When most of us think of beach bags we tend to imagine brightly colored, easy access totes made of cotton or woven straw. But these handbags are a far cry from the one Diesel displayed in its recent Miami Fashion Week Swim show.

If it's up to ...

If you're still searching for the perfect beach bag, what have you been doing? With the warmer weather threatening to turn cool in the coming months you'll want something cheap and cheerful, something like this Glimmer tote from Roxy.

The Glimmer is one of those casual, cotton bags ...

When you think Proenza Schouler you probably think of the PS1. The label varies the fabrics and colors, but essentially its reputation has been built on the satchel. So it's refreshing to see the brand stepping out of its box with this beach bag.

This is ...

With its casual looks and bold, patterned design, this Peachy Keen tote from Roxy seems tailor-made for the beach.

There are several patterns available to suit all tastes, from the conservative gray on black logo print to this lurid floral-inspired design. This fun, feminine pattern is my favorite, but if your boyfriend ...

Casually chic Parisian clothing brand JOIE has teamed up with Santa Monica's Shutters on the Beach hotel to create a limited edition beach bag.

The collaboration might seem unexpected, but the brands are a natural fit. Despite its European heritage, JOIE has always been inspired by the lifestyle of Southern ...

Anya Hindmarch seems to have the market cornered on high-end canvas totes for urban fashionistas, but her sweet, modern aesthetic makes her bags appealing to women the world over. This pink and white Beach Bag is sugar and spice and everything nice, but honestly, it might be a little saccharine for my ...

One of the most appealing things about summer for me is that we can get away with more affordable handbags. While leather and furs are par for the course in winter, summer calls for woven straw and soft terry cloth. This Moody Blues bag from surf label O'Neill is a great ...

For a beach bag with bite, look to the Shark Attack Hobo from Echo. Thankfully there are no grisly scenes on the body of this bag. Instead the hobo features a pop-art style print which almost makes these ocean killers look cute!

It's not a luxurious handbag by any means, but does ...

Now that the sun is finally here the time is ripe to find a functional beach bag for those summer trips.

It may not be all that revolutionary or exciting, but this Fitness Etc. tote will certainly meet your needs when it comes to lugging your belongings to the sandy shores. You see, this ...

I have been searching for a casual straw clutch that doesn't go the route of employing a leather-esque trim for a few months now, and this Mar Y Sol clutch from Mad Imports is the closest candidate I have come across so far.

While most clutches try a formal and structured approach to straw, ...

Diesel helps you get ready for summer with this Beach Bum Palm Tote.

The nautical blue and white striped canvas body is given a modern feel with a bold graphic print. I'm not sure what I make of this cheeky blue-faced character, but I'm sure someone will love its original style.

There's no ...

Diane von Furstenberg recently released a line of printed beach totes that are cheerful and perfect for summer. She has always had a way with prints, and this line is no exception.

I love the multicolored leopard spots on this tote. The color scheme has an almost 80s graffiti feel to ...

Have you ever seen a handbag that you love, but not known how to style it? If so, then you could probably use a few styling ideas to set you off on the right foot. These 'How to Wear' posts will aim to do just that: to give you a few fashion ideas to inspire you with the bags ...

This Serpui Marie box clutch is an exotic and interesting creation.

I am writing about this summery bag now, because at $220 you are likely to have to start saving up in order to be able to buy it as soon as the sun comes out. OK, so that might be an exaggeration, ...

It might not have been inspired by Susanna Hoffs' popular girl group, but there's more than a touch of the 80s in this Roxy Bangles bag.

The Bangles bag is available in four fun retro prints. The feathery aqua "Ceramic," colorful "Rfb," and stripey "Royal Purple" are probably the tamest of the ...

Tommy Hilfiger hits every summer trend with the Santa Clara Tote.

The fun floral print and bold color combination makes me think of loud Hawaiian shirts and balmy tropical weather. Of course, that illusion won't suit the High Street, but that's not where you'll find the Santa Clara. It's much more at ...

You'll be just as adorable as a young Sally Field when you hit the shore with this Gidget bucket tote.

This Elaine Turner bag looks like a typical woven straw tote, but it's actually crafted from a synthetic grasscloth alternative. It might not sound as luxurious, but this choice should make the ...

Hmm, what better way to end the week than with a cat covered handbag!

