17 best beach bags for every holiday, trip and getaway this summer (and beyond)
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In the same way that a bikini or one-piece swimsuit is a highly-considered purchase, your hunt for the best beach bags should also be given the same time and attention, so that you end up with something that will see you through many years of holidays. Accessories maketh an outfit, after all.
The days when you'd retrieve a misshapen and sand-filled beach bag from the depths of your wardrobe – seconds before you leave for the airport – are long gone. Now, beach bags are your trusty sunshine sidekick and in recent years raffia bags have become cult items you can wear at home too.
Designer brands have made beach bags the new investment piece, with the Loewe basket bag and the Prada raffia tote bag all but taking over our social media feeds, proving that they work just as well in the city as they do poolside. Another one we can't stop lusting after in the GLAMOUR offices? Coach's Straw Tote (which is, coincidentally, on sale RN).
So whether you’re making a beeline for the airport or heading off on a British weekend break, your spring/summer looks won't be complete without a summer bag in tow. Luckily, there are plenty of stylish designs doing the rounds right now that'll take you from the check-in gate, to the beach, to bar and back again.
For 2024, raffia, bamboo and canvas styles remain big news, while Dragon Diffusion's woven leather is also beautiful for sun-drenched holidays. Loewe's basket bags are still going strong, and the latest collaboration with Paula's Ibiza sees the house's iconic It-bags, such as the Puzzle and the Puzzle Fold, receive a raffia treatment. Saint Laurent's Rive Gauche tote is what Rosie Huntington-Whiteley takes with her to the Amalfi Coast, and has enough space for valuables like your book, sandals, sun cream/sunscreen/SPF, a spare T-shirt and possibly even your kitchen sink.
There are some equally-chic beach bags over on the high street, too, which look endlessly more expensive than their accessible price tags would suggest. Need proof? Marks & Spencer's square-shaped basket bag has us dreaming of a vacation to the Amalfi coast, while H&M's jute-blend shopper looks ten times its price.
Want to prepare for summer even more? We've got tonnes of swimwear guides, including all the best crinkle swimsuits from the hottest swimwear brands. Plus, all the summer dresses, and beach essentials you'll need for the warm weather ahead.