The 16 Best Affordable Handbag Brands to Shop Now | Who What Wear

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We spend a good amount of our time swooning over the best designer handbags, from the likes of Bottega Veneta and Chloé to Saint Laurent or Chanel. Every once in a while, you might be looking to invest in a super-special bag from one of these luxury brands. But if your budget doesn't quite stretch and you're looking for a more affordable way to get that same polished look a designer bag can bring—don't fret. You're not missing out, because there are so many more affordable handbag brands that are creating bags just as covetable as those with four-figure price tags.

Still, the word "affordable" is hard to define, and of course it's all relative. For one person, it might mean £30 spent on the high street. For another, it could mean an excellent charity-shop find that rings in at £5. And for some, 'more affordable' is anything less than a £10k Hermès Birkin. Personally, we think in order for a bag to be deemed 'affordable', it needs to be great value—with a reasonable price tag in comparison to those uber-luxe brands, but still with an expensive look and feel. The key, also, is how much you'll actually use it and how long it will last you.

Aimee Song with a Charles & Keith handbag.

A £40 bag might seem more affordable at the outset, particularly when you stack it up against designer heavyweights. Still, if you only use it only a few times before it breaks or only wear it once because you don't truly love it, then its cost per wear tells another story—and not a frugal one at that. But if you were to save up and treat yourself to a £300 bag and use it every single day for two years straight, then that's a better investment.

With this rationale in mind, below we've included 16 more affordable handbag brands that Who What Wear editors love, own and are constantly featuring in stories. These are brands we trust for quality and value, as well as timeless style. The prices start at £59, and nothing's over £800, so we hope you'll find the one for you.

One of the style set's best-kept secrets is Charles & Keith, which started off creating premium-looking footwear at more than reasonable prices. Now, its bags are proving even more popular than its shoes, and it's not hard to see why.

Brown is just as versatile as black.

Such a unique shape.

The perfect everyday tote.

DeMellier is an independent label known in the industry for creating exceptional quality leather bags, made ethically and sustainably in Spain or Italy. So although they're not 'cheap', they're incredibly good value sitting comfortably under £500.

This cream shade is a great alternative to black that will work with all of your neutrals.

This looks so expensive.

It doesn't get chicer than a top handle bag.

Aspinal is one of the brands we turn to when we want the best of British craftsmanship. Think luxury, quintessentially English design plus handmade by skilled artisans and you're on the right track. Yes the price point is designer but look at it as a smart investment, a piece you would bring out year after year.

So easy to take from day to night.

Such a versatile shade.

Throw in everything and go.

Mansur Gavriel bags have been incredibly popular with the fashion crowd ever since they first launched their iconic bucket bags in 2013. The pared-back minimalism makes them feel really luxe, and now the collection is full of beautiful bags you can wear for years to come.

Quiet-luxury vibes.

I love this red shade.

This is at the top of my wishlist.

With a lot of luxury labels originating from Paris, it's even more special when you find a lesser-known mid-price brand from France with the same quality. Polène has a refined edit of premium styles that will be a timeless addition to your collection. Don't be fooled by their aesthetics, though—they're more affordable than they look.

This crescent shape is so elegant.

Hello, new work tote.

So sweet!

Over the course of fashion month, it seemed like everywhere you turned, someone was carrying a JW PEI handbag. This, of course, is great news for us, as the directional arm candy comes in at under £100.

How cool is this shape?

Suede will be everywhere this autumn.

SoGo hands-free with this classy long-strap saddle bag.

ATP calls itself "a love child of a lifestyle between Italy and Sweden". Designed in Stockholm and handmade in Italy—it should come as no surprise that these handbags are incredibly chic and luxurious, despite their mostly under-£500 price tags.

An elevated take on the classic black bag.

Take this from the office to an evening out with ease.

There's something so classy about this two-toned crossbody.

Created by a mostly female team, Loeffler Randall's designs are a potent blend of pretty and practical. Its lamé bow has become something of a signature on its shoes and has recently migrated to clutches, too. The brand's shoulder bags and crossbodies, however, are just as elegant.

A winter soirée bag if ever I saw one.

The bow is so cute.

Perfect for a night out.

Dragon Diffusion's leather woven totes give the typical summertime basket bag year-round appeal. The oversized silhouettes make an impact no matter what you wear them with. We've seen people using them as everything from baby-changing bags to gym holdalls. To be fair, if we had one of our own, we'd find any excuse to use it, too.

I'll be taking this to work as well as on holiday.

Who can ever tire of the elegant woven design.

The colours work so well together.

COS consistently delivers some of the best handbags on the high street, making it very deserving of a place in our line-up. Like the rest of its wares, the stock tends to move quickly, and we've missed out on more excellent COS bags than we care to think about. Don't make the same mistakes as we have.

This viral style is back for 2024.

So sophisticated.

This comes is so many colours.

& Other Stories has become known for its less-is-more design approach, its focus on form without the use of any loud embellishments or logos. These are truly affordable bags for the minimalist age.

Simple, practical and totally trend-proof

Suede will never date in your wardrobe.

Bring this versatile buckle bag on every outing.

Arket's buckled bags are practically fashion currency. Every editor and influencer seems to have one in their collection. The slouchy suede totes and timeless leather shoulder bags are also popular among minimalists.

You can fit so much into this tote.

You can wear this all year round.

I almost thought this was designer.

Staud is another label that has caught the attention of fashion experts, and for all the right reasons. Staud's shoulder bags are the stuff of dreams, and have surprisingly reasonable price tags given how big they are in the luxury industry.

The curved shape that everyone will carry this season.

The Tommy bag comes in so many different patterns.

Staud always nails it and this perfect suede tote is no exception.

Ganni has been big news for years, gaining traction in style circles for it's fun yet timeless designs that you'll keep for many years to come.

Wear this with your maxi summer dresses.

The structure adds to the elevated feel of this bag

You can pair this with all of the neutrals in your wardrobe.

If there's one brand that made a comeback recently, it's Coach. And it all comes down to its Tabby bag, which became accessory gold last year. Whether it's the cult Pillow Tabby or the classic, you're bound to find one to suit your taste (especially if you're partial to a fun Y2K-inspired design).

I love this shade.

Brown will be everywhere this autumn.

This will never date.

Elleme is very much an in-the-know name that stylish people turn to for timeless handbags with a modern twist, and the brand now boasts—9 years after its launch—a collection of fans from celebrities to editors.

This will look incredibly chic with a monochrome outfit.

Trying to branch out from black accessories? This beige handbag is just as versatile.

Truly timeless.

This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.

Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.

Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.

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