Photo: Spotlight
May 2, 2024
The Best Designer Bags of 2024: A Complete Editorialist Guide
Chosen by utility and longevity, not virality.
May 2, 2024
When you think of the best designer bag, what comes to mind? Maybe it's the default “icon” that's commonly associated with each brand or the hyper-trendy it-bag of the season. Chic, perhaps. Fun to wear a time or two? Totally. But are they the absolute best designer bag you can buy—the one that'll get years of mileage in your closet? Not necessarily.
At Editorialist, we're more interested in the bag with endurance, the bag that fits stuff, the bag that’s comfortable, cross-functional, and all season. You'll notice the finds ahead are light on logos, too, and that's by design. We've always been of the quiet luxury mentality in this house, and these are the fifteen bags we think will go with everything in your closet. The bags that you'll love and use forever.
In pursuit of that perfect catchall, our editors and stylists have tested dozens of Fendis, Guccis, and Pradas. You name it, we've tried it, and crossed it off the list. If there's a bag you're curious about that didn't score our number one spot, we've created bag-buying guides for each brand featured here, equipped with testing notes and curated picks of designer handbags that may speak to you instead. Be sure to bookmark this page—it's your new lifelong designer bag springboard.
At a Glance
Table of Contents
Best Bottega Veneta Bag: Andiamo
Best For: The unstructured, kitchen-sink bag fan.
Why We Chose It: Bottega houses some of the most piquant silhouettes of the past decade, making them a front-running name in the what-should-I-buy space—yet very few are considered a smart investment over time. It’s true that the Jodies and Pouches that were sold out through 2019 are now on Fashionphile for 70 percent off the original price, sometimes more.
More resistant to these peaks and valleys is the Andiamo—a Matthieu Blazy-era silhouette that's dependable and simple, yet still special. It's not gifted to the same-old celebs—instead, it's popping up on a more elusive group of A-listers, like Jacob Elordi. From a leather standpoint, Bottega bags with the brand's signature intrecciato weave feature almost double the amount of leather of competing bags that size, making the price more worthwhile by materials. The Bottega Veneta Arco may be popular, but because the closure is made of spaghetti-thin tie strands, they serve little function and mostly get in the way. The Andiamo, on the other hand, has a midway divider and an internal zip pouch for more practical function and organization.
Shopping tip: In this case, don't shy away from color. These bags are classic and simple enough to play around with joyous hues like chocolate brown and sage green. The East-West Andiamo is also a strong option for those after a more shallow tote.
If you'd rather persue the more iconic silhouettes of the brand, take a look at our best Bottega Veneta bags roundup.
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Best YSL Bag: Manhattan Tote
Best for: The modern working girl who wants to get the feel of a Birkin before taking the five-figure plunge.
Why We Chose It: Structured at the base, expandable, and belted at the opening, the Manhattan has all the advantages of the Birkin without the sticker shock. We’re not so keen on the sloped YSL monogram on several of the newer Yves Saint Laurent bags—its ostentatious nature can make your look skew a bit younger. The Manhattan holds more true to the brand's clean, elegant roots.
Shopping tip: While it comes in a range of sizes and strap styles, we advise against buying the mini or the small. The structure is so rigid that our editor struggled to easily fit his phone inside. We think the medium and large will serve you better. If you opt for a medium shoulder bag, you can tuck in the traps and wear it as a clutch. If you opt for large, you'll have the luxury of fitting a 13-inch laptop with ease.
Looking for a different Saint Laurent purse? Explore our full audit of the best YSL bags.
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Best Celine Bag: Medium Triomphe
Best for: The crossbody shopper with Chanel flap fatigue.
Why We Chose It: Celine bags are kind of our thing, so it was hard to crown just one option from the French brand's collection—but there is an obvious favorite. The Triomphe bag is the one catchall our editors and stylists cannot stop talking about. It's been in the label's repertoire for several seasons now, but we're as excited about it now as we were the first day it went down the runway. Less ostentatious than a Chanel flap, yet still sporting a designer logo, it walks the line between luxurious and discreet in a way few other handbags can. This is the bag that if you know, you know.
Shopping Tip: There's no going wrong on this one. All sizes, colorways, and strap styles (chain or leather) feel elegant. You can also choose between crossbody or shoulder bag, so consider the ways you'll wear it first. If you plan to layer it over bulkier layers, for instance, a longer strap may be crucial.
