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If you're in the market for a great purse, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a designer handbag. These days, luxury fashion houses aren't the only places creating fashion-forward, high-quality bags. In fact, you can get the same quality of leather and craftsmanship as some of the top fashion houses for as little as a tenth of the cost if you're willing to forgo recognizable monograms. Brands like Mansur Gavriel and Strathberry employ artisans who spend dozens of hours handcrafting a single bag and have a rigorous quality control process that rivals ultra-costly brands like Hermès.
And as far as design, dare I say that mid-range luxury houses are doing it better than the top dogs? You can find some truly innovative purses, like Cult Gaia's chain-handled purse made from a real Swan Mussel or Staud's viral beaded bag that comes in tons of quirky patterns including a sardine can.
Below, you'll find the best purse brands that we, as style editors, are obsessed with. The best part is that all the bags featured below are under a thousand dollars, with some brands like JW Pei and Charles & Keith typically coming it at under-$100 a bag.
Best on Amazon: JW Pei
JW Pei is a Los Angeles brand that makes both trendy original purses and bags that take inspiration from the runway. The word inspiration is key here since you won't find any knockoffs or direct dupes. Instead, you'll get fresh takes on famous bags. For example, their Ashlie crossbody bag has a similar shape to Dior's famous saddle bag, but it's available in colors like a shiny metallic silver that you'd be hard-pressed to find at Dior. Other bags, like JW Pei's unique abacus bag, have rocketed to iconic status on their own merit.
But just because most of these bags fall in the $80-$120 range doesn't mean they're only for people looking for a good value. Tons of celebrities, including Gigi Hadid, Hailey Bieber, and Emily Ratajkowski, have all been spotted carrying this need-to-know brand.
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The perfect shoulder bagBoth Megan Fox and Gigi Hadid have been seen carrying this $89 bag from JW Pei.
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Simple and chicThis sleek bag has a strap that you can lengthen to make it a crossbody bag.
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Trendy woven faux leatherIf you want the Bottega Veneta Sardine Bag but don't want to spend $5K, this is the purse for you.
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Available in dozens of colorwaysA unique silhouette that will have everyone asking you where you got it.
Best budget: Charles & Keith
Charles & Keith makes trend-forward shoes and purses that retail for great prices. The bags range from modern silhouettes to classic pieces that take inspiration from luxury fashion houses. We're especially fans of how versatile these purses are since many of them have features like detachable straps that allow you to customize the look and length.
But the best part about Charles & Kieth is the bang you get for your buck. All the purses below retail for under $80 but look like you spend a pretty penny on them.
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A versatile everyday purseOne of the brand's best-selling styles, this gold-accented bag looks way more expensive than it is.
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Available in seven colorsThe unique, modern shape of this bag is guaranteed to turn heads.
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In cool colors, the hardware is silverReminiscent of the iconic Gucci Jackie, this bag gives all the classic glamour for a fraction of the price.
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For fancy dinnersThis piece comes with both a short pearl strap and a longer chain strap.
Best resort-ready: Cult Gaia
Cult Gaia is one of those brands that's really doing something different. As a style editor, I'm continually impressed by the unique pieces they put out season after season. Inspired by their divine namesake, Cult Gaia makes pieces fit for a stylish earth goddess with a first-class ticket to the chicest seaside resort imaginable. The organic shapes and materials never cease to impress me. Whether it's doing the impossible by turning a rattan basket into a sleek evening bag or creating the most unique pearl bag I've seen yet, you can count on Cult Gaia to do something unique and nature-inspired.
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Structured and chicThis brass hardware is a bold and fashionable touch to a half-moon bag.
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Made of a real Swan MusselA shell-shaped art piece that you can carry (it even fits an iPhone!).
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The perfect summer evening bagWith a lucite body and a rhinestone net, this bag has already inspired dozens of (much lower quality) dupes.
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One of the most unique bags on this listYou can actually remove the clutch from the fishnet and have two completely unique bags.
Best for classic styles: Masur Gavriel
Mansur Gavriel was epitomizing quiet luxury before we even had a term for it. Launched in 2013 with just two products — a bucket and a tote — the brand has stayed true to its specialty of simple styles made with high-quality materials. Plus, if you want to add a personal touch to your beautifully simple bag, they offer monogramming. We're particularly big fans of their Mini Candy Bag, which is your dream shoulder bag if you're someone who loves sleek cuts and has strong opinions on the perfect grain of leather.
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Comes in lots of different sizesThe perfect shoulder bag with a silhouette that will still be in style decades from now.
