Button-up tank / Cropped jeans / Beaded bag
I’m a total tee shirt and jeans kinda gal. In the spring and summer time especially, you’ll most likely find me in a sleeveless tee or tank, and a pair of semi-stretchy jean shorts (or cropped jeans, depending on the weather). To me, it’s the perfect comfy-cool outfit, though admittedly, not the most interesting…
But throw on some jewelry, a pair of heels, sunnies, and – my favorite accessory – a unique bag, and all of a sudden the whole look just got an upgrade. By mixing the two base pieces with little points of interest that catch the eye, we’ve now transitioned into something effortless and minimal-chic!
When it comes to handbags, springtime is one of my favorite seasons to experiment with new styles. It’s a time when I carefully store away my black leather handbag, and instead reach for more beachy, summery bags in lighter hues and exotic textures and materials.
This year, in effort to stick with a more ‘minimalist wardrobe’ but at the same time, allow myself to have a little fun with this season’s trends (almost all of which I’m loving!), I’m made it my mission to find two – and only two – new bags to add to my spring/summer wardrobe, and to keep those in rotation this season (and hopefully many more seasons to come!).
The first new bag I picked up? A 60’s-70’s style wooden beaded bag…
There are so many things I love about this bag! For one, it’s a crossbody – my favorite style, mainly because of how comfortable and practical they are. I can simply toss it over my body and go completely hands-free. The chain strap adds a bit of edge (and yet, looks more delicate than the typical stiff, thick strap across the chest), and the wooden beads? That’s my favorite part – they create the most unique texture, and give the bag 60’s-70’s era vintage, beachy-vibes. Most importantly, the size is perfect for tossing in my credit card holder and phone, plus I can even slip in my Kindle for those longer trips.
After discovering this one, I couldn’t help but explore more beaded bag styles (turns out they’re actually pretty hard to find!). Here are a few others that caught my eye…
The Beaded Bag
I could probably live happily all spring and summer with just this one bag, but to mix things up outfit-wise and also to give it a break from daily wear (that’s Marie Kondo whispering in my head!), I’ve been on the hunt for another versatile, summery bag. Thing is, there are so many great styles out there, that I’m finding it very difficult to narrow it down to just one!
Keep reading for four more handbag trends that I’ve been loving this season – for their ability to completely elevate a look, and because they’re just plain fun to carry around!
The Caged Bag
Though maybe not the most practical (I can already imagine cash, coins, and credit cards slipping through the caging!), these structured caged bags are one of the more interesting styles I’ve come across. The rectangular ones look almost like mini briefcases, and though not exactly office-friendly, I could imagine grabbing one for an evening out, paired up with a black or white dress. The curved ones, on the other hand, have more of a beachy-vibe and would look gorgeous paired up with floral dresses and tanks.
The Basket Bag
This style bag has me day-dreaming of running through fields and picking flowers on a sunny spring day! Though I’ll probably never use one in that exact setting, I imagine it might at the very least spark up that whimsical, playful feeling just by carrying it around with me… 🙂
The Woven Circle Bag
I’ve been seeing the circle bag everywhere, especially on Instagram, and while that’s often a reason for me not to buy something, I happen to have a very personal liking for this style. For one, it’s practical in that it’s the perfect size to hold all the essentials and keep everything secure. At the same time, it’s minimally-designed (and pairs well with virtually every casual outfit), and has a vintage, laid-back feel that I’m loving.
The Minimalist Bag
And then they are these more timeless, minimal-chic bags, with their clean lines and no distracting buckles or flaps. They’re also probably the most versatile out of these four styles as they’d pair well with both casual and more elegant outfits. I’m especially loving pastel colors for spring and summer – from seafoam green to light mauve – which mix in a bit of a vintage feel as well.
SHOP THE LOOK
What’s your favorite style bag for spring and summer?