Discover more of the best Celine bags—and believe us, there are many more.
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Best The Row Bag: Margaux 17 Tote
Best for: The trend-immune dresser who just wants a simple, luxe weekend bag.
Why We Chose It: The Row Margaux 10 is so close to art, it makes us emotional. The bowling-bag shape wields the right balance of slouch factor and structure, and the straps are long enough to fit comfortably over your shoulder. It's compact enough to stack perfectly on a suitcase, but is spacious enough to hold all your weekend clothes. The expandable side straps and magnet enclosure allow you to collapse it on days where you're traveling lighter. We have even more suggestions for iconic bags to peruse in our full length guide to the best The Row bags.
Shopping Tip: Visually, we really, really want you to opt for one of the many luscious suede finishes, but if you live somewhere that's prone to rainy weather, it may be tough to keep vulnerable fabric in good condition. The grained calfskin is the most durable finish for this designer bag. The Margaux 10s, aka the smallest size, feature a crossbody strap that may be beneficial for those after a hands-free weekender.
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Best Hermès Bag: Birkin 30
Best for: Busy moms on the go, especially those that are flying—or those looking to make a smart investment in a designer bag that will sell for more down the line.
Why We Chose It: We’re filing this one in the no-surprise folder: Hermès’ Birkin is one of the greatest bags of all time, let alone one of the best of the brands’ offerings. Its belted flap promises to keep your belongings tucked inside, whether sliding under the seat in front of you or opting for the overhead bin. As such, it's far superior for travel than a spill-prone designer tote with an open top.
Its origin story is peak fashion lore. On a flight in 1983, French muse Jane Birkin was seated next to none other than Jean-Louis Dumas, the acting artistic director and CEO of Hermès. As she stowed her signature wicker basket in the overhead compartment, all of her sundry items tumbled out. She told Dumas that if Hermès someday made an everyday bag big enough to fit all of a busy mother's belongings, she would gladly retire her wicker basket. The duo doodled her dream bag on the back of an airplane sickness bag. Just like that, the Birkin was born.
Shopping Tip: Though the small is currently trending, the most popular and practical size is known to be the Birkin 30, according to our stylists. As the pinnacle of luxury bags, very few first-time shoppers ever gain access to the VIP rooms at Hermès. Our stylists receive frequent inquiries about how to buy a Birkin bag. We can help you skip the waitlist—message our team to learn more.
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Best Chanel Bag: Classic Flap Bag
Best for: The person shopping for a wear-everywhere day-to-night bag—one who isn't allergic to logos.
Why We Chose It: Thanks to the genius of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, to own a Chanel bag is to possess a piece of history. Ask around and you'll quickly discover that the Classic Flap is a dream bag—one that people spend years saving for. The house makes other favorites, like the newly-launched 22 bag and the iconic Boy bag, but the flap is a step above the rest aesthetically, functionally, and economically. It rivals the Birkin as the second-best investment bag of all time by resale value.
Shopping Tip: Chanel is notorious for raising the prices of its bags, so shopping secondhand is often our recommendation to get the best deals on the flap, so long as you're not averse to pre-owned pieces. Plus, prior to 2009 all bags were made with 24-karat gold hardware, so you aren't just paying for the logo—the actual materials merit the dollar value.
Chanel implemented a one-bag-per-year policy in 2022, so planning ahead is paramount. If interested in other pieces, uncover our full guide to the best Chanel bags.
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Best Prada Bag: Galleria Large
Best for: Monday through Friday, 9-to-5 toting—it fits a laptop and features zip closures to ward off passing showers as you bop from one appointment to the next.
Why We Chose It: The Galleria is the single most functional work tote that we’ve tried. It's not so big that it feels garish in polished settings, but not so small that it can’t fit a laptop and a change of shoes for after-work drinks. It comes with a crossbody strap and has bottom studs to prevent scuffing or picking up debris each time it's set down. Editorialist Staff Writer and proud Galleria owner, Jordan Goldberg’s favorite part? “It makes organization easy. There are internal pockets everywhere, so all of your belongings have a place to go—no more endless digging. Plus, the handbag doesn't feel boastful. It has the iconic triangle logo on the outside, but otherwise is pretty discrete, making it feel appropriate for anyone to carry."
