They are spring’s freshest picks: handbags constructed from earthy elements.
Straw, jute, raffia, linen, burlap and cotton are cropping up to add a textural twist to multifunctional totes, drawstrings, slings and backpacks that deliver enough style and function to go from the subway to the office to dinner.
“We’re talking natural-both in fabric and shape,” says Sandra Wilson, accessory fashion director at Neiman Marcus in Chicago. “There is an emphasis on great natural fibers and neutral colors.”
Part of the natural trend is the perennial spring shift to lighter and softer looks after winter’s dreariness. But this year’s organically influenced bags also are an outgrowth of an overall dramatically relaxed fashion silhouette.
It’s a development that has more than sartorial impact: Lighter fabrics mean you can get more bags for your bucks.
“Fabric tends to be less expensive than leather,” says Marcy Abramson, handbag buyer for Lori’s Designer Shoes in Chicago. “A woman can buy more than one bag for spring. She can have various looks for a (reasonable) price.”
For example, Gap has a backpack in linen for $48 and Banana Republic has a crocheted cotton style for $34.
Still think these natural bags might be too lightweight to do daily duty? Here’s how they can work:
– Choose a smaller natural style to function in the “mother ship bag-pilot purse” mode. Stash it inside a larger, year-round bag and use it to lighten your load by toting only minimal essentials.
– Consider a natural bag the practical way to add a new, subtle touch of softness to a number of looks without having to invest in lots of relaxed, sheer clothing with limited wearability.
