MBA Candidate writes, “Love FBD and the entire crew! I absolutely adored the post you did on 15 Luxury Shoe Brands, and am hoping you will do a similar post on handbags! I am finishing up my MBA program, and would like to treat myself to a classic go-to bag for work. I typically don’t enjoy carrying bags in the crook of my arm, but I’d like to see a variety of options. Thank you so much!”
Though we did a guide to investment handbags back in 2009, I realize that styles and trends change, and new houses offer silhouettes that become must haves. Sure, the Louis Vuitton Speedy, Gucci Boston, and Chanel Caviar 2.55 are still classics, but there are of course a few more to add to the list. You ready?
$1,500 and up
You’ll spend a ton, but you’re paying for top craftsmanship and quality. Expect to hold onto these bags for years.
1. Hermès Birkin and Kelly Bags:
Though we neglected to mention Hermès options in our first investment bag post, the brand’s popular Kelly and Birkin styles are the big momma/I have arrived/who gone check me boo bags.
Handmade in leather, the elusive pieces can cost from $9,000 to $150,000 depending on materials. The ultimate status symbol, you can’t even purchase them online, and there are typically waiting lists to get one of your own.
If you’re up for the splurge, visit www.hermes.com for a boutique near you. Note: You can also rent Hermès bags for $510-$1,632 per week at www.bagborroworsteal.com.
2. Céline Totes
The fashion editor and celebrity favorite boasts a simple design, sleek features, and oversized shape. Priced from $1,800-$2,500, the carryall comes in everything from basic black and brown to blue and hot pink.
Though the bag’s more popular hues are often sold out, you can catch a few at Barney’s or Saks.
Get yours here:
3. Givenchy Nightingale
A Fashion Bomb favorite, the Givenchy Nightingale epitomizes understated luxury. The top handle bag features polished pale goldtone hardware, signature straps, and a subtle house symbol.
Get it in cobalt blue, green, beige, red, neon green…the options are endless.
To get one of your own, you’ll have to drop $1,795-$2,375.
Peruse a few hues here:
4. Balenciaga City, Giant City, and Arena Handbags.
Balenciaga bags have always been hot, starting with the Le Dix bag in the early naughts, and evolving into a few newer versions including the City, Giant City, and Arena.
The updated iterations boast more pronounced gold or silver hardware, and eye catching grommet details.
If you want this beaut, you’re going to have to drop anywhere from $996-$1,845. Check ‘em out:
5. Proenza Schouler PS1 .
This new kid on the block is definitely young and hip, and does well in brighter colors and patterns.
The bag’s flap details and satchel silhouette give it a schoolgirl charm, but the supple leather and top handles are all grown up.
Though playful, these bags are no joke, with an average price of $1,595. See a selection here:
$500-$1.000
If you can’t afford or don’t feel like paying over a g for a bag, there are some great options for you from brands like Alexander Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, and more.
6. Alexander Wang Rocco Duffle
The cute bag skews casual, though it has ample bling thanks to signature gold tone rivets at the base.
For $875, you have your choice of colors like black, yellow, white, and brown. Carry by hand, or sling it over your shoulder with a detachable strap:
7. Alexander Wang Emile Tote
Alexander Wang strikes again with the Emile tote, whose roomie design has been spied on everyone from Keisha Whitaker to Gwyneth Paltrow:
Prices range from $895-$975, and colors include white, black, burgundy, and blue:
8. Diane von Furstenberg Harper Day Leather Shoulder Bag
The large ‘day’ version of DVF’s signature Harper tote features a flap-top with leather trim, concealed magnetic closure, a top handle, and a chain and leather shoulder strap. Bonus: it has a special compartment for your Ipad or tablet:
The bag will set you back $595-$695, depending on colors and materials:
9. Tory Burch 797 Satchel.
Though Beyonce is a fan of the brand’s customized $9,950 crocodile version, Tory Burch has all black leather versions of her 797 satchel for a more affordable $675.
