Recently, I pulled a bag from my closet to take on a trip.  It had been some time since this bag had seen the light of day and, after I dusted off the cobwebs, I realized it was looking a bit worse for wear.  If your handbag selection is also showing its age as we emerge from the pandemic into the light, here are five picks for under-$175 that you’re really going to like.

The Brunch Bag. This AllSaints Sheringham Bag is the weekend bag you grab on your way out the door that has enough style to pull together any outfit.  It’s large enough to carry your essentials, with a little extra room for a Saturday Sephora or bookstore run.  This is also a great bag to put into a larger carry-on laptop bag, so you can have a smaller purse when you travel.  Plus, AllSaints bags are beautifully made, so if you can snap one up for less, do.

The Perfect Weekender/Gym Bag does not exist!  Well, actually it does.  And did I mention this Cleo bag costs $99 and strangely comes from Pottery Barn?  I have no idea what a home goods retailer is doing selling luggage, but they have some very nice options.

I love the charcoal grey canvas next to the pale tan leather.  So if you love a weekend roadtrip, pick up the Weekender and this chic, matching duffle to have the whole set.

A Designer Wallet can be yours for less than $175 on the resale market.  Many women receive designer wallets as gifts and either don’t use them or only use them sporadically, so you can snap one up in great condition for a drastically reduced price.  I chose this Miu Miu wallet because it’s a recognizable brand (named after Miuccia Prada) that has an interesting look to it.

At the top end, an Hermes wallet will still set you back thousands, but in the mid-range you can grab Prada, Gucci, and other designers for under-$300.  Both Luxury Closet and The Real Real offer authentication.  There is some question as to whether the services do a good job of catching fakes, but I’ve bought four bags this way, and I’ve had one problem, which was resolved with two e-mails.

The Travel Crossbody should be simple, durable and able to hold the essentials.  Wolf & Badger offers this tassel bag from Johnny Loves Rosie.   They also offer a slightly smaller style from the independent brand Betsy & Floss.  If you like shopping smaller brands, W&B is the place to go.  For me, the tassel on the bags adds a little something extra and makes it feel a bit more fun.

The Laptop Bag You Need comes from CALPAK.  This is the Haven bag’s third appearance on this blog, and it likely won’t be its last.  This bag has excellent internal storage, a generous drop, a separate shoulder strap and zips closed to prevent issues.  It will also hold a 15″ laptop, which I know is a challenge for many lawyers and professional women.

The bag comes in four standard colors (tan, bone, black and pink) and additional seasonal colors, like this deep green.  It’s faux leather so you can really beat the hell out of it and no one will know.  Not that any of us would ever do that on our morning commute, our work trips, our daycare runs or our weekend’s away.

If you have a favorite affordable bag, please leave it in the comments!

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