Don't worry, I am not talking about a handbag made out of cat skin. Instead, I mean a surprisingly upbeat duffel bag from Tianni, a brand who is usually quite staid and formal with its handbag design. Of course, ...

We were critical of Echo when it used terry cloth as the feature fabric on its slouchy tote recently. We derided the material for being cheap and nasty, commenting that its only redeeming quality is its ability to absorb water.

So how strange that when paired with an equally cheap material ...

Straw Studios abandons its typical woven designs for this cloth beach bag.

It's a smart choice for the brand. After all, woven straw has an even shorter shelf life once they're exposed to salty sea air, so using fabric instead makes a lot of sense. The fabric is also the ideal backdrop ...

Diane von Fursternberg is getting ready for summer with a brand new range of beach totes.

Her latest collection features nine colorfully themed totes, including a tropical garden, leopard print, Warhol-inspired daisy, and an explosion. At just $75 you won't expect them to be too luxurious, but no one wants to ...

Sun N' Sand combines the contemporary taste for oversized purses with some fun retro spots to create this Polka Tastic Beach Bag.

These Polka Tastic carryalls are colorful without being lairy. You could never accuse the lime green or orange shades of being washed out, but they're not so bright you'll need ...

With summer pretty much on the doorstep, I am currently loving plastic bags. Vivienne Westwood plastic shoes are dominating the market, and bags are starting to follow the same vinyl trends.

This Guess handbag is a particularly useful and pretty example.The plastic is glossy and functional, and avoids being tacky with the addition ...

When you think summer in the Hamptons, this is the bag you picture, no? A J. Crew staple for years, I love this Madaket Tote anew every year I see it in the catalog.

The wonderful thing about madras is that its many colors mean it will go with lots of things in ...

Land Ahoy!

In case you hadn't noticed, nautical stripes and sailor-style themes have been the trends of the past 12 months. Little sailor dresses with bright shiny buttons, cute retro sailor caps and anything with anchors have been favorites of stars and High Street alike.

This bag updates the nautical style for summer - ...

Ah, Roxy. Producers of all things surf-wear and beachy, this brand is synonymous with sun, sand and sea. Their designs are cheap, cheerful and above all casual. No fancy evening purses here; instead we have usability and bright summery colors.

This bag is no exception. In bright primary stripes, this shouts deckchair ...

Coach's collections are some of the most coveted and popular in the handbag world. As Coach are already a hugely established brand, the Leah range is constantly expanding. This piece, the cute pint-sized tote, is currently one of my favorites.

Bohemia is a buoyant trend at the moment, with hippie chic and multiple textures and patterns hitting ...

Target continues to offer designer handbags for less with the launch of their latest limited edition line, Felix Rey for Target.

Designers Lily Band and Sulaika Zarrouk have created a summery range of clutches, totes, and bucket bags. The lightweight canvas and straw fabrics keep the prices down, ...

Warm weather is quickly approaching whether or not we're ready for it. With sunny skies ahead, it's time to start thinking about what casual day handbags you'll be carrying. I'm talking about the throw-on-your-shoulder type that's ideal for pairing with your new summer sandals that show off those freshly manicured toes you've ...

Roxy handbags almost always have a laid-back vibe to them. The easygoing, surfer style that emanates from their collections is enough to make me long for summer days.

The Dandy Lion Tote is a nice cross between beach bag and chic casual bag. I love the cotton canvas for its practicality, but the ...

Even our favorite handbag designers can take a misstep. This Tree Leaf tote bag from Proenza Schouler is proof of that!

I know it's part of the designer's Target collection, but is that any reason to skimp on the style? It’s got none of the chic and subtle good looks we're used ...

Step out this summer with confidence carrying this classic wicker handbag from Lambertson Truex.

It's made from natural toned wicker woven together for a dazzling effect. The exterior is coated with a light polyurethane glaze to make it tougher than The Rock. The quality exterior is complemented by silver toned nickel hardware and white ...

Dolce & Gabbana knows women want to feel stylish no matter where they go, so the Italian fashion house has created this luxury beach bag. Say goodbye to your oversized canvas bag and hello to this stunning straw tote.

This beautiful handbag is made from natural woven straw accented by chocolate brown leather ...

It may still be freezing in most parts of the world, but it won't be too long before this wintery weather turns warm. And when it does, you'd better be ready with the perfect beach bag. This cute Coach novelty tote could be a real contender.

This fun handbag features a summery straw background with ...