$0-$500
If you simply want to have a nice bag made of supple leather, Michael Kors has got you covered!
10. Michael Kors Hamilton Bag
The chic sophisticated tote is made of glazed leather and has enough room to hold your wallet, sunglasses, Ipad, and more.
The $348 pick has the look of any statement bag, and also comes in zebra prints in addition to neutral brown and black:
These are just 10 that we’ve found to be a favorite for stars, editors, and girls around the world. For more affordable, quality bags, hit up stores like Cole Haan, Coach, Rebecca Minkoff, and Botkier. You’ll get timeless quality and plenty of bang for your buck.
I’m sure the list is far from complete.
What are some of your faves?
See our first post on investment handbags here.
May 17, 2012 1:13 pm
Chanel quilted bags are another timeless choice.
May 17, 2012 1:14 pm
Chanel quilted purses are another timeless choice.
May 17, 2012 1:25 pm
Excellent post. But oooh the cheapos gonna skin you alive LOL They wont even notice that “investment” tag.. <3
May 17, 2012 1:34 pm
Towards the end you offerened Michael Kors and Tory Burch. Are these investment bags? I guess this post meets every price point. That’s fair!
May 17, 2012 1:41 pm
@Amani that is true!
@Dyshaun LOL @ ‘cheapos’
May 17, 2012 1:46 pm
Fendi’s “Peekaboo” bags are also great luxury alternatives.
May 17, 2012 1:48 pm
Fendi’s “Peekaboo” is also great luxury alternative.
May 17, 2012 1:49 pm
The only thing I can afford on this list is Michael kors lol. And hell he’s pushing it! I really want that tony burch my girl bey is rocking lol.
May 17, 2012 1:51 pm
Love the Alexander Wang Emile that Keisha is carrying! That will be my newest everyday bag purchase. I have a Balenciaga city I bought in ’07 that hasn’t held up well but I love her anyway
May 17, 2012 1:53 pm
Even if I could afford Hermes, I wouldn’t invest in it now. Every basic reality star has one… value depreciated.
Definitely loving the Alexander Wang Emile tote and your Stella McCartney bag Claire ( you should have included it!! :-) )
May 17, 2012 1:56 pm
Ciara is carrying the Givenchy Antigona, not the Nightingale.
I agree that Fendi has good investment bags as well. The Celine Luggage tote is too played out and is kinda “trendy” just like that Chloe satchel from 5/6 years ago.
May 17, 2012 1:58 pm
@Amani she mentioned Chanel in the intro
May 17, 2012 2:04 pm
love this post Claire……. saving my pennies to cop me a Balenciaga…..
May 17, 2012 2:14 pm
Alexander Wang has always been my go to for hand bags LOOOOOOOVE HIM!!
The Proenzas are definitley on my wish list…and i do have a bday coming **rubs hands together**
LMBO @ dyshaun!
May 17, 2012 2:22 pm
lmao “who gon’ check me boo” bags.
May 17, 2012 2:24 pm
im surprise chanel isnt up there,still great post,i been thinking about getting either a Balenciaga or louis vuitton audacieuse pm for a little while now.i cant stand the speedy LV bags,that brown does not go with everything.i rather see the multicolore canvas bags then that horrible brown.louis vuitton make other great bags,love the mahina leather and monogram empreinte.
May 17, 2012 2:47 pm
Ive been in love with the Nightingale… Deep sigh… I swear I need to get my savings game right and purchase it already! On another note y’all do know MK is the new Coach in the hood right? Lol.
May 17, 2012 2:59 pm
I’d like to add mulberry to the mix. They’re one of my favorites!
May 17, 2012 3:01 pm
I can never bring myself to even thinking I need a Hermes bag. I almost fall out at the price, but they’re nice to look at lol
May 17, 2012 3:04 pm
Lebron baby mom makes her Celine bag look kinda weak..like somebody was like girl u got money wear nice things…she looks out of place…
May 17, 2012 3:10 pm
Ciara is carrying the Antigona in the first pic. Better than the Nightingale imo!
