No matter what your budget might be, one thing is probably true: the bags on your wish list cost more than you’d really like to pay for them. handbag prices just keep going up, and often, it feels like accessibly priced options are few and far between. The Internet is vast, though, and we set out to take stock of things. As it turns out, it is possible to get a terrific bag that doesn’t cost as much as your rent.
There are certain limitations, of course. If you want real leather (which we know most of you do), the best options you’re going to find under $200 are generally going to be either very small or very simple–think mini crossbodies and soft leather totes with no exterior embellishment or interior organization. The majority of the bags we chose are all or partly leather, but we included a couple vegan options, too. To get the best leather bang for your buck, seek out specialty retailers; the most high-end looking bags we found in real leather under 200 bucks were from “mall” retailers like Madewell, gap and Zara.
Below, check out the spoils of our expedition.
ASOS Calf Hair leather Tote
$108 via ASOS
Baggu bucket Bag
$140 via ShopBop
Calvin Klein Mary Canvas Drawstring Bag
$133 via Macy’s
Cambridge satchel tiny Satchel
$85 via ShopBop
Coach Ocelot Herald Crossbody Bag
$150 via Coach
Dagne Dover tiny Tote
$175 via Dagne Dover
Deux Lux Drawstring bucket Bag
$105 via ShopBop
Dooney & Bourke Pebble Bitsy Bag
$178 via Macy’s
Erin Dana mini Bond street Backpack
$198 via ShopBop
Fossil Monica Turnlock Crossbody
$88 via Macy’s
Gap Snake-Embossed leather Tote
$120 via Gap
Kate Spade new York Cedar street Monday Crossbody
$198 via ShopBop
Madewell Kensington Satchel
$198 via ShopBop
Madewell large Tote
$148 via ShopBop
MICHAEL Michael Kors Bedford Flap Crossbody Bag
$178 via Neiman Marcus
Milly Ludlow mini Crossbody
$175 via Bloomingdale’s
Nine West Helena mini Tote
$75 via Macy’s
Rebecca Minkoff Avery Crossbody Bag
$175 via ShopBop
Tommy Hilfiger Molly textured leather Tote
$168 via Macy’s
Zara mini leather bucket Bag
$159 via Zara