Each summer, without fail, the scorching temperatures and blistering heat compel us to return to a few staple design elements that epitomise the balmy nature of the season. From crochet netting to raffia weave, these are motifs that remind us of summer’s effortless elegance and refined simplicity, evoking a sense of beachy revelry and balmy escapades, even if you’re just manoeuvring around the city.
Still, there are always a few trends that crop up and subvert these classic tropes. The rise of the jelly “Birkin” bag is one of them, which I put in parentheses to preface that this is obviously an imitation of the Hermès original, as are leather flip-flops, like the A. Emery Kinto or Havaianas x Isabel Marant collaboration. However, both these covetable styles are nothing compared to the popularity of the beaded bag trend. Specifically, Saint Laurent’s collection of wooden beaded bags.
Reminiscent of something you’d craft with as a preschooler, albeit in an incredibly sophisticated way, these wooden beaded bags have been spotted on the shoulders of the most tasteful dressers as they make their way around Europe’s hotspots. For instance, British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones has been regularly reaching for Saint Laurent’s baguette style, both for her sojourn to the Côte d'Azur during the Cannes Film Festival and again earlier in the season whilst visiting Puglia in Southern Italy.
For the uninitiated, these styles are also new offerings of Saint Laurent’s signature shapes, from the Le 5 À 7, a sturdy tote designed for daily activities that is called after the French New Wave film of the same name, to the Icare shopping bag, a luxuriously capacious carry-all worn by Zoë Kravitz and Hailey Bieber. All finished with the trademark gilded Cassandre logo, they render iconic shapes in a new format that feels both fresh and innovative for this time of year.
The material itself is also relatively timeless, given how intertwined wooden beadwork is with traditional craftsmanship. Though Saint Laurent has pioneered this trend, there’s no denying the impeccable artistry on display as other brands offer their own takes on beaded wood. Byron Bay-based design atelier St. Agni has just released a top made exclusively of wooden beads. Called the ‘Taxi’, the style acknowledges minimalist shapes through a bohemian lens, creating something both tactile and sleek. Elsewhere, textile-forward brand Tanchen Studio creates functional objects d’art like coffee cups and wine holders.
Sculptural and chic, these are styles that can instantly transport you to a far-flung place along the Mediterranean coastline, like Mallorca or Ischia, or where local artistry is always on display, though all you’ve done is sling this bag over the crook of your elbow. So, without further ado, scroll through for the best Saint Laurent beaded bags to shop this summer and wear all season long.
Shop the Saint Laurent Beaded Bags:
From the city to the coast, pair this with peasant blouses and blissful capris.
Everyone from Taylor Swift to Laura Harrier owns the leather version, and I suspect they'd be equally besotted with this style.
This is the exact version that Daisy Edgar-Jones owns.
The perfect beach bag to carry your steamy novel or Missoni Home towel.
Small but mighty, this is perfect for evenings out in sunlit nights.
Shop More Beaded Bags:
The definition of expensive-looking high street.
This style will add a rich-looking edge to all your elevated basics.
This Polène iteration is actually made from 240 pebble-like pearls that are created using leather offcuts. Talk about sustainably chic.
Where there's a trend, you'll often find it can be traced back to Mrs Prada.
If Carrie Bradshaw was heading to the Greek Islands, she'd pack this Staud bag.
The contrasting colours instantly elevates this tote.