Jane Birkin's personal Hermès Birkin bag prototype up for auction
Jane Birkin's Hermés bag was the first ever, personally crafted for her lifestyle and it's now up for auction with record-breaking expectations.
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Elle
08-08-2025
- Elle
Raffia Bags Are An It-Girl Favourite – These Are The 13 Best To Buy Now
Raffia bags have long been a summer mainstay, but they've felt particularly covetable this year. It's not just an ELLE UK hunch, either: Net-a-Porter customer searches for this accessory have increased by 240 per cent in the last three months. It seems we all want to get in on the laissez faire breed of elegance that finds inspiration in the wardrobes of Jane Birkin (when she wasn't carrying her namesake Hermès it was always something raffia or straw), Alexa Chung and every street style star with a Loewe on her arm. It's also worth considering that, perhaps down to the boho renaissance, or fashion's current penchant for natural textures – suede is back in a big way, too. Either way, the current fever goes way beyond the standard basket bag you take abroad once a year. In 2025, raffia has been reimagined for work (with sturdy leather-backed totes), for the city (think teeny tiny shoulder bags), for play (souped-up clutches for weddings) and of course for the beach (enormous hobo totes that'll fit everything but the kitchen sink). But what exactly is raffia? Helen Kaminiski, the Australian designer who's been working with this fabric in her accessories since 1983, explains: 'Although both straw and raffia are natural fibres, they are very different in their origin and attributes. Straw is the dry stalk of cereal plants such as rice, rye, corn, oats and barley. Since it is a by-product of grain harvests, it is inexpensive and plentiful. It absorbs moisture, can become quite brittle over time, and is a stiff fibre meaning it cannot easily be manipulated for fit or shape. Raffia, on the contrary, has a natural resin in its leaves which increases its longevity; it also makes each strand flexible and pliant but also wonderfully resilient and slightly waterproof, preventing it from cracking.' So that explains why the raffia has taken off in a separate entity to the beach-staple straw bag. And it also affirms that, although it is a natural fibre that will wear with age, raffia is well worth the investment. So perhaps you can afford to splash out on that investment after all... but if not, we've included affordable bag options from as little as £50. We're kicking things off with DeMellier's Capri bag because it's the kind of piece that'll see you through several seasons. The sustainable raffia (which took years to source, as most fibres are laced with plastic, founder Mireia Llusia-Lindh tells ELLE) is backed by tan leather for structure and a slick city vibe. Also currently spiking in searches on Net-a-Porter is Chloé's raffia bag. It's no secret the French fashion house is hot property at the moment and basically owns the boho aesthetic. Trend or no trend, this accessory is always a wardrobe mainstay. The Polène tote bag is our favourite in this edit. It's made from hand-crocheted raffia that has a unique knotted, honeycomb effect. Paired with the sculptural shape and overstitched tan leather, this tote will translate beyond the beach. M&S' oversized tote has a high-fashion silhouette. In jet-black raffia with a sculptural gold handle, this hobo bag has a cool, late-Sixties feel. We don't need to tell you that shell motifs and raffia are some of summer 2025's biggest accessory trends. So, why not tick two boxes in one with this Sensi Studio clutch bag? Another great beach-to-city option. Made from neutral raffia, this roomy tote is trimmed with black leather and topped with silver studs. Carry it in-hand or over the shoulder by switching between strap lengths. Scalloped edging and clever seams means Radley's tote is tapping into this season's obsession with all things shell. This raffia bag is unlined but comes with a sewn-in drawstring bag and cardholder so you can store essentials. The Loewe Paula's Ibiza collection has been going for eight years now. And, lest we forget, it's the collaboration that's launched many a basket bag. This season's version features different raffia weaves, rainbow stripe trims and leather accents. Khaite has reimagined its signature Olivia bag in soft raffia for SS25. If you don't do throw-it-all-in open beach bags, you'll appreciate the zip fastening on this one. A great evening option, Simkhai's bag is a simple but elevated take on the trend. Made from unlined raffia for a lightweight feel, it's topped with a twisted gold-tone handle that's a talking point all on its own. & Other Stories' tote is made from a woven raffia and piped in black for contrast. Choose from this shade or an on-trend chocolate hue. This Staud bag is the perfect summer wedding guest accessory, but it'll also work at al fresco dinners abroad. Made from cream raffia, it's dotted with irregular pearlescent beads to create a beautiful iridescent effect. Helen Kaminski knows raffia. In fact, the Aussie designer first came to fame back in 1983 when she launched a hat made of the stuff – her first bag came later in 1990. This Lipari style is crafted in a large bucket shape and trimmed with tan leather. Abigail Southan is our Senior Fashion Ecommerce Editor and has five years' experience as a writer and editor in the industry. Abigail has a BA in History from the University of Bristol and an MA in Fashion Journalism from Central Saint Martins. Abigail currently covers all things style and shopping across titles including Harper's Bazaar, ELLE, Esquire and Red. On a daily basis, she helps readers buy better with how-to-wear guides, first-person product reviews and deep dives into the latest trends. Previously, Abigail has worked for The Sunday Times' Style and Fabulous magazine as their first ecommerce writer and was a founding editor of Sun Selects. She has also written for Net-a-Porter, I-D, Man About Town, Wonderland and 1 Granary, and has interviewed the likes of Paris Hilton, Dua Lipa and Christopher Bailey. You can follow Abigail on Instagram at @abigailsouthan.
