Must-have accessory of the month
They're romantic, roomy and go well with just about any daytime look, but straw bags do have one downside: they're not the most practical accessories to rely on when the weather's a little on the wet side. A soggy basket is not the best solution for carrying round life's little essentials.
Still, now those April showers have disappeared and sunnier weather's on the way, it's time to indulge your inner romantic heroine and invest in a cute basket. It's fab for the beach, perfect for shopping trips - and ideal for those all-important picnics and paperbacks for an afternoon in the park.
Fashionistas have been tripping over themselves to flash the cash on the monochrome Chanel version - a snip at £850! But frankly, we prefer the far more affordable collection of traditional baskets - many with pretty details such as flowers and bows - available to buy online or on the high street.
Want some examples? Online boutique Star Blu (www.starblu.com) has a stunningly pretty trio of straw baskets, in a choice of turquoise, pink or gold/silver. They're big enough to carry all your must-haves to the beach - and they make a stylish, eco-friendly alternative to the much-maligned plastic bag if you're off to the supermarket. Priced £35.50, they're hard-wearing enough to see you through a few more summers.
We also love the Billy Bag pink Curly Whirly basket bag from Powder Rooms (£30; www.powderrooms.com): it features a zip-up inner pocket big enough to store your purse and keys. Best buys on the high street include Matalan's Natural Matallic handle straw bag (£6; www.matalan.co.uk), and Topshop's cute Stripe Straw Oval Tote Bag (£30; www.topshop.com), which features a chain handle and zip fastening, meaning it works for evening, too.
And if you're feeling creative, remember you can always customise a plain basket with ribbons, pretty buttons or even fresh flowers.
