Last updated on July 17th, 2022 at 10:24 pm

We’ve been talking a lot about investment bags recently, but do you have to spend that much to get a great bag? The short answer is no. There are great affordable handbags out there. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in a great bag. If it’s something you want, you should definitely purchase it and enjoy it.

But there are affordable handbags that only look expensive and we’re here to show you what they are! Starting with some bags that are similar to “famous” bags – like the quilted Chanel bag or the classic Hermés Birkin bag. Then we’ll talk about some of our favorite affordable, yet stylish brands.

The Chanel Quilted Look

When I purchased my Chanel bag a few years back, it was a big deal. It was something that I wanted for a long time but just couldn’t pull the trigger on it. But finally the “If not now, when?” philosophy popped into my head and I just did it. I am so glad I did.

If you like the look but aren’t ready to invest just yet, here are some similar styles that you might like.

The Hermés Birkin Bag Look

This is another classic look – the satchel with the lock detail.

Our Favorite Fashionable & Affordable Handbags

These are some of our “go-to” places for affordable handbags that still have great quality and style.

J.W. Pei

I first discovered J.W. Pei a couple of years ago when their Gabbi collection was shown in just about every magazine with the title “the under $100 bag every supermodel loves”. And you would see so many street style photos of models with the Gabbi in tow.

The Gabbi is the first bag shown below – it comes in a variety of colors. (Yes, I have one!) All the J.W. Pei bags are a great value, meaning great quality at a great price.

As of this writing, they have 15% off for Mother’s Day.

Mango

If you’re not familiar with the brand from Spain, you need to be. They remind us a lot of Zara. There aren’t many stores in the U.S. yet, but you can order online. We love their bags – they are also well-made and fashion forward. Their prices vary, but you can get a nice bag for about $60.

H&M

H&M doesn’t carry a lot of bags, but the ones that they do are fun. They usually are just a little bit different than what you would normally see. Like the jacquard print bag below. It’s a great fun bag for summer, especially for only $35

Zara

Mango and Zara remind me a lot of each other and both are companies based in Spain. Zara is a little more established here in the U.S. We have a Zara store here in the Detroit area. Their bags are a lot of fun – there is always an interesting element to them, just like this red floral crossbody.

K. Carroll Accessories

Full disclosure – I worked at K. Carroll Accessories for 12 years before I left to start “The Harper Girls”. But I am not just recommending it because I worked there, I am recommending it because I know the products so well.

Three of their products have been named one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things” and they featured frequently on GMA’s “Deals & Steals”. These bags have great quality and are designed by a team of women who really try to add features that they know women want.

They are just celebrating their 20 year anniversary. To celebrate, from May 2 – 22, they are offering 20% off your purchase with the code TWENTYYEARS at checkout. Now is a great time