Loewe Basket Bag
It takes time to build a wardrobe full of pieces you love and want to wear forever. My twenty-year-old self didn’t yet understand that; she looked at designer bags, and their price tags, as a distant impossibility. What she couldn’t afford in that moment, she was convinced, she would never be able to afford. The door to the world of luxury fashion was closed to her forever based on her university student budget.
What a relief it is, in some ways, to get older and learn just how wrong we were about certain things. My twenty-year-old self would be in utter awe of my shoe closet, never mind my handbag collection. And while shoes will always come first in my heart, there is simply no acceptable reason to pair a fabulous pair of shoes with a handbag you don’t absolutely love.
The most recent addition to my handbag collection is from Loewe. In March, I got a phone call that came with a job offer I didn’t expect. The job, slated to start in October, began abruptly in June. My title, albeit it temporarily, is director. That felt worth of celebration. And what better way to celebrate than with a beautiful accessory that you’ll love for a lifetime? I can’t think of one, personally.
In the spring of 2017, just as we were about to move back to Winnipeg from Paris, Sezane launched a promotion: with every sandal purchase, they offered a free straw tote. Naturally, I had to have one. And I do still have it. That free straw tote quickly became my go-to summer bag, not to mention that it was the start of my love affair with all straw handbags. When I first saw the Loewe version in 2019, I was skeptical. Everyone seemed to be carrying it, and it looked fabulous. But it was just a straw tote with leather accents. It might be having a moment, but that moment couldn’t last. Could it…?
Fast forward to 2021. Summer came around again and the Loewe basket bag is still every it-girl’s go-to for beach days. It’s been imitated often – by Chloe, notably, and more recently, Celine, as well as high street brands like H&M. By now, the bag has proven itself a true classic. But I still questionned the purchase. After all, I own a fabulous straw tote that cost me nothing, and I still love it. Could another one really replace it? Or could the two bags, one a traditional French classic and the other a true luxury, really be different enough to justify owning both?
The answer, it turns out, is yes.
It took me two years to take the plunge on my Loewe basket bag but I’m so glad I finally did. The regular size I purchased is substantially smaller than the Sezane basket bag I already owned, making it more practical for everyday wear while still roomy enough to fit my each essentials. And the leather straps are a game changer. So comfortable! I love this bag, and I’m so glad it’s part of my collection.
Fabrics: These bags are made of woven palm leaf with calf leather accents
Colours: Natural/tan, natural/white, natural/ocean (navy blue)
Sizes: Small (17 cm x 33 cm), Regular (26.5 cm x 40 cm) and Large (34.5 cm x 57 cm)
Price: $720.00 to $890.00 CAD from loewe.com. Prices from Holt Renfew are more competitive for Canadian shoppers, and start at $690.00 CAD