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Celeb-favoriteOne of the brand's signature pieces, you'll buy this as an evening bag but soon it will turn into your everyday accessory.
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Has a zipper to keep your things secureThis purse does the impossible and makes a tote bag scream high fashion.
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Not your average sling bagMoon sling bags are ultra-practical, but this purse proves that they can also be cute.
Best mid-range luxury: Staud
Staud is a fantastic place to get bags that are high-quality but still fun and youthful-looking. Their Tommy Bag has gone viral online for its quirky beaded designs like a sardine tin and a dragon. But they don't just do quirky well. More classic silhouettes like their Ollie Bag are made in luxurious leather but still have fun details like the asymmetrical links on the strap. Because of the midrange price and fun, personality-forward choices, a bag from the brand makes a great gift. But be careful because once you get it, you may just want to keep it for yourself.
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Comes in a ton of cute beaded prints like floral, fireworks, scenery, and moreIf you want a statement bag, look no further than the colorful beaded variations on this classic shoulder bag.
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Get it in black, blue, white, pink, and redA hugely popular style that looks and feels like luxury quality but only costs $250.
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We particularly love the metallic colors.This moon-shaped bag also comes with a crossbody strap that you can thread in a unique way.
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Comes in suede or leatherThe wrapped strap and V-shaped opening make this bag really stand out.
Best sculptural: Alexis Bittar
The world of Alexis Bittar is one of metallic and lucite. With sculptural clutches, bags that look as if they're dripping with molten gold, and traditional shapes with unexpected touches, the brand is really doing something different. If you love their bags, you should also check out their accessories such as lucite raindrop earrings like you've never seen before and a bangle that looks like it's been dipped in gold.
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Gold is the new blackThis trapezoid-shaped handbag takes a popular silhouette and turns it int a work of art.
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Also comes in black with gold accentsThe ruching details on this purse brilliantly compliment the appearance of smelted silver.
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Look closely at the beautiful detailsAdd a shoulder strap to make this lucite-handled bag a practical crossbody
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The highlight of your formal outfitThe ultimate statement clutch also comes in a silver bullet shape.
Best modern minimalist: Aupen
If you've seen a recent picture of Taylor Swift with a shiny asymmetrical shoulder bag, it's the Nirvana from Aupen. The newly popular brand puts a big emphasis on sustainability, even using deadstock leathers from luxury production to make their signature purses. Every piece from Aupen embodies luxurious minimalism, with tons of asymmetrical shapes, clean lines, and high-quality materials.
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An asymmetrical iconThe most recognizable piece from the brand, this bag sells out quickly so be sure to grab it when it's available.
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With a removable strapA simple silhouette with a shiny gold chain that you'll use for dinner, work, and beyond.
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Not your typical shoulder bagAnother standout from the brand, we love the curved shape and wide variety of colors.
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You can also get a version with a zipperThe slouchiness of this bag is anything but schleppy.
Best quirky: Susan Alexandra
If there's one word that describes Susan Alexandra, it's fun. The purses look like bags you'd drool over as a kid, but they're perfectly worth drooling over as an adult too. This trendy brand is a dopamine hit in a sea of neutral leathers, with its signature beaded bags that can instantly light up your outfit. Expect 3-D butterflies, food-shaped purses, kitschy collabs, and tons and tons of color.
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Picture this with a summery white dress and heelsBelieve me when I say that this can be an unexpectedly fun touch to a formal outfit.
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The most important meal of the dayA touch of nostalgia and a lot of shiny beads come together with this quirky purse.
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Extra dirty, pleaseDon't expect to fit much in this bag, but do expect to get lots of compliments.
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The perfect summer purseA classic style, this bag epitomizes the brand's commitment to color and joy.
Best designer-quality: Strathberry
This British brand is super popular across the pond — and for good reason. Strathberry rocketed to frame when royals Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle were each spotted carrying the brand's (typically) under-$700 purses. All of the bags are handcrafted in Span, where it takes an artisan an average of 20 hours to create. But just because you get designer craftsmanship doesn't mean you have to pay designer prices. And if it's good enough for the royals, it's good enough for us.
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A classic style that holds a tonMade of luxurious calf leather and accented with gold hardware, this is one of the brand's most popular styles.
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Comes in six colorsThe metal bar across the handle really makes this tote unique and visually appealing.
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Not your average hobo bagYou can even wear this as a crossbody by lengthening the strap.
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Comes in brighter colors like red and oliveThis top-handle bag is designed to take you to the office, the bar, on vacation, and everywhere in between.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@jkmperu.com.
