Last year I became obsessed with owning a wicker bag. This Prada bag to be exact. As one does when they become obsessed with something I told everyone that would listen how badly I wanted it. I showed it to my roommate, babbled on and on to my mom that I was about to spend entirely too much money on a bag, and stalked the bag both in stores and online. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, life happened and I realized that I had no business purchasing a big ticket item last spring. By the time the fall rolled around I was financially ready to make a bag purchase, but the obsession with my dream wicker bag had fallen aside. Fast forward to a year later and not only is the wicker bag trend back big time, but so is the exact bag that I wanted last spring. I can’t help but give wicker another thought, especially with so many new wicker bags popping up! It seems that every one of our favorite designers has a wicker bag available for sale right now. I know what a lot of you are thinking—hard no!—but I am wondering if some of you are feeling the trend like I am. I’m eyeing the Fendi below, but what about you guys? Would you buy into the wicker trend?
Fendi Small Flip Bag ($3,390)
Prada Basket Tote ($1,550)
Romantic Schultz Tasseled Wicker Tote ($810)
Mark Cross Benchley Bag ($2,595)
Miu Miu Wicker Madras Bag ($1,790)
Gucci Sylvie Bag ($3,890)
Ferragamo Wicker Studio Bag ($2,400)
Prada Small Basket Tote ($1,420)
Just bought the Zara City bag in a lovely vintage shape for about 25 euros. Think it is called ‘natural city bag with chains’. Honestly, so lovely and well made for that price.
Yes.
Not for these prices, no. But in my late teens to early 20s, I carried my Moroccan/French market basket (https://jeannebeatrice.com/la-mer/) as my handbag. I still have it- it’s very well made and durable and less than $50! Plus the company partners and co-creates with many non-profits and environmental/humanitarian organizations.
Personally I wouldn’t buy a wicker bag.
I’ve admired the Prada from afar, but the price makes me hesitate. My questions are: is it durable? Will it transition year to year? Will they ever go on sale so if I made the decision to purchase I can? 🙂
As someone from the 80’s era of duck shoes, whale ribbon belts, etc. I have to give this awful wicker look a big fat no. There’s something so pretentious and stuffy about this look. DISCLAIMER: these are my opinions. They may differ from yours and that’s okay. We’re talking about purses…keep it in perspective. (There are some uptight people on this site).
I ABSOULTEY can relate!!! I have loved the Prada Basket tote and thought about buying it as well as continue to stalk if some done by Gucci or YSL would hit to a point that I could justify it. I actually do think that most of these are pretty durable; however I get stuck on price as well since it is so seasonal and I already have a lot of bags at this point. I actually bought one off Five Story made by some women in the Bahamas that was gorgeous last year and it is funny b/c now I want another contemporary brand one that I have seen, but I haven’t even carried the original one I bought enough. I think for these pieces depending on your expected use, budget, and bag catalog it could be a good purchase. I might even recommend buying one of the more affordable contemporary ones for a couple hundred dollars to see if you use it and then, if so, maybe try to use a friends/family code or sale. I have seen some good reviews on the Ulla Johnson ones.
Yes. $75.00, maximum.
I love the wicker bags. Personally I would only use it if I was going on a picnic or to the beach. ?
Yes but not a designer one. I’ll either get it from the Philippines or Indonesia.
I’ve been eyeing the Ferragamo, but the price has prevented me from purchasing. Maybe it will go on sale or I can find at an outlet?
I bought a mint condition vintage wicker bag many years ago. To date, I have never used it and it remains in a dust bag in my closet. I can relate with the idea but my actual purchase was not realistic to my lifestyle needs.
Absolutely. I’ve seen a few on Amazon and TJMaxx that have caught my eye. All of which are under $40. I wouldn’t pay anymore than that for a seasonal bag. Most of my bags I wear year ‘round, but a wicker bag, in my opinion, is too obviously seasonal.
Is it just me or is the trend pushing towards a more earthy, preppy, street style, and these bags are just going perfectly with that?
I saw some nice ones in TJ Maxx for under $75 dollars the other day. They’re cute, but so seasonal, I would never spend more than $100.
