Tweed 25 Drawstring Bucket Bag

Gabrielle Chanel borrowed it from men's country clothing in the 1920s and made it the fabric of the house, and seeing it on a bag still carries an echo of the jacket. In cream, the weave looks light and textural, closer to a winter-white suit than anything tweedy and sporting.

The bucket shape is an accommodating one: 10.5 inches wide, 7.7 high and a generous 5.5 deep, with a drawstring that closes over whatever you put in. That means a wallet, phone, sunglasses and a small cosmetics pouch, with the depth doing more of the work than the width. The 9.5-inch drop is short, so it carries on the shoulder close to the body or in the crook of the arm.

Brunch, winter and special occasions are its territory. Wear it with a black turtleneck and wide trousers, against a camel coat, or with a winter-white dress for a holiday lunch. Cream tweed wants a little care, so keep it away from dark denim that might transfer. A season is a fine way to learn whether the bucket shape suits you as well as the fabric does.