CNN
07-08-2025
- CNN
Look of the Week: Kate Moss takes her Hermés bag to the beach
EDITOR'S NOTE: Featuring the good, the bad and the ugly, 'Look of the Week' is a regular series dedicated to unpacking the most talked about outfit of the last seven days. Kate Moss's beach bag is not like ours — the supermodel was photographed on Wednesday in a bikini in Formentera, Spain, carrying a brown leather Hermès Kelly. Worth some tens of thousands of dollars, it was presumably full of her summer essentials. But while most celebrities who tote around the Kelly — or its sibling, the Birkin — keep their bags pristine, Moss took a different approach. In photos, her carry-all is scuffed, well-loved and almost certainly not kept in the recommended dust bag. Nestled in the crook of her elbow, the unclasped Kelly hangs wide open, threatening to tip out her belongings. Moss used it like, well, a bag, and not just a financial investment. Kelly bags retail between $10,000 and $20,000, and can double on the secondary market. Then, there are the splashiest auction sales: In 2024, a number of limited-edition Kelly bags soared to eye-watering six-figure prices at auction, and last month, Sotheby's sold the original Birkin prototype, designed for It-girl Jane Birkin, for a record-smashing $10 million. 'Everyone agreed and understood that this was a good investment,' the buyer, Shinsuke Sakimoto, told CNN in an interview following the sale. 'It was the most expensive purchase I've ever made for a single item,' he added. 'It was very exciting, but it really made me sick to my stomach.' Despite the pearl-clutching Moss's beach-worn bag could provoke, Hermés bags have not always been intended to be preserved. The Kelly bag dates back to the 1930s, and was originally designed as a functional travel bag for women, adopting its current name decades later for its association with the actor and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly. The original Birkin, sold at Sotheby's, features scuffs and sticker residue from being Jane Birkin's spacious everyday bag. She was known for her battered and bruised Birkins, brimming with notebooks and makeup and adorned with political and non-profit stickers, beaded key charms and ribbon. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen similarly followed suit in the early 2000s, wearing out their navy-hued versions until they were faded, beaten up and bursting at the seams. More recently, Dua Lipa has taken to adorning her Birkin with scarves, charms and now Labubus — though the bag itself appears immaculate. The Kelly style, meanwhile, is favored by Victoria Beckham, Sofia Richie and Kendall Jenner. Earlier this year, Cardi B's custom $60,000 crocodile Kelly was personalized against her will after her daughter drew on it with a pen. But in recent years, the luxury staples have transcended fashion. A 2016 study showed the value of the Birkin bag had grown faster than the S&P 500 and the price of gold. One of the world's biggest Birkin collectors, Jamie Chua in Singapore, reportedly keeps her pieces behind a fingerprint-locked glass case. But Moss, who completed her vacation look with a Broderie Anglaise-style blouse, chunky belt and stacks of necklaces and bangles, doesn't seem to subscribe to the belief of seen-and-not-touched. Moss has been regularly photographed with her Hermés bags over the years, though none quite so loved. After all, everyone has a favorite carry-all.
Elle
05-08-2025
- Elle
6 Linen Trouser And Sandal Pairings To See You Through The Next Heatwave
There are a few staple garments without which our summer wardrobes would be a very confusing place. These include a crisp white tank (or three), a Jane Birkin-inspired basket bag, and the perfect linen trousers. If you don't own a pair, there's never been a better time to rectify that. The Spring/Summer '25 collections offered up an abundance of linen-trouser inspiration, from low-slung, tailored versions at Victoria Beckham and Tommy Hilfiger, to Gabriela Hearst's lightweight, linen-denim jeans. If you're partial to the cargo-pant trend, may we suggest a pair in linen – see the cuffed, sun-bleached styles at Elie Saab and Acne Studios, or the sleek, white wide-legs at Ralph Lauren – because nothing says heatwave-chic quite like white linen. To help you decide, we've not only shortlisted our six favourite linen trousers to buy now – including capri and cargo pants, tailored trousers, and pastel wide-legs – we've gone one step further, and matched each of them with a pair of summer sandals. Red flip flops, braided slides, minimal thongs and Y2K-inspired kitten heels – the gang's all here, and ready to ensure you look impossibly stylish even in the sweatiest of summer weather. A tailored trouser calls for an equally refined sandal and these braided slides from Toteme more than fill the bill. On top, continue the minimal styling with a simple black tank and oversized white shirt. We love the sugary shade of these wide-leg trousers by Cos, to which a pair of this season's jelly flip flops seem the appropriate partner – especially when they're in a poppy hue. You don't have to part with your beloved jeans this summer; simply swap them out for a pair that has a generous measure of linen. They're the perfect match for the season's must-have clogs from Miu Miu. Arguably the most essential of them all, a great pair of white linen trousers can be dressed up and down. For daytime errands, keep things simple and opt for minimal, barely-there sandals in classic brown or black. Y2K's favourite capri pants are back – and so too are their kitten-heel accompaniments. Faithfull's linen pair comes in black and white, and either teams beautifully with heeled flip flops. This season's heavily-embellished sandals counteract the utilitarian feel of cargo pants in the most pleasing way. Acne Studio's lightweight cargos hit all the right notes.
