Clutch of Class

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Summer seems to call for clutches, diminutive bags that rest ever so lightly on our laps at the Hollywood Bowl or on the side of our chair at a favorite outdoor cafe.

With all the hype about the dangers of resting our hefty handbags on the ground (a filthy habit when you think about what collects on that floor) the strapless little clutch is the way to go when paring down for hot weather. Raffia is becoming a popular fabric for green designers producing decorative bags. A trend is to pair the organic raffia with wood, tiger’s eye, crystal or other jeweled adornments that really stand out against the understated canvas.

A great example are the raffia cuties from Mad Imports. (Sara, Kim and Larkyn are major fans.)  I’m truly mad for the site’s stunning assortment of clutches like the GiGi design which comes in seven amazing shades with cotton lining and a highly tactile, oversize wooden button accent ($69). The yellow bag is to dye for!

A bit more dressy are the hand-embroidered Heather bags ($79) featuring wildflowers and a snap enclosure, available in four shades. Or go totally groovy with the Opal bag ($75) in a rainbow of pretty colors and adorned with a massive oval wooden button.

More upscale but still green is the Eco-Clutch from Simply Soles, a chic little black number forged from recyled water bottles. The darling clutch ($195) even has a detachable black and white silk floral pin to add or subtract panache.

Even more delicate, the Franchi Rue Raffia Floral Flap Clutch ($97) of woven raffia with a lacy macrame trim in either pink or blue from Zappos. This is a great choice to pair with a cotton dress for an afternoon event.

If you have a big budget for a swank event, splurge on the Raffia Clutch by Anya Hindmarch ($385) at Vivre. It’s studded with faceted tiger’s eye and a gold diamante snap. The same designer makes a similar raffia clutch with crystal adornments and a tassle.

If you have no budget, fool them with the Limited Edition Straw Wristlet Clutch from standby source, Target for a mere $10.49. It’s black and tan and pretty darn chic with a little flower in the corner so you still come out smelling like a rose.

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Luanne Bradley

Luanne Sanders Bradley is the West coast Editor at EcoSalon and currently resides in San Francisco, California.