The bag edit: 24 handbags that will last beyond this season
A huge SHOP newsletter starting at AU$300/US$200. In the bag!
Off the back of my last Style Strategy edition about how to select the right handbag for you, where I wanted to really help you consider what you needed and how to find it, I did have a few questions on what bags I would recommend.
It’s a long email, so please click on ‘View in browser’ or ‘View entire message’ to see it all. Or, you could download the Substack app.
While Style Strategy’s primary aim as a special series was not to get you to buy unnecessarily, a bag edit did seem, well, in demand.
I’ve gone through and put together 24 handbags at varying price points. Yes, there’s a lot of tan/brown/black in there. Many of them are tote/bucket style. Majority are leather. For me, this is what makes a handbag practical and worthy of regular use and stand the test of time. I even went through and ruthlessly removed the bags that just didn’t stand up to the rest of the edit.
I hope you have a read of Style Strategy 004 above and really think about what you need and how the bag will fit into your life. Otherwise, happy browsing!
UNDER AU$500/US$300
This leather handbag from Madewell (AU$331/US$178) fits laptop and documents — I almost can’t believe it myself, especially at this price.
As with this suede bucket bag from Madewell (AU$331/US$178). I’m tempted to get this myself. I also like this version which is a touch more but larger. Into suede!
Tired of a minimalist bag? This one from & Other Stories is a bit Alaia-y y’know but like, not so obvious about it. It’s US$259/AU$389.
Intrigued by this bag by South Korean brand Monorow. It’s reconstituted/bonded leather which means rather than an actual sheet of leather, it’s leather scraps bonded together; but the reviews of it have said it’s pretty good especially at the price of US$190/AU$290.
Leather woven bags aren’t going anywhere, and this is a great version from St Agni.
UNDER AU$1000/US$670
Yes, another suede bucket bag… can you tell I’m into them? This is US$359/AU$539 from Arket.
There’s only two left of this woven St Agni bucket bag!
There’s a lot of hype about this new Coach bag and you know what — I think it’s warranted. The price to value ratio is good, and the chocolate shade is yummy.
I’ve been noticing this brand Aesther Ekme around a bit. This is their newer style, the Lagune Bowling bag, which has already sold out in a few colourways.
Polene has been a popular brand with many of my readers and for good reason. The price to value ratio is great — this is my favourite Polene style, at AU$760/US$520.
Okay, okay, I also like this Polene bag style too which is AU/$780US$540. As with all Polene bags, they come in different colours too — I just think they do a particularly good dark tan.
I know, I know, a cream leather handbag is not very practical but this Demellier tote is so elegant. (It comes in other colours.) It’s 20% off right now too.
You’re going to see this style top up a few times in my recommendations — I do love a bucket bag, and the belt detail is a nice touch (and calls to mind some other well known bags, yes). This is Manu Atelier at US$645 which is slightly under AU$1000.
UNDER AU$1500/US$1000
No-nonsense and waspy was the first two words that popped in my head when I saw this Hunting Season bag. It’s made in Spain and fits a laptop too and is 20% off.
Leopard print is basically a neutral, and I truly believe this Marni bag (on sale!) is an outfit gamechanger.
A great classic handbag as opposed to the tote, this is Toteme’s T-Lock. Prices vary from site-to-site: this is about AU$1400 at Cettire in the grained leather, and Incu has a smooth leather for about AU$1300.
I know I’ve mentioned this Manu Atelier bag relatively frequently; it’s a bit of a take on The Row’s Margaux, but it’s at US$745 approx AU$1,111. This is the larger version, in black suede.
I have this bag and use it ALL the time — it fits a laptop! This is AU$1259 from New Zealand brand Yu Mei.
UNDER $2000
I’ve really liked this J.W Anderson style for a while; the slightly slouchy leather contrasting with the chunky gold chain just stands out from what else is available in bag world now. It’s 20% off at the moment too.
If you haven’t noticed (you probably have) I do like a bucket-y, suede-y tote kind of situation now, but sometimes you want something with a touch more structure. This one from Tod’s is it, and there’s 20% off on Net-A-Porter for this style at the moment bringing it to AU$1960. And the Italian brand’s quality is some of the best out there in terms of construction and leather grade.
OVER AU$2000/US$1340
I LOVE a frame bag and this buttery shade is very of-the-moment but the style will make it last beyond. It’s US$1617/AU$2710 from Jil Sander, on sale.
This is similar to a bag I already own but it’s difficult to resist the embossed croc leather. This is from Toteme at AU$2080/US$1340.
This Khaite medium Lotus tote is 30% off.
I’m not as sucked into a brand-name designer bag as before, but look, I just really like the Bottega Veneta Andiamo bag.