Summer Ruffles & Tassels

For me, summertime styling has always been about fabulous bright colors, easy breezy dresses, and straw bags/totes! This summer straw bags/totes have evolved into so much more than just storing SPF and towels for the beach. I'm obsessed, as the varieties now include embellished totes, rattan clutches, and elaborate cross-body pouches. Although I didn't showcase them seen on the catwalk, they've certainly been popular amongst various bloggers on the sidewalk ;-) I too am guilty of this adorable, and very chic versatile trend. My little Jadetribe tote has been everything this summer, as well as my life-altering woven cross-body (which literally I wore on repeat during our trip to NYC seen here). A little history on the beloved straw bag and it's evolution: During my fav era of the 1950s, the straw tote came to be seen as a stylish item associated with luxurious travel, sold in holiday destinations as a chic souvenir. Only few notable high-class women carried such bags during the summer with their resort-wear. But wicker’s most enduring style moment came in the late 1960s and 1970s, when Jane Birkin made a picnic basket her signature accessory when she was out and about in Paris, Cannes and London. She didn’t know it then, but she was planting the seed for a million Instagram #inspo posts. Fast-forward to 2018, and these baskets are no longer basic nor only associated for luxury travel, they're now imaginative and ornate, and I'm m'fn' here for it! Now we can all get our glam on, one straw bag at a time ;-)