Listicles

The 15 Best Bags to Start Your Designer Handbag Collection, 2016 Edition

Recently, Megs responded to one of our readers who was looking to choose between three options to buy her first premier designer bag, and her question got me thinking about how the accessories landscape must look for someone just beginning in 2016. Picking a first top-tier designer bag is always a fraught thing; when you’re looking to make a large expenditure in an area you’ve never made one in before, where do you start?

As you may have gathered, this is sort of our thing, so below, we’ve got the 15 places we’d considering starting a designer bag collection in 2016. For this group, we drew from only premier designers, and we tried to pick bags that would be both recognizable and have staying power, and we tried to stick to the lower end of each brand’s price spectrum. Check out the results below.

Balenciaga City Bag
$1,835 via Balenciaga

The City has been around long enough to make it a certifiable classic, and the price is still accessible enough to make it a feasible choice to start a collection. I’d suggest going for a bright color; that’s what the brand is really known for.

Balenciaga-City-Bag

Bottega Veneta Olimpia Shoulder Bag
$2,150 via Net-a-Porter

Any designer bag aficionado can spot Bottega Veneta’s intrecciato from a mile away, and this structure gives it a more youthful feeling for those starting out in the bag game.

Bottega-Veneta-Olimpia-Shoulder-Bag

Burberry Banner Tote
$1,595 via Nordstrom

This tote features a little bit of signature novacheck at the gussets, but from the front, it’s a totally neutral tote; the combination makes it perfect for a first-timer.

Burberry-Banner-Tote

Céline Belt Bag
$3,050 via Céline

If the Luggage or Trapeze styles feel a little too obvious but you still want to try Céline, the Belt Bag is easily the way to go.

Celine-Belt-Bag

Chanel Wallet on Chain
$1,900 via Chanel

At less than $2,500 and still aesthetically reminiscent of the pricier Classic Flaps, Chanel’s petite WOCs have long been the bag of preference for women looking to start their collections with Chanel.

Chanel-Wallet-on-Chain

Chloé Small Faye Bag
$1,390 via Net-a-Porter

When you’re looking at price vs. style, the small version of the Faye is easily Chloé’s best deal.

Chloe-Smalle-Faye-Bag

Fendi Petite 2Jours Tote
$2,350 via Nordstrom

Every time I see someone carrying a Petite 2Jours, I can’t help but think how perfect it is–not too big, not too small, always sophisticated. That’s a great combination for a first designer bag.

Fendi-Petite-2Jours-Tote

Givenchy Nightingale Bag
$2,450 via Net-a-Porter

The Nightingale has the advantage of being both new and classic; the bag has been around for years, but the recent redesign makes it feel fresh and modern.

Givenchy-Nightingale-Bag

Gucci Soho Disco Bag
$980 via Gucci

The Soho Disco was a favorite of the PurseBlog team even before Alessandro Michele revitalized the brand, and now that everyone wants a little bit of Gucci, this functional piece is an even better pick.

Gucci-Soho-Disco-Bag

Loewe Small Puzzle Bag
$2,350 via Nordstrom

If you tend to skew toward the artsy and experimental side of things, Loewe’s first big hit since it hired Jonathan Anderson is the way to build your collection.

Loewe-Small-Puzzle-Bag

Louis Vuitton Alma BB Bag
$1,200 via Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton has a lot of classics that would make fine choices for beginning a designer collection, but the freshest-feeling among them is the small version of the Alma. Seriously, even Rihanna carries it regularly.

Louis-Vuitton-Damir-Alma-BB-Bag

MCM Milla Bag
$920 via Nordstrom

MCM isn’t the first designer brand you might think of, but that works to its advantage; you’re less likely to see your first bag everywhere you go.

MCM-Milla-Tote

Prada Saffiano Executive Tote
$2,390 via Bergdorf Goodman

Prada’s saffiano totes have been the choice of a whole generation of high-powered women for a very good reason.

Prada-Saffiano-Executive-Tote

Saint Laurent Sac de Jour Bag
$2,890 via Nordstrom

Even though the Sac de Jour is trendy, it’s simple enough to stick around as a popular piece for years to come.

Saint-Laurent-Sac-de-Jour-Bag

Valentino Rockstud Noir Shoulder Bag
$3,445 via Nordstrom

If Rockstuds are your thing, definitely take advantage of the numerous styles the brand offers and pick something that perfectly fits your needs.

Valentino-Rockstud-Noir-Shoulder-Bag

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