It’s beautiful to think of all the pretty, bright shades we’ll wear during warm weather, especially when we’re waiting out the doldrums of winter, but in reality, that’s not how a lot of women dress. I’m among that group; I’d put my collection of black sundresses up against anyone’s, and warm weather rarely has a significant impact on the colors that appear on my clothing or accessories. While I can appreciate brights or pastels for others, my spring and summer bags tend to be the same color as everything else in my closet: black. and I’m far from alone.
Designers have always understood this phenomenon on a certain level; they all produce black leather all year. Lately, though, it seems as though some of them have picked up on the seasonless love for black bags in a much more nuanced way, with an enhancing number of dark straw and woven bags dotting the summer market.
Of course, a bag can still be black leather (or even black suede) and still feel like a summer bag, because a summer bag is a little bit like obscenity—you know it when you see it. Below, we’ve collected 20 options that we think fit the bill, including some options that mix significant black with other colors, in case you’re wanting to branch out (but not too much).
Alaïa Laser cut Tote
$2,910 through Net-a-Porter
Alexander Wang Roxy small Espadrille Tote
$495 through Shopbop
Balenciaga classic reporter XS Bag
$1,090 through Net-a-Porter
Caterina Bertini Handheld Tote
$150 through Shopbop
Catzorange Woven Cotton bucket Bag
$220 through Net-a-Porter
Clare V Alice Totee
$225 through Shopbop
Clare V Desert stripe Midi Sac Bag
$325 through Shopbop
Cuero & Mor Perla take on Bag
$735 through Shopbop
Cult Gaia Ark Bag
$298 through Shopbop
Fendi Kan I Bag
$2,750 through Nordstrom
Isabel Marant Asli Bag
$675 through Net-a-Porter
Kate Spade small Backpack
$126 through Shopbop
Loeffler Randall Grosgrain Tote
$395 through Net-a-Porter
Maison Boinet Convertible Backpack
$700 through Shopbop
Muun Gilbert Micro Tote
$495 through Shopbop
Prada new Vela take on Bag
$ 1.940 gennem net-a-porter
Proenza Schouler small Hex Tote
$795 through Nordstrom
Truss small Handwoven Tote
$195 through Shopbop
Ulla Johnson Amyris small Wicker Tote
$345 through Shopbop
Welden Sonder Tote
$595 through Nordstrom