Shopping Tip: If you're hoping to fit a laptop, the large Galleria is your best bet. Prada's patented Saffiano leather is unbelievably durable, so secondhand options are often in great shape—and go for a tenth of the price. Peek at Vestiaire Collective's assortment before taking the plunge.
"Prada or nada" folks, we've curated the best Prada bags beyond the Galleria for your perusal.
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Best Gucci Bag: Gucci Jackie 1961
Best For: The versatile dresser who likes to look polished some days and casual others. The Jackie does it all.
Why We Chose It: The Gucci Jackie 1961 makes sense with everything. No, really. Grabbing groceries in a lounge set? Heading to dinner in a full tweed skirt suit? We couldn't find a time or place not to wear this hobo bag—and we tried. We recommend leaning into prints here. Our Deputy Editor has a floral canvas iteration that she swears by, but the classic GG-monogram canvas also does the trick. It's a great way to add a dash of adventure to the look—it did rise to popularity when Jackie Onassis Kennedy used it as a paparazzi shield, after all. As for the rest, we have the best Gucci bags rounded up in our full guide.
Best For: The versatile dresser who likes to look polished some days and casual others. The Jackie does it all.
Why We Chose It: The Gucci Jackie makes sense with everything. No, really. Grabbing groceries in a lounge set? Heading to dinner in a full tweed skirt suit? We couldn't find a time or place not to wear this hobo bag—and we tried. We recommend leaning into prints here. Our Deputy Editor has a floral canvas iteration that she swears by, but the classic GG-monogram canvas also does the trick. It's a great way to add a dash of adventure to the look—it did rise to popularity when Jackie Onassis Kennedy used it as a paparazzi shield, after all.
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Best Ferragamo Bag: Hug Medium Leather-Trimmed Canvas Tote
Best For: The sophisticated dresser who loves a weekend lunch with the girls.
Why We Choose It: The Hug bags have quickly become one of the standout collections of Ferragamo's leather offerings—rightly so. With its adjustable tabs that wrap around the body (like a hug), it's a design that's both functional and unique. Although much of the fashion crowd has gravitated to the oversized clutch, it's the sophisticated tote that sits in our top spot. Boasting spacious inner, decadent details, and a detachable shoulder strap, it's a designer bag you can take to the office, on a flight, and anywhere in between.
Though, we think it works best at a weekend luncheon. At a restaurant where the interiors can echo the glamor of your gold hardware and the soft leather handles sit effortlessly on your arm. You can't go wrong with the traditional calf leather style, try the canvas-leather trimmed silhouette for a style you can wear all summer and well into fall. There's even more of the best Ferragamo bags to peruse in our full guide.
Shopping tip: Canvas and leather silhouettes are a great way to walk the line between casual and formal dressing. However, if you're someone who's prone to spillages, opt for an entirely leather bag that can weather life's accidents more easily.
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Best Toteme Bag: T-Lock Leather Shoulder Bag
Best For: A busy weekend, where coffee turns to lunch and then dinner.
Why We Choose It: While we try and steer away bags from that rise to ubiquity quickly for fear they might fall out of style at the same pace, this hasn't been the case for Toteme's T-Lock shoulder bag. Tapping into the Scandinavian brand's DNA of luxury minimalism, the T-Lock is both trendy and timeless. The logo hardware, which is available in both silver and gold, is polished and recognizable, while the slouchy shape evokes a casual, timeless, edge you can take everywhere from coffee to dinner.
Shopping tip: While there are smaller iterations of the T-lock bag available, to get the most out of your bag, we recommend opting for a larger size. The slouchy shape means you can fill it with all of your daily essentials (and more), plus the detachable shoulder strap offers more wearing possibilities.
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Best Loewe Bag: Flamenco Clutch
Best for: The one with the busy social calendar, be it a weekend wedding or a midsummer gala.
Why We Chose It: Where to start with Loewe. Jonathan Anderson accessories for the brand are a triumph of whimsical luxury, weird and wonderful in the best way. The brand is the architect behind some great warm weather totes, many of which have made our full best designer beach bags guide. This isn’t an article about it-bags, though—it’s about the number one most sensible Loewe bag you can buy and wear for years. As such, we’re not going with the Elephant bag or the too-dense Goya puffer—we're going with the Flamenco clutch.
