The unexpected joy of the January beach bag

I know what you’re thinking. A beach bag? Now? Good one.

But maybe you have a holiday on the horizon. If so, you’re going to need something chic to tote your SPF, artfully covered bestseller and cocktail fund around in.

If you’re grounded for the foreseeable — likewise and commiserations — a beach bag might just inject a shred of joy into your January commute. Granted, it won’t suit a deluge. But when the rain stops, it will easily accommodate a laptop and lunch, while also sending the right message to your employer: annual leave is high on the agenda.

The gloomiest time of the year is a great time to find a conversely sunshine-ready bag, not only because there are a few left in the January sales but also because of their dopamine-boosting potential. In romantic raffia, durable woven leather or nautical canvas, they’re a summery treat at any time of year.

One of the key names to know in the category is Dragon Diffusion, which has become a cult brand thanks to its woven leather pieces. Its savvy, sell-out collaborations with Rixo are especially covetable.

"It’s refreshing to have a bag that doesn’t need to be labelled,” says co-founder Orlagh McCloskey. “The Rixo x Dragon Diffusion collaboration is versatile enough to move from beach days to busy work schedules while still being effortlessly stylish and refreshingly unfussy. We love to tie a scarf onto ours to dress it up or down depending on the occasion.”

For a blow-the-budget option, look no further than Loewe. You might want to think beyond the leather-panelled basket bags that are now ubiquitous at five-stars across the globe and try an XXL Puzzle in raffia instead. Or head to & Other Stories and save the cash for the all-important holiday fund.