Spring is just around the corner and then summer will arrive, with flip flops, big hats, white jeans, and straw bags. I’ve found several straw totes to share, in case you’re looking for a new tote bag for summer.
When I’ve had enough of winter, I spend a little time looking at the current summer fashions. My bathing suits are very worn out and I need to try on new ones this year. Finding a new tote is more fun than trying on bathing suits and I already picked out a French style tote for this year. The totes remind me of warm sunshine, trips to the beach, and shopping at outdoor markets.
I found several items on Etsy and a few at TJMaxx (online). While the Etsy finds tend to always be available, the TJMaxx items sell out and are not replaced with the same items. Hopefully they’ll be around for a few weeks. There are plenty of options from other department stores, but they are pricier and I didn’t include them.
Several of the bags are unlined. Since they are made of woven materials, you might want to store small items, such as keys, inside a small zippered bag to keep them from possibly escaping through the weave of the bag.
French Bag with Leather Clasp
This bag, from French Baskets on Etsy, feels like a classic French market tote. I like the leather strap closure. It’s big enough to hold a beach towel, sunscreen, book, and whatever else you need to carry to the beach. It’s unlined.
French Baskets has many styles to choose from, including the classic open straw bag with leather handles, a version with short and long handles for hand or shoulder carrying, a blue or red gingham-lined bag (I’d have a hard time choosing between these two colors), or a handy backpack style.
Black and White Striped Lined Bag
I like the smart black and white lining in this bag, from ArtisticsByChandima on Etsy, and the matching fabric on the underside of the faux leather handles. The zipper closure is a plus for keeping things secure, and there is an inside pocket.
Purple and Green African Woven Sisal Bag
This bag’s colors are stunning. The brightly woven sisal bag, from AfrikanCraftsKE on Etsy, is handmade by women in a village in Machakos, Kenya.
The shop has several of these unlined bags in different colors, including one in orange and blue and another in orange and black.
Embroidered Straw Bag
You’ll be carrying summer sunshine everywhere you go with this woven bag adorned with embroidered flowers. The bag, from UrbanFernzBags on Etsy, has a cotton lining and zipper closure.
Tall Woven Tote
This roomy blue tote, from TJMaxx, appears to be woven from a type of grass. The bag also comes in a beautiful shade of red.
There are several other totes from the same company (Le Comptoir De La Plage) being sold at TJMaxx, so you might find one in a different style or size that you like. For example, there is a bicolored checkered version and another smaller tote in several colors.
All of the totes are unlined and open at the top. The descriptions say “non leather”, so I assume that the handles are made of a leather-like material.
Jute Beach Tote with Shells
TJMaxx advertises this as a beach tote and with shells and lots of room, it will be perfect for the beach. It would also work well to carry home your fresh lettuce and corn on the cob from the market. The bag is unlined and open at the top.
Multicolored Jute Beach Tote
This cheerfully colored tote with tassels, from TJMaxx, is perfect for carrying supplies to the beach. I like the combination of natural materials and fabric strips woven into the tote. It is unlined and is open at the top.
Multicolor Woven Cloth Tote
Here’s one more colorful woven tote from TJMaxx, made of fabric pieces sewn together. The tote is lined, has a zippered interior pocket, and a zipper closure at the top. It looks like a generous size for all of your summer activities.
Related Posts
These posts might help you get in the mood for spring and summer.
- Spring Buds, 2021
- Enjoying Spring in Massachusetts, 2020
- Early Spring in Central Park, NYC
- Spring Flowers in Brooklyn, NY
- Visiting Chappaquiddick, Martha’s Vineyard
- Illumination Night on Martha’s Vineyard
- Coastal Day Trips from Boston
Here are some older posts about tote bags.