By Guia Rossi. Cover Image courtesy Tampa shoulder bag by Isabel Marant and Hobo Summer Banana crochet bag by Chloé.
Which Summer Bag Trends Match Your Holiday Mood in 2025?
There is one fashion accessory—after shoes, of course—that can truly be considered essential in building anyone’s look: the handbag. Someone once said, “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a handbag, and that’s pretty close,” and also, “The bag you carry may or may not grab attention, but it’s the person who carries it that makes the statement.” These quotes hint at the immense value of these portable treasure chests, indispensable for carrying our worlds around and completing our mood alongside our outfits. Whether it’s an oversized tote or a tiny pouch, bags allow us to express—indirectly and without words—who we are or who we want to be that day.
Thinking about vacations and packing—whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist—also means choosing the perfect summer bags to match your seasonal mindset. Raffia, suede, transparent nylon, or buttery yellow silk? It’s simple: every trend reflects a different holiday style.
Raffia Bags 2025: The Timeless Summer Statement
A timeless summer staple, raffia and straw bags—woven naturally or dyed in bold graphic patterns—often come adorned with leather details on the handles, pocket trims, or zippers. From the iconic woven basket carried by Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot through the streets of Saint-Tropez to the flared, oversized taco bags in the style of The Row’s Emile, straw bags have evolved far beyond their beach-only reputation to become true protagonists of summer days. From Loewe’s classic Basket with its asymmetric handle to Celine’s elegant Panier, the summer 2025 raffia bag lineup includes standout pieces like Chloé’s Hobo Summer Banana, made of woven raffia with a leather shoulder strap, the Goldentime fringed raffia tote by Zimmermann, and Hermès’ luxurious take on the classic basket bag.
Style of Vacation: cozy and hip. From the Italian Coast to the Côte du Sud, from Corsica to Sicily.
Butter Yellow Bags 2025: Paint Your Summer in Style
Butter yellow is the standout color of Spring/Summer 2025—especially irresistible when applied to holiday accessories. During the most beautiful months of the year, it’s all about shoulder bags, mini duffels, and crossbody styles. Smooth, polished leather bags with soft, rounded edges and graphic straps—evoking early 2000s aesthetics—elevate outfits rooted in understated normal elegance, built around neutral tones, crisp whites, and soft greys.
Which models to look out for? Virtually the entire Jacquemus line in Pale Yellow—from The Chiquito to The Grand Bambino—as well as Bottega Veneta’s butter-hued Intrecciato bags, where the color transforms into Ice Cream and Camomile shades in the knotted Jodie Bag, the Andiamo shopper, and the brand-new Bang Bang case-style bag with a zipper and shoulder strap.
Style of Vacation: essentials. On a Greek island, in Portugal, effortlessly chic with just the right touch of sun-soaked simplicity.
Suede Bags 2025: The Unexpected Summer Trend
Are suede bags in for Summer 2025? Yes, absolutely. And “Is suede good for summer?” is another frequently asked question—and the answer is still yes. The contrast of textures—particularly when colour is used thoughtfully—adds a striking edge to any summer look.
Unlined suede saddle bags, shoulder styles, and oversized totes in earthy solid shades like rust, electric blue, true olive, or mauve, often paired with leather handles, are perfect companions—even for the most adventurous urban explorations.
Just look at the brown suede version of Miu Miu’s Adventure bag: a soft rectangular shoulder-crossbody hybrid roomy enough to hold everything and more. Also in the top five: the clean, sculptural lines of the Lotus bag by Khaite and, for the return of the boho-chic aesthetic, Isabel Marant’s Altay Hobo, Tampa, and Anahi styles, as well as Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello’s Y Tote, Le 5 à 7, Amalia, and the soft drawstring Pochon Jamie.
Style of Vacation: Northern Europe with a design-forward twist. Think niche shopping, museum-hopping, and outdoor movie nights—an effortlessly curated mix of culture, creativity, and cool summer layers.
Pouch Bags 2025: Soft, Chic Accessories for Summer Nights
Among the Summer 2025 bag trends, there’s no shortage of styles designed for nightlife: soft, versatile mini pouches with drawstring straps meant to be worn around the wrist, swinging freely and elegantly. These are the modern-day, reimagined versions of the reticules and minaudières of the 18th and 19th centuries—small evening bags carried by high-society women who minimized what they carried to keep the focus on the opulence of their gowns. Fast-forward to today, and we’re drawn to the allure of Bottega Veneta’s soft Pouch, Loewe’s Flamenco clutch, Gabriela Hearst’s Soft Demi clutch, MSGM’s sequin drawstring bag, and HALÍTE’s ultra-desirable bags—now true fetish items, ready to be chosen and personalized like a bespoke dress. To answer every need, occasion, and personality with a touch of chic flair: make it salty. That’s what their mantra says.
Style of Vacation: where the night never ends. Capri, Costa Smeralda, Formentera—glamorous escapes where sunset blends into sunrise, and the bag you carry dances with you till dawn.
See-Through Bags 2025: The Bold, Transparent Trend for Summer
Finally, there are the uber-tech mesh bags with a faintly luminous quality that practically reveal everything you carry inside. A bold statement, but also a challenge to those who spend too much time scrutinizing others’ looks. Oversized shopping bags and single-strap backpacks embody a futuristic mood cloaked in a sporty palette of white, gray, and black. From the runways, we fell in love with the tote shoppers by Proenza Schouler, Calella tote by Hereu x Ruohan, and The Row, as well as the bucket bag from COS.
Style of Vacation: whether exploring a bustling international city or indulging in a lavish resort retreat. From Tokyo to Seoul and Oackland or anywhere in between.
