I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, a handbag doesn’t need to cost a fortune to be luxurious. There are plenty of beautiful handbag designs for bargain prices, and today I am focusing on the best handbags priced at $500 or below. With so many options to choose from, I was pleasantly surprised to find how many gorgeous designs fell into this price point. For years I wrongfully associated luxury with high costs and premier designs exclusively, and that simply is not true.
I searched high and low online for the best handbags for under $500 and had a hard time narrowing down the list (a good problem to have, I suppose!). I personally own two of the handbags I selected, the Polène Numéro Neuf and a Kurt Geiger London Kensington. I can attest to the fact that both designs are crafted meticulously, made with high end leathers, and are durable and stylish. Funnily enough, I get more compliments on these bags than my premier designer handbags, they almost always spark a conversation when I wear them.
Without further ado, below you will find my top picks for the best handbags under $500. Do you own any of the bags on the list? Did I miss a design that you love? Share with us in the comments!
Stand Studio Quilted Fold Over Tote Bag ($300)
Zadig & Voltaire x Kate Moss Kate Crossbody Bag ($498)
Polène Numéro Neuf Bag ($390)
FRAME Les Second Mini Crossbody Bag ($378)
The Marc Jacobs The Director Leather Tote ($450)
Tory Burch Fleming Small Convertible Leather Shoulder Bag ($458)
Topshop Frame Ruched Clutch ($38)
Kurt Geiger London Mini Kensington Leather Crossbody Bag ($165)
MICHAEL Michael Kors Jagger Medium Leather Messenger Bag ($298)
Thacker Cece Python Embossed Leather Saddle Crossbody ($198)
I really admire Marc Jacobs’ professional-looking bags: the Editor, the Incognito and now the Director. And the Kensington is truly a stunner! Quite a good alternative for Chanel Mermaid, I’d say. Love the collection Lucy!
The polene bag is really pretty, it reminds me of a softer version of the Celine Trifold bag. The Tory Burch bag is literally just a logo swap of the vintage Chanel bag and that bothers me a lot. I get that a lot of contemporary brands mirror the luxury brands designs but there’s a difference between being inspired by and just copying.
I saw the Kurt Geiger bag last month online and thought of how pretty this bag would be to wear with plenty of spring and summer outfits. The hardware is gorgeous too. It’s on my wishlist
I own three Kurt Geiger Kensington bags, and I love each one of them. I get compliments on them all of the time.
I like the look of the Kurt Geiger bags. I am not such a fan of the logo though so I am on the fence about this one.