Sure, if I’m shopping at a farmer’s market or going through the woods to visit my sick grandmother. Otherwise, they look like something Sophia Petrillo would use on Golden Girls.
Palmgrens Rattan Collection is a perfect price-point in terms of Wicker bag trends
I got one I am OBSESSED with from loeffler randall and that was the absolute high end of what I would spend on wicker ($250). I felt crazy pulling the trigger on that one even, but it was too cute. I couldn’t resist.
Cute but FAR too pricey. They remind me of the 1960s straw woven basket purses that were designed after fishermen’s lobster baskets. You can buy beautifully woven straw and rattan basket purses and bags from many ethnic markets and online, such as at Etsy. But then you won’t have the flashy designer names plastered on them.
I bought my wicker bags from Topshop this year. They have a stunning collection of bags in general this season. I wouldn’t wear the designer ones enough to justify the price tag.
You can buy gorgeous vintage wicker bags on etsy.
I love wicker bags! I cannot wait until the Hermes Kelly Picnic comes out in boutiques! I am so looking forward to adding one of those bags to my collection. I just purchased the Hermes Picnic CDC that is absolutely stunning since it is all Hand woven!
God, no..it’s a damn basket! Wicker bags are very cute but they are not worth dropping major bucks on when there are so many fun ones around for next to nothing. I won’t pay money for PVC or other plastic crap, either. Fine leather with good design elements is a whole other story, but even in these cases I have to think that these designers know women are fools for a high price tag and a name. I love my Chanel’s , just adore them, but they’re all vintage. I’d die before I paid full price for any designer bag.
Love the bags but not the prices! I have a 1950s wicker bag in perfect condition that I bought at an estate sale for $1.50; it’s my gorgeous spring / summer bag.
I have the Prada wicker bag in the exact same soft pink color shown in this post. I LOVE it! Last summer when I carried it, everywhere I went I was getting compliments. It has to be one of my “complimented” bags…everyone wanted to know about it and where I purchased it, etc… The only con for that bag is I have to be careful that I don’t have a lot of lotion on my hands since the handles are canvas. So far they have stayed nice and clean. I think I’ll cover them with Twillys this summer. I can’t speak for everywhere, but here in the the south where I live, wicker bags will forever be in style for spring/summer…and we have a nice long warm-weather season starting in April and ending mid-September. It’s definitely a “forever” bag in my collection.
No I would never. It’s tempting to get a cheaper one for the summer but that just means accumulating more stuff in my closet so it’s a hard pass.
Last year I noticed a cute J Crew wicker clutch being carried by both Meghan Markle and Pippa Middleton, so went online and bought that as well as another wicker clutch design from J. Crew. I live in a southeastern resort area so wicker bags are popular here and we have more warm weather months in which to carry them. Of course my J Crew clutches are nowhere near the prices of the bags above, but they do a great job of effortlessly pulling my summer outfits together and are super cute. I’ve taken a hard look at myself lately and what is really important in the world (to me), and am trying to be a better steward of the gifts that we have been blessed with. For me that has meant being more thoughtful about luxury purchases and instead being much more financially involved in causes that matter to me. I still have no issue with spending $$$$ on a beautiful designer bag, but would have to say no to high dollar wicker.
I love these bags for summer, BUT i can’t bring myself to pay that much for wicker. Not these bags shown, but some of the wicker bags being sold for $300 plus look exactly like something I could pick up at an Asian market for a few dollars. It makes me cringe.
Worth the price if it’s under 20 €. More than that – nope. A bag that can’t keep water out and will break easily is like my nightmare – the Finnish summer contains 4 seasons and you can never know when it’s going to rain, shine or snow.
No can’t justify spending $$$ on a seasonal bag especially living in NY, where I would be lucky to wear it at least 2 mos out of the year. Etsy is the way to go if you want a wicker bag so many pretty ones to choose from and all at reasonable prices.
From a brand like Kate Spade/Draper James/etc., yes. I would never invest more than, say, $200 in something so seasonal.