Covet: 4 Reasons We’re Obsessed With Raffia Now

I love materials used in unexpected ways. There were those wood hats at Tibi, and the emergence of neoprene (yes, the scuba gear material) in more collections than I can count. Add raffia to the list. The fiber, generally used for things like hats and baskets, is now popping up in everything from shoes to dresses. I’m swooning over these pieces, which will make summer look that much more stylish, and prove that raffia and straw can work beyond the sun hat: LAUREN Ralph Lauren straw and tulle visor, $38 at Zappos; M Missoni raffia shoulder bag, $395 at Shopbop; raffia dress, $395 at Milly; Oscar de la Renta embroidered raffia slingbacks, $325.02 at The Outnet.