Ask Belle: Red Handbags
Mar 8, 2013
Hi Belle,
Can you suggest a red handbag that’s under-$250? I see them in a lot of your posts, but I don’t want to mortgage my condo to buy one. Thanks in advance for your response.
~Avery
Lord knows, I love a red handbag. I’m carrying mine today, in fact. And I think that after black, brown and grey, red is a great color to add to your purse wardrobe because it works with black in the winter and navy in the warmer months.
I gravitated to this Tahari satchel because it has a simple shape but some interesting details and substantial, but not overpowering, hardware. I also like this basic Aldo satchel for under-$100 and this easy red hobo bag for under-$75. I also like this casual flap satchel from IIIBeCa, and this Botkier convertible bag with chain strap.
As for the one I carry, it’s the J.CREW Biennial satchel. It’s a bit heavy, but I still love it.
My red handbag is the Lauren by Raplh Lauren Newbury Shopper. They come out with new colors every once in a while, but I have the deeper red (they call it something crazy, but trust me, it’s red). They retail at $198, but because they are constantly cranking them out, they go on sale a lot too. I got mine on Piperlime for about $150. And I love it so much.
https://www.katespade.com/designer-handbags/leather-handbags/wellesley-large-maeda/WKRU1524,default,pd.html?dwvar_WKRU1524_color=400&start=13&cgid=sale
just under budget and adorable!
What a timely post! (Or maybe just a smidge too late?) After looking FOREVER for a red/oxblood purse, I just bought the Foley + Corinna Simpatico Satchel in “venom” and am super excited, especially because it dropped to $118! (from $395). I love lots of the purses I see featured here, but I have to be able to fit a portfolio for interviewing (9.5″ x 12.25″) (which happens to be close to the same size as my laptop/work files) — no matter how lovely the portfolio is, nothing is more embarrassing than seeing it protruding or having a hard time getting it in/out b/c the zippered entry is just a smidge too small, so I wanted to avoid that this time. While I wasn’t crazy about the open parts, it does have a zippered center compartment, so I figured that’d be good for the odds/ends. Fingers crossed!
Oh, I’m so forgetful — here’s the link: https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446554686&R=411042274142&P_name=Foley+%2B+Corinna&N=4294908043+1553+306589795&bmUID=jRb3BpV
I’m not a Saks shopper normally (too cheap), but their fashion fix has some astonishingly good deals.
Coach has some gorgeous true-red bags in their Saffiano line. I’ve recently come to like Coach and their new clean-lined classic styles.
I saw this bag in the store and it’s beautiful and light as air.
https://www.coach.com/online/handbags/Product-saffiano_leather_mini_satchel-10551-10051-49392-en