The Ten Best Beach Bags
Look sleek beside the sea with one of these stylish - and practical - beach bags
K Levering, £45
Add a splash of colour to your summer wardrobe with this vivid, stripy straw tote. The neat toggle-fastening will keep all your belongings safe.
www.brownsfashion.com; 020-7514 0039
French Connection, £60
A simple raffia beach bag that is a real holiday must-have. It looks good plus it has tons of space for beach reads and spare sarongs.
www.frenchconnection.com; 0844 557 3285
Anya Hindmarch, £525
A trip to the beach is no excuse to let down your style guard. The gorgeous Gene from the first lady of handbags is hand-woven in leather.
www.anyahindmarch.com; 020-7501 0177
Pucci, £395
Splurge (almost) guilt free on this bright yellow tote in a distinctive Pucci print. Exclusive to Net-a-Porter, all the profits go to the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign.
www.net-a-porter.com; 08456 751 321
Ollie and Nic, £20
A cute canvas shopper with a detachable cosmetics case hidden inside. You can buy this wipe-clean bag in a zebra or budgie design in red, yellow, white or grey at Urban Outfitters.
www.ollieandnic.com; 020-8544 6930
The Jacksons, £120
The independently-owned boutique works with the Masai in Kenya and various other groups to bring beautifully-made products to Britain. This woven bag is from Vietnam.
www.thejacksons.co.uk; 020-7792 8336
Orla Kiely, £126
The holdall of choice for yummy mummies that's stylish, wipe-clean and packed with pockets. The handles are reinforced so you can lug a load of beach gear inside.
www.orlakiely.com/uk; 020-7720 1117
Accessorize, £25
Intricate handwoven Ikat fabrics have made frequent catwalk appearances this year. If your budget doesn't stretch to haute couture, go for this high-street holdall to hold down costs.
www.monsoon.co.uk; 0844 811 0069
Katharine Hamnett, £35
Activists can shove this slogan in the face of mucky beachbums littering the golden sands, or merely carry the organic cotton tote in silent protest.
www.katherinehamnett.com; 0161-927 4539
John Lewis, £25
The chic nautical stripes of this black-and-white straw shopper will ease your passage from beach to bar. It is big and strong enough for all the grocery shopping, too.
www.johnlewis.com; 08456 049 049