Five Years Later…Clare V’s Straw ‘Pot de Miel’ Is Still My Favorite Bag

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When I first wrote this article, I had owned this cute, round, straw Clare V. bag for two+ years. And now? Two more years later? We’re going on our fourth or maybe even fifth(!!) summer together.

At this point, this woven straw bag has become such a closet staple that I’m actually considering buying another (something I never do) simply in case Something Bad Happens. This bag adds the perfect amount of French Girl nonchalance to all of my outfits — think: modern Jane Birken. And it’s appropriate in virtually every situation I’ve encountered in the last 4+ years…from easy beach days to weekend outings to weddings, this bag just works.

I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.

Where to Buy The Clare V. Pot De Miel Bag

Clare V. has now restocked this bag for at least five summers (and it’s sold out each time). But allow me to point out that they did NOT restock this bag two summers ago (giving me a heart-attack), and yet it’s back again, so I’m hopeful that Clare V. has now seen the light and considers this bag the timeless classic that it is.

I do know that Nordstrom, Shopbop & Anthropologie all used to carry this bag, but they haven’t stocked it for a few summers now, so the only place to currently buy this bag is Clarev.com. Which, frankly, isn’t terrible. It keeps the bag feeling a little unique. (Although, it does look like Tuckernuck is stocking this bag.)


Clare V. Pot De Miel Woven Bag: What Fits Inside?

I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.

I always refer to this bag as my ‘honeypot bag,’ but its real name is Clare V’s Pot de Miel. The crossbody strap is detachable, and the bag fits a surprisingly large amount of stuff.

On most days (in the summer), this bag will be loaded down with my phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses, sunscreen (face powder sunscreen and either a stick sunscreen or spray), bug spray and reading glasses. I can also throw in a lightweight sweater or windbreaker.

And allow me to demonstrate the roominess of the bag using a thick sweater, just for funsies…..


Clare V. Pot De Miel Woven Bag: Which Seasons?

I don’t use this bag in the winter. Which, I think, is pretty typical for straw bags.

That said, this particular bag — because of its sturdiness, texture, and pops of darker colors — this bag does transition well into fall, and I usually start wearing it early in the spring. Basically, it’s sturdy enough to stand up to cashmere and denim, making it a pretty solid three-season bag.

I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.

similar sweater (xs) | jeans *sustainable* (27) | sneakers *sustainable* | bag


Outfit Ideas With The Clare V Woven Pot De Miel Bag

I’ve worn this bag with jeans, dresses, cords, shorts, sandals and sneakers. I’ve brought this bag to the beach, out on date night, to the and to the farmer’s market, as well as stuffed it full of swimsuits so I could pack it in my suitcase on a trip to Italy. As I’ve mentioned, I wear it in the spring, summer and fall. It is, quite simply, the bag I carry most of the time.

Here are a few examples (of the many) outfits I’ve worn with this bag….

I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.
I call this woven goodness the 'honeypot bag,' but its real name is the Clare V Pot de Miel. It's sturdy, has texture & can fit a lot. Outfit ideas + why its worth it, inside.

So…yeah. Like I said, I’ve worn this bag with jeans, shorts and dresses. I’ve worn it with sweaters, jackets, sweatshirts and strappy little tanks. I’ve worn it on the weekends, during the week and all dressed up. I throw it into my bike basket, I’ve packed it in a suitcase.

Truthfully, this bag is tricky to pack into a suitcase. However, if you stuff it completely full (with swimsuits or socks or even sweaters) to keep its shape — then yes, it can be packed.

In short, I can’t recommend this bag enough. The cost-per-wear, at this point, is very, very low, and it’s saved me from having to buy a new summer bag for several years now.

And if you are debating between the two colors….I do think the extra bit of black on the checks miiiiight make it work even longer into Fall/Winter than the natural one. But you won’t go wrong with either.

xo,

S

23 COMMENTS

  1. Love the bag…but the throw back pictures of the outfits you’ve worn it with makes me want to revisit all of those posts and buy the clothes as well. 🙂

  2. I loved this bag because of you so many times, it haunted me — and I almost never carry a bag! The price always kept me away and then one day (months ago), I found the black version on super sale and snapped it up. Words cannot express how I adore it!

    I agree with the poster above — the outfits are great as well. What’s the black shirt (and bra) with a strappy bra peeking out, please?

  3. Just ordered! I’ve never spent that much on a purse, and looked around in vain for a dupe (came pretty close finding some cute ones from “Baskets of Africa”) but you’ve convinced me the cost per wear is worth it. Do you find the condition of the straw holds up as time goes on? Excited to pick out a cross body strap or two to switch it up!

    • I get that. I held out for a while, too, hoping there would be a dupe…nope. But to answer your question, YES. It’s not *really* straw – or maybe it is, but it’s a really tight weave, something that’s very tightly woven. So it holds up like a champ. Mine is looking a little lopsided at the moment, but that might be because I frequently stuff it full of heavy things….or, more likely, because I brought it to Italy with me last summer. I didn’t *quite* stuff it properly in the suitcase, lesson learned. But I stuffed again when home and was able to bring back the shape. So. Yeah. It’s durable, even for idiots like me.

  4. I love this bag and loved it just as much when I ordered it during a sale last year… but I had to return it because it doesn’t fit my continental-style wallet 🙁 Just a forewarning for giant-wallet folks.

    • You bet. I have this one from Supergoop: https://shopstyle.it/l/bjt3W

      It’s my favorite way to touch-up my face SPF when I’m wearing a face full of makeup. I also like that there’s a sort of mattifying effect too, to take away the shine.

      Reviewers don’t seem to like the brush it comes with, and I agree that the design isn’t ideal…but it’s one of those products that actually is working when you think it isn’t. (And I’ve tested it numerous times – whenever I think nothing came out, I still end up protected.). I think the danger is if you shake the heck out of it, trying to get more powder.

      That said, I might try this one next. It might be less messy: https://shopstyle.it/l/bjt5V

      These both also work well for puffing onto a part, if you sunburn on your head at all. I used to use the translucent color to puff onto Raines’ bald head when he was a baby (he’d often refuse to keep a hat on).

  5. Well….I definitely had to have this bag after reading this article. It didnt call to me last time I read it, but totally ready and here for it now. I found it on tucci boutique for 20% off right now;)

  6. Love all the throwback pics! But, I tend to be paranoid about carrying an open-top bag- how do you secure your wallet, etc?

    • Honestly, it’s never come close to falling out! The bag rounds in at the top a little bit, and it’s never been a problem.

  7. Love all the pics of various ways you have styled the bag. Where did you get that fabulous blue dress? And also the outfit you wore in the whole family photo please.

  8. Damn, I read this article and now I own 4 more Clare V bags. All so cute, effortlessly stylish and a little bit quirky 😄

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