The Handbag Edit: Designer Styles under $100, $200, and $500

SHOP THE PICTURE

Hey, y’all! I’m a little shocked I haven’t done a post like this in the past because if there is one thing that I love, it’s handbags. I’ve been asked multiple times if I’m a shoe, handbag, jewelry, clothes, etc. type girl and if I could only pick one I’d go with handbags. Something about them makes them little pieces of art and I love the way we can express ourselves with accessories.

I asked y’all over on Instagram about the different price points you wanted to see handbags in and the two most popular were under $200 and under $500. When it comes to designer bags there are quite a few out there in those price points, but I know $200 is a lot to spend on a bag to some so I included another category of under $100. The other price ranges were for more designer-focused buyers in the $1,000 and $1,500 price range. I’m happy to make another post for those if you all would like that! So, before I jump into the bags I wanted to share a little bit about what you should look for when purchasing a bag no matter who makes it.

IMPORTANT HANDBAG DETAILS BEFORE BUYING

Whenever I buy a new bag I always consider the cost per wear. Is this a bag I am purchasing for a certain event like a wedding, work event, or cocktail party? Or is this something I’ll wear every weekend no matter my plans? I’d like to think every bag is the latter, but as with most things, the more you buy, the less you’ll use each one. If this is something I’m only using a handful of times then my budget drops immensely. On the other hand, if this is a bag I’ve had my eye on for a while or something that is really functional like a work bag, I’ll spend more because I want to make sure the quality is there to support how much I’ll use it.

Secondly, trendy vs. classic. Everyone is different in their taste which makes fashion so fun, so we each have our own spectrum of those two words and what they mean to us. If I feel a bag is trendy (something that is hitting the industry as a new season, unique to the time, or something not very practical, but everyone is loving) then I typically stay away from high-priced versions. I personally prefer bags that are more classic in terms of structure, color, and overall design. I love bags that I can reach for no matter the season, year, color or event because it goes with everything.

HANDBAGS UNDER $100

There are a ton of handbags that fit into this category and are really well made and offer a great variety in how they can be used and styled. I’m linking some of my personal favorites and other great finds below! In this price point, there are a few things to look out for - wear and tear on your bag can start pretty early because of the materials used. Secondly, the structure of the bag. Because the materials used are cheaper, you may not have as much variety in bag shape, design elements and uniqueness as there would be in higher price points, but I think I found some really great options!

HANDBAGS UNDER $200

Most of these are actually closer to $100, but were just above the mark so I added to this category. You start getting into some nicer designer bags here and more unique designs! I love that you can grab great designers on sale like Rebecca Minkoff, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Mansur Gavriel, and Marc Jacobs. If you’re looking for designer then these will be their smaller bags like totes, crossbodies or clutches.

HANDBAGS UNDER $500

This category definitely has the most range with what I found. I think the sweet spot is around $350 so I tried to focus there and then included some higher end designers in wallets and other accessories!

If y’all have any questions on specific designers, specific bag shapes or types you’re looking for or anything please let me know, I’d love to help! I hope y’all liked this more categorical experience! If so, I can definitely do it more and other categories if you like. Thanks so much for reading and for your feedback on this idea!