The Great Handbag Hunt: My Pick For The Best Handbag Under $1,000

1 month of Research, 16 Contenders, and 1 Winner 👜

The Great Bag Hunt: 16 strong contenders, but only 1 winner

Hi there,

I hadn’t bought a casual, mid size black bag in years. Not for lack of trying, but the only ones I loved were pushing $5K, and I wasn’t ready to part with that kind of cash for a handbag. I know, the internet is on fire with debates about dupes, and I could have gone that route—but I just can’t bring myself to do it. It’s partly a matter of principle and partly about accepting what I can and can’t afford right now - and being okay with it. (That said, no judgment here. Luxury prices are off the charts, and I don’t blame anyone for looking for alternatives).

But in the past few years, independent brands have stepped up, flooding the market with excellent, more affordable options. Suddenly, I had the opposite problem: way too many choices. What started as a simple search turned into a month-long black hole of analysis paralysis. But after sifting through literally hundreds of options, I finally made my picks, and today, I’m sharing both my process and my purchase with you.

The (Very Long) Criteria: I Refuse to Buy Another “Almost Right” Bag

I’m done with soft, unstructured bags that turn into bottomless pits the second I drop in my wallet, sunglasses, or mints. Especially when I’m already juggling a phone, coffee, dog leash, groceries, or a child’s hand (basically every day of my life). This time, I had very specific requirements, and I was unwilling to compromise on them:

• Not a shoulder destroyer: No bag should feel like I’m hauling kettle bells. Light-weight or bust.

• The Goldilocks size: Not too big (I own about 45 totes for that), not too small (I’m no minimalist, and I have enough clutches for when I need them).

• Black and brown options: don’t get me wrong, I love a fashion bag. But for now, I am looking for something not precious, and that I can wear to death.

• Budget: Under $1,000 per bag: If the bag is over that mark, I rather wait until I can get something over $3k, like The Row, Prada or Miu Miu. For a "regular" brand, $1K is a generous budget (at least for 2025. Who knows what will happen with the tariffs…).

• Functional pockets: At least one outside for my phone’ easy reach. I don’t want to put the phone in my pocket when I’m already carrying a handbag. Non-negotiable.

• Leather, suede, or fabric only: No vinyl, plastic, or questionable materials unless it’s for the beach.

• Hands-free option required: Crossbody or shoulder strap, please. I love a top handle, but I also love using both hands. And those straps must not be flimsy, or not proportional to the size of the bag, or cheap looking (this was harder to find than anticipated - I don’t understand why brands do super thin cheap looking straps for medium bags!).

• Not trendy: If it screams 2024 and will feel cringe in 2026, it’s a no. I’m looking for longevity.

• No Hermès or The Row obvious knockoffs: I know nothing is 100% original, but I want something that looks well designed, and not a lazy copy of a famous bag.

• Polished but casual: I have fancy bags, and I have very casual bags. I need something in between that I can wear for work and leisure.

• And finally… it must be beautiful. And somewhat unique. Obviously.

After combing through every DTC brand, multi-brand retailer, and designer website (plus far too much Instagram scrolling), I noticed I was gravitating toward small bowling bags or structured Speedy-style shapes, or maybe the The Row’s India-like shapes. I paired down my selections to 16 contenders.

Here are the finalists & the winner with a beautiful video at the end: