Nothing says summer like a straw bag. This rang especially true last year, when “prairie-core” was the unlikely style of the season, exemplified by a long, modest Batsheva-esque dress worn with a vintage-looking picnic basket. The image evokes a simpler, more quaint time, when a woman could theoretically spend her Sunday churning butter as opposed to scrolling the timeline and worrying about impending doom. It’s a nice idea, sure, but you wouldn’t be blamed for sitting the trend out this summer.
The straw bag will never go out of style, though (and neither will picnics). So if you don’t want to give up the quintessential summer accessory, this one by Max Mara, pictured above, feels a bit more appropriate for modern city life. With a thick leather strap and drawstring top, it’s perfect for an afternoon in Prospect Park, or a ride on a crowded subway.