Bask in it: why raffia works with everything in the summer | Jess Cartner-Morley

Woven bags and sandals bring a happy sense of being off the clock, a Saturday morning vibe

I am holding a raffia bag, but to be honest, it could be a straw hat, or a woven picnic basket, or basket-weave sandals. Raffia is fashion’s favourite way to do this look, being softer and more supple than straw and therefore easier to craft into wearables, but it’s the basket vibe that counts.

This summer you can buy a seagrass lampshade in Ikea for £13 or Miu Miu raffia mules with crystal-studded soles for £460. You can style your interiors with jute rugs and bamboo placemats, and match your woven hoop earrings to your raffia belt. Raffia is the new leopard print: a neutral with an edge, the accent piece that makes you look and feel a bit jazzy. Summer vibes, but make it fashion.