Cheap vs. Expensive-ish Straw Raffia Bags

Yayyy winter is over! I love warmer weather. Not only do I get to break out my rompers again, but I also feel like you can get a little more creative with summery looks. Goodbye dark colors (for now)!

One trend that I've been really loving are straw bags. They've been popular for a few years now, and they always looked too delicate for me to invest in a nice one. About 2 years ago, I found one at tjmaxx for a really good price, so I decided to try it out. Turns out I loved the look but it pretty much fell apart at the end of the season 🤷🏻‍♀️. This year, I saw one from Ted Baker and decided to spring for it! There's no way I would spend money on a luxury designer straw bag, but hey, I love Ted Baker, and decided to go for a nicer contemporary designer.

We Summarize Things

You definitely get what you pay for in terms of quality. Also depends on how long you think you'll use it.

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TJ Maxx Raffia Bag

Rating: B

Here's a similar one from Amazon | $23

My first straw bag was a total impulse buy during a random Tjmaxx trip. It cost about $25, and my favorite feature of the bag is the slightly rounded edge, as opposed to the typical flat surfaces that these circle bags have.

This bag lasted about a year before it started to become unusable. The thing with this bag was that it was unlined. Just basically two straw circles tied together with some clear fishing line. I think the lines started to stretch a bit because when I closed the bag, the bottom didn't stay together anymore. Eventually, it became unusable and had to get rid of it. Nevertheless, I think I got my $25 worth out of that bag.

Bottom line is that I really liked the style, but the durability was a no for me. The cost per wear was good though for its value 🤷🏻‍♀️. I think as long as you're careful with bags like these and don't try to overstuff them like I do, they can last awhile.

Ted Baker Janiya Straw Circle Lock Crossbody Bag

Rating: A-

$195 | TedBaker.com

This year, I came across this straw bag from Ted Baker. How cute is this though??!? Even though the circle bag was really trendy, I really liked how this bag has the straw mixed with the leather elements. I also really like the ring at the front. Not sure if it's inspired by the Chloe bags, but I really like the "door knocker" look 😂😂😂. One of my favorite features of this bag is actually the leather woven strap. It adds a little ✨class✨ to an otherwise casual daytime bag.

The quality of this bag does not compare to the other one I got. Firstly, the straw components are reinforced with a metal skeleton. You won't be able to notice it unless you really look at it up close, but it makes the bag sturdier, even when the straw breaks. Also, the bottom is tied together with leather strips as opposed to fishing line. Not really sure how much durability that adds, but it gives me a little bit more confidence that this bag will last longer. Lastly, the inside of the bag is lined with a fabric, so it really keeps everything together and makes sure your contents inside are secure.

Here you can see the white metal skeleton and the leather straps that hold the bottom together

One thing that I noticed though is that the circle part at the front is like a purple tortoiseshell? 🤔 I thought that it was going to be brown, which I would've liked better. Also, a leather woven chain strap is supposed to make it "more comfortable", but this strap kinda digs into my shoulder and starts to hurt after awhile. Don't get me wrong, it's still a really cute element, but ouch 😖.

Overall, I would highly recommend getting yourself a cute straw bag for spring/summer! It's not a very practical item, but I think it helps elevate any outfit. Perfect for travel, too!