May 17, 2012 3:14 pm
LMAO ^
May 17, 2012 3:18 pm
I want a Balenciaga bag, this is my 2012 goal.
May 17, 2012 3:28 pm
Call me cheap I don’t care but a bag is a bag and no bag is worth 500+ that is just insane no matter how you slice it or rationalize it. Any bag can last you if you treat it with care and rotate it, I really don’t have a favorite any bag that looks cute and can hold my stuff is fine with me…shrugs but hey all women have their vices in fashion
May 17, 2012 3:45 pm
Talk about some awesome looking handbags. I wish I could have them all.
May 17, 2012 3:46 pm
Love them all.
May 17, 2012 3:46 pm
Or I could just get a nice bag from H&M
May 17, 2012 3:47 pm
Great choices, but please show us more affordable good quality options for a regular person everyday use…. maybe do a Ten Fly affordable quality handbags!!!! Thank you
May 17, 2012 3:48 pm
@bella My bad, I updated to feature Ciara in a Nightingale, etc. Not sure how I missed that! We mentioned Chanel quilted handbags initially and also in our last post regarding investment bags. A Céline is on my wish list (love that pink one Savannah has). Gotta start saving! X
May 17, 2012 4:15 pm
Claire, this post is excellent! I’ve been scouring all the discount stores and shopstyle for an affordable real leather bag for under $150. I know it’s far-fetched, but it can be done–I know it! Can you do a post about this? I am underemployed but need a staple bag that can transition the seasons and go with every outfit. I’m thinking not-too-slouchy, not-too-structured, nude color, with very little bells and whistles. Maybe a few grommets or something to keep it fresh.
For those interested, my search so far has yielded: alot of discount Calvin Klein, Michael Kors in the discount stores, but in colors like white, green, orange, turquoise, or even translucent. Alot of not well-known brand-name but still real leather bags. Lord and Taylor carries Big Buddha which makes excellent large bags, but because they are eco-friendly/vegan (not sure) they don’t use actual leather.
I’m loving everything Vince Camuto’s doing lately, so I’m waiting for that to go on sale.
So yes, an everyday leather (or otherwise sturdy material) everyday bag for the babe on a budget would be a greatly appreciated post!
Thank you as always,
A loyal reader :)
May 17, 2012 4:44 pm
Never thought about Michael Kors..but that bag is hot! and the pricepoint is perfect for a fashionista on a budget! will be coping the hot pink!
May 17, 2012 4:45 pm
Thanks for this post Claire…I am and probably will never be a “handbag” whore but good info. *checking my bag* it says Tignanello and it’s real leather. I have learned to not get cheap, knockoffs that are better quality materials. Keep up the good work!
May 17, 2012 4:46 pm
I agree, Chanel needs to be on this list. I bought a vintage Chanel mini flap for $1200, and I bought the Alexander Wang “Angela”, which is basically a mini version of the Rocco duffel for $400 (found it on ebay and saved $200)! Love them both. Definitely classics!
May 17, 2012 4:47 pm
Oops, my bad, I see Chanel was mentioned in the first investment bag post :)
May 17, 2012 4:51 pm
First designer bag I purchased was my Speedy oh how I love that bag…. It was def worth the money two years later I still carry it … I’ve added a few other bags to my collection as well and I love Michael Kors purchased two bags and I love them quality is good too. And I regardless I will continue to wear them..
May 17, 2012 5:18 pm
Dang I hate to admit as much as I love the bags listed the only one timeless and worth investing in is the Birkin. The rest are “it”bags.
May 17, 2012 5:20 pm
no LV Alma?? hmm
May 17, 2012 5:22 pm
If your going to mention Coach and Michael Kors, I would also add Dooney & Bourke. They’re oldies but goodies and their pebble leather can’t be beat. It just gets better with age. Their large Florentine Satchel is awesome and is only about $400.
May 17, 2012 5:27 pm
I find affordable leather handbags at my local Marshalls and TJ Maxx all the time. If the one in your area isn’t great you can always drive further out. I’ve bought quality leather handbags from the likes of Calvin Klein, B. Makowsky, Michael Kors and so forth in the $150 range. And I just found out that Marshalls has layaway. The TJ Maxx in my area carries really nice Fendi bags (not the monogram ones), Chloe, and few other runway labels. TJ Maxx even has “Runway Stores” that specifically carry high end labels.
May 17, 2012 6:06 pm
Binks dont take it personal. Just a little funny…
Food for thought tho..if you get a bag that lasts you 20 years its def. worth $500. :-)
May 17, 2012 6:16 pm
MK & DVF, niiiiiiice!
May 17, 2012 7:58 pm
where is the prada safiano..its really cool too
May 17, 2012 8:15 pm
Great list! I’m dying to buy a Celine tote. Me personally, I will keep buying what’s in my budget before I go buy a knock off. But hey, do what you gotta do.
May 17, 2012 11:27 pm
Great post! I treat myself to a new bag every season I passed on the Balenciaga Arena Classic last time and it’s been haunting me ever since, but I also have love love love the Céline Boston arrgh
May 18, 2012 8:09 am
What about Chloe bags….Nobody is checking for Chloe they are the bomb …And I LOVE MICHEAL KORS !!!
Hermes is soooo overrated !!!
May 18, 2012 8:14 am
Chloe, Michael Kors
Hermes is sooo overrated !!! it’s like CL shoes done got too ghetto .
May 18, 2012 11:22 am
LOL I’m with you Chi, good hand bags are def an investment. I’ve had my Chloe since 98′ and she’s still goin strong. I think my next treat will be the A Wang, the rest are too trendy for my taste…..
May 18, 2012 12:33 pm
Love this post!! I want to invest in a Balenciaga City handbag myself. Hopefully by September I can make that purchase as a 25th BDay gift to myself. I’ve been in love with it for atleast 7 years now. As well as a Classic Chanel Caviar bag and a Gucci Boston bag (My mom got hers the year I was born and it still looks brand new!!)
May 18, 2012 1:11 pm
How can the classic chanel flap bag not even be no1 let alone not make the list?!
Only ones I agree with are balenciaga, and of course
birkin
YSL muse over the alexandra wang anyday!
A Classic british bag is also a Mulberry bayswater bag. pratically a work staple over here
May 18, 2012 1:50 pm
Kim is wearing a Phantom, not Boston.
May 18, 2012 3:39 pm
Love this post!
May 18, 2012 5:18 pm
Sheree’s bag is such a pretty red.
May 19, 2012 4:11 pm
Dear Anonymous at 5:27 pm
Thank you! Great, great advice. You’re right, there are Tj’s and Marshalls every couple of miles. What location are you in where they sell Fendi and Chloe at Tj Maxx?!?! If it’s in the Northeast I might check it out.. or maybe it will coincide with some of my travels! Anyway, thank you again for ur response.. I guess I got a look a little harder for those deals=/ I was hoping maybe Claire had a secret online source or something
May 23, 2012 1:03 am
alexandra – if you live or are near nyc, you can try the tjmaxx near columbus circle. they have a small selection of high end bags… fendi, chloe, givenchy, etc… have fun!
May 23, 2012 4:12 pm
you have to look for TJ Maxx Runway… I was at King of Prussia Mall in Pa and I bought the Badgley Mischka bag for $249 and my new summer Giorgio Armani sun glasses for $69 … I was on vacay so I grab that … but the Christian Louboutin heels for $ 400 … girl there was so much people at the TJ Maxx…maadd.. now the TJ Maxx in downtown DC.. they had Prada, Valentino bags.. by the time I turn around literally they were gone… these ladies are off the chain… and my sister live in Atlanta so she be putting all her shit on layaway lol… the Chole big and Fendi… were a steal..