The coiled-knot drawstring and supple Nappa leather are a delight to hold. The standard size also comes with an additional crossbody strap so that you can tote it with ease if your hands are busy (read: holding a glass of rosé and a canapé). No interior pockets alas, our only complaint—and a common gripe with Loewe bags that aren’t jumbo-sized. Most likely a choice to keep them soft in structure.
Shopping tip: Do yourself a favor and don't get white. A white clutch is a risky canvas for fingerprints and makeup streaks. If you want to size up, the Flamenco comes in a tote version that we positively love—and it features a sizable flat interior pocket.
As one of our favorite designer handbag brands, we'd be remiss not to share our full guide to the best Loewe bags.
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Best Fendi Bag: Fendi Peekaboo Medium
Best for: the collector who has the other everyday bags covered.
Why We Chose It: Fendi Peekaboo is the prim, proper catchall that our creative director, Stefania Allen, favors over all other Fendi bags by a mile. It’s sleek and expansive all at once, thanks to its accordion-shaped siding and turn-lock closures, and it’s free of the ostentatious branding that often polarizes our editors. This is the one for the shopper that has the basic clutches and cross-bodies covered; the one that's ready to add something more special and occasioned.
Shopping tip: The petite and mini sizes can be limiting (uber-structured tiny designer bags tend to have this problem), so we encourage sizing up to the small or medium to get more bang for your buck.
Explore our full guide to the best Fendi bags.
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Best Dior Bag: Lady Dior in Medium
Best for: The prim-and-proper, Waldorfian dresser—one who prefers rigidity over free-flowing lines.
Why We Chose It: This is one of those rare cases where the icon (that is to say, the most historically relevant bag) is also our top pick. We have a hard time subscribing to the Book Totes and Saddle Bags that dominated through the late 2010s, mostly because of their lack of organizational features and their ubiquity. The Saddle famously can't even fit a basic sunglasses case. The Lady Dior is the perfect antecedent: structured and substantial, upholstered in the brand's signature cannage and ornamented with the label's charms.
Shopping Tip: The smaller sizes can't even fit an iPhone, so sizing up to the medium is recommended. The devil is in the details—and in this case, the details are the decorative straps available. Add one of Dior's statement embroidered straps to your purchase, or invest in a silk scarf and wrap it around the handle the French girl way.
Looking for something different? Discover our full guide to the best Dior handbags.
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Best Alaïa Bag: Le Teckle Medium Leather Shoulder Bag
Best for: The busy urbanite who can handle meetings and late work dinner, and only needs the essentials.
Why We Chose It: There have been many great Alaïa bags in recent years, like the beloved La Coeur, but the Teckle (which aptly translates to dachshund in French) sits in its own lane entirely. Less gimmicky than other styles, this silhouette is an evolvement of the east-west we have seen as of late. Its structured shape and long drop handles are reminiscent of the bags donned by '90s corporate powerhouses—think the Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's of the world. Although the Teckel has a shallow interior, its wide nature makes it surprisingly spacious. It can hold your phone, lipstick, sunglasses, and more.
Shopping Tip: You have probably suede iteration doing the rounds on Instagram. We're big fans, but if you want an enduring bag that won't become damaged at the first drop of rain, try 100 percent calfskin leather styles—like this beige one. It also features an internal pocket for optimal storage and double zippers for easy access.
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Best Khaite Bag: Amelia Medium Leather Tote
Best for: The person who always needs everything with them and will never say no to a weekend away.
Why We Chose It: There's no shortage of hot, of-the-moment, bags from NYC-based label Khaite. Since its inception in 2016, the label has become the go-to for cool-girl accessories. However, quantity doesn't mean quality, and if you're someone who wants a bag they can wear for years to come, then Khaite's medium Amelia bag fits the bill. A product of the oversized bag trend dominating as of late, this silhouette is slouchier than its contemporaries—which makes it perfect for those who enjoy nothing more than toting their entire life around. While the top handles make it difficult to sport on your shoulder, what this bag lacks in wearability it makes up for in enduring nature. It's made of pebble-grain leather that's less prone to showing the scuffs and scratches of everyday life.
Shopping tip: It may be tempting to opt for a beige-colored bag (we love a neutral palette as much as the next person) but for a bag you can call again and again, black is more suitable.
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