From H&M to Loewe, I Found the Staple French Women Wear Each Summer

With trends constantly coming in and out of the sartorial world, it can be rare to find one that stands the test of time. But one trend continues to pop up every summer without fail and has has also been a French favorite since the '80s: woven bags. Whether it's rattan, straw, raffia, or jute, the trend seems to be the ultimate summer staple that won't go away anytime soon.

When you think of Jane Birkin, the iconic Hermès bag will instantly come to mind, but what you might not know is that a basket bag was also one of the French actress's top handbags of choice. It completed her relaxed "cool-girl" look, and it's safe to say the Hermès bag isn't the only timeless bag she's championed. A woven bag completes any summer ensemble, whether you're running errands or relaxing on vacation. Plus, who doesn't want to emulate French style?

While the actress used to shop for her woven bags on her travels, you can shop for your own from the comfort of your home. I've scanned the market for the best picks, from affordable options at H&M to investment-worthy bags by Loewe. Keep scrolling to find your pick for the season ahead.

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(Image credit: @frannfyne)

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(Image credit: @lucywilliams02)

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(Image credit: @tamaramory)

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(Image credit: @monikh)

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(Image credit: @thatgirlyusra)

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Next, 10 Outdated Summer Dress Trends We're Skipping and the 10 We're Buying Instead

Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning at Who What Wear in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew that Who What Wear was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing the latest thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of the latest Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content for Who What Wear's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading the latest Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.