Shopping
Angelina Jolie’s roomy raffia tote is beach-ready — get the look starting at $18
Have you ever carried a loaded-down leather tote or shoulder bag on a hot day? I have, and as the sweat dripped down my arm, all I could think about was how much I wished I had something lighter. Enter Angelina Jolie, looking effortlessly beautiful and stylish at the airport in New York City. Rather than lugging a bulky, heavy leather bag, Jolie opted for an easy-breezy, lightweight raffia purse.
Jolie’s Saint Laurent bag is the ultimate summer splurge. The purse is made from hand-embroidered raffia and features calfskin leather and brass details.
Before your eyes pop out of their sockets, I’m in no way suggesting you blow your mortgage for the next six months on Jolie’s Saint Laurent handbag. While her tote is lovely, it is astronomically expensive, and totally out of reach for us mere mortals. And why even think about spending $5,000 on a straw bag when there are so many ways to get the look for less? Check out a few of my favorite raffia picks below, all inspired by Jolie’s designer style but starting at just $18.
Like a little less slouch and a little more structure? Grab this bucket bag that’s less than $20. The shoulder strap is made from vegan leather and easily wipes clean.
“I bought this purse two years ago. I have used it through almost two long Phoenix summers and during travel. I am hard on purses and don’t buy expensive ones. This has lasted amazingly well,” one shopper commented.
If you like the shape of Jolie’s bag, check out this similar style from Amazon. It’s made from natural straw and has a magnetic closure at the top to keep your belongings secure. Shoppers say it’s lightweight and large enough to fit a day’s worth of beach essentials.
Neutral tan will match all your summer outfits, but if you like color, you’ll appreciate that this bag also comes in five bright hues like orange, aqua and yellow. Customers say there’s more than enough space for your stuff.
Fans of this bag rave that it’s the “perfect summer carry-all.” The faux-leather strap has a 10-inch drop, so you can comfortably carry it in your hand, wrist or shoulder.
This bag has an airy open weave that just screams summer. It’s made of recycled paper and also comes in a beach-ready aqua. “Great tote [that] holds so much!” said one fan.
Scoring something substantial at Madewell for less than $60 is worth celebrating, which is why you shouldn’t hesitate to add this versatile straw tote to your cart. It’s a bestseller that’s “so cute and lightweight,” one shopper wrote. “It stays on my shoulder!”
Need an extra-large bag that fits a book, a laptop and other daily must-haves with space to spare? Treat yourself to this roomy purse, designed to hang nicely on your shoulder without weighing you down.
This simple, good-looking shoulder bag looks strikingly similar to Jolie’s Saint Laurent style, minus the gold hardware. Handmade by artisans using sustainable materials, it’s also available in black.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.