I’ve been talking this week about why summer outfits can sometimes feel a bit harder to style.

In autumn and winter, we’ve got layers to play with. A jacket, cardigan, scarf or coat can instantly make an outfit feel more finished.

But in summer, when it’s hot and you’re wearing fewer layers, it can feel like there’s less to work with.

One thing that can really help is a good summer bag. And lucky for us, there are some lovely ones in the shops at the moment, so I’ve done the hard work and found some for you!

For summer, I always think bags can have a slightly different feel. Think woven textures, raffia, stripes, patterns, lighter materials and natural finishes, rather than the leathers, suedes and heavier materials we tend to reach for in winter.

I’ve mainly focused on tote bags in this Joy Drop, as there were so many fun ones in the shops.

A big striped tote is brilliant for beach days, park trips, holidays, swimming lessons and all the summer days when you seem to be carrying half the house with you.

I also really like a patterned bag with a few colours running through it, because it can work with more than you think. You can pick out one of the colours in the bag and repeat it somewhere else in your outfit, or you can use it as a contrast with something simple.

So if you’re wearing a very plain summer outfit, maybe a vest and shorts, a simple dress, or linen trousers and a t-shirt, the bag can do some of the work of making the outfit feel styled.

And you don’t need a different bag for every occasion. Even one summer bag that adds colour, texture or pattern can make a lot of simple outfits feel more intentional. For example, I have the green and pink one from TU Clothing in the Winter section. It won’t go with every outfit, I probably wouldn’t wear it with red, but if I’m wearing white, green, pink or denim, it’s going to look fab.

Here are some of my favourite tote-style summer bags I’ve spotted for each season:

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