!
I added a new comment plugin to enable an option to receive a reply to your comment only. As usual with plugins it wasn’t straightforward grrr – I’m on it now though thanks honey xxx
Catherine, Not Dressed As Lamb
Jeez woman – before I say anything can I just congratulate you on the quality of your photos, you can totally see the difference that taking them in RAW has made… they look INCREDIBLE!!!!!! Keith and I have been poring over them this evening #drooling
Anyway! outfit: the shirt is simply the most beautiful colour on you. Looks even more beautiful with white. And how incredible that your sandlas are 12 years old, you really are the Queen of Slow Fashion. Bravo!!!
Catherine x
P.S. gimme that bag, stat
Simplement Lui
Lovely outfit and delicious location for these pictures 😉
https://4highheelsfans.wordpress.com/2017/05/04/black-and-white/
Nancy Baten
That s great spring outfit and what a beautiful backdrop! I like bags like that, they give YOU THE feel OF festival, Summer time! Enjoy your Sunday!
MT
Thanks Nancy I agree about the Summer feel although it was quite windy this day. The location is 5 mins walk down my road in beautiful Hertfordshire. Hope you’re enjoying yours too mate x
Lizzy
You look beautiful and as catherine said the colour of the top is amazing. And yes, the photographs are beautiful too. I love the basket bag. I have a lovely outfit courtesy Of East which I will be posting this week. Your sandals are beautiful and timeless too xxxxx
MT
I’m so looking forward to your East post Liz, it’s always fun to see our different styling on the same brand 😉 xxx
Michelle
Lovley pics Michelle! I’m loving the colour of that blouse – it’s one of my favourite hues.
I’m definitely going to try shooting in raw!
Michelle xx
MT
Thanks Michelle, can you really see that much difference? I kinda lost perspective after looking at them in edit suite for so long, since I’m still learning the new software. It’s such a buzz shooting in RAW but yet more information & technique to learn yaaaawn 😉
xxx
Laurie
These Basket bags have been catching my eye everywhere too! I love the East brand. so I’m off for a nose!
http://www.vanityandmestyle.com
MT
Aha so you’ve noticed them too? East would really suit you Laurie & this turquoise colour in particular, have fun!
Samantha
I completely agree about the linen!
Hahahaha…that made me laugh. I think the crushed nature of linen is part of it’s charm and as long as it is not too thin (and bum-flashing) the crushes can add character.
Perfectly paired with your aqua blouse….and fabulous sandals.
I always try to buy the best quality I can afford for shoes.
Cheap sandals are depressing.
XXX
Samantha
MT
You’re absolutely right about the charm of Linen although it did take me a while to “get it” whci is weird because I’m not at all OCD. No I’m really not, I’m not seriously. Not…Ok a little before the grubby little kids beat it out of me 😉 And yes Samantha cheap sandals are depressing that’s the perfect word for them! xxx
No Fear of Fashion
Beautiful outfit. I love that colour green (or blue? I am a bit colourblind with blue and green. This basket bag looks very good with the solid colours of the outfit. Gives it pizazz (I like that word).
I have never favoured wicker bags as the often damage my clothes. Your bag won’t, I can see that.
Greetje
PS, you are shooting in RAW? Hmm I might try that too. I stopped it because it took me so much upload time.
MT
It’s not just you Greetje quite a few have called this shirt green! I see blue but what do I know? It’s a beautiful colour, that’s the main thing 😉
Regarding RAW – I have wanted to get my teeth stuck into it for a long time but was worried about falling behind on my posting schedule because I’d be learning on the go. I haven’t seen any excessive time on upload however, in fact it’s almost the same. Turns out the entire process is completely addictive, I’ve spent many hours having a ball editing & marvelling at all the amazing tricks. However a word of warning, you need a lot of extra storage for the large files. Also you have to buy the software to edit them back to jpeg. Otherwise it’s just trial & error & nothing is ever lost, you can go straight back to the original if you mess up – Go for it! x
No Fear of Fashion
I have Lightroom, so it is no problem to get them back to jpeg. I will try it again. See whether it makes much difference. Now I have files of about 9 MB in JPEG, but still I can adjust them with white balans, colour, cropping. So I have to see whether it is worth the bother.. I store all my original photos on an external hard disk and in iCloud, so no sweat.
MT
Good idea Greetje but just so you know, I found the changes to jpeg images not as obvious as from RAW. Perhaps you want to shoot in both to have a play around? That way you’ll get a better result to compare. Have fun!
Suzy Turner
I love the wicker bag and it’s perfect with that outfit – gorgeous blouse, by the way. The sandals are divine and wonderful that They’re 12 years old and still going strong!
Suzy x
www/suzyturner.com
MT
Thanks Suzy, this bag would be perfect for you in the Algarve. I can see you now wearing a wide brimmed hat, white broderie anglaise dress & swinging this basket bag walking along a pretty path xx
jacqui
I’m loving your basket, I used mine last week, makes me feel like it’s summer – yay! Jacqui
http://www.mummabstylish.com
MT
Oh boy Jacqui please tell me it’ll be warmer soon!