Most of us won't have touched a handbag since lockdown began, instead sticking to a bag for life for our groceries and pockets for our credit cards. But now that we see signs of things slowly reopening and can see friends in the park and go to restaurants, many are in need of a chuck-it-all-in practical handbag. If you want something a little jazzier than a basket bag, then I've just found an under-the-radar French brand that creates the most beautiful striped tote bags.
Rue de Verneuil was founded in 2014, however, it's a new name to British shoppers as has just been stocked by MatchesFashion. The 1950s-inspired tote bags have a Riviera feel to them, as they have a thin elegant pinstripe, a tan leather strap and come in the colours you typically see lining the French coastline (primarily red, baby blue and a soft yellow).
The handbags are made by hand in the Parisian studio and are an investment for a shopping bag costing between £100 and £200. However, it's a handbag we really would use for every occasion in summer and is timeless enough to come out every holiday for the next ten years. Keep scrolling for the Rue de Verneuil bags we really love.
Next up, see our guide to the key trends for spring/summer 2020.
-
Is Being French Still a Style?A reflection on myth, inheritance, and what remains of it in 2025.
-
6 Clothing Styles I've Never Understood and 6 I Would Reach for InsteadNo pants, rain ponchos, sheer tights: a semi-ironic wardrobe autopsy.
-
7 Affordable Winter Pieces to Build a French Look in a Few ClicksHow to dress à la Française.
-
If a French Woman Shopped theReplica Store Black Friday Sale, These Are the 37 Items She'd Immediately Add to Her CartEffortlessly chic.
-
I Showed My Closet to a Therapist—Spoiler: She Wanted to Talk About the Leopard-Print CoatMy wardrobe, analyzed.
-
This Chic Outfit Is Perfect for Paris, But I'm Going to Wear It in the Midwest and NYCThis simple outfit will make you look stylish anywhere.
-
Fashion and Mental Load: How I Declutter My Closet and My HeadAn honest look at what getting dressed really demands when you’re a woman.
-
The Elegant Basic French Women Wear More Than Tees *and* Button-Down ShirtsThis Parisian staple is redefining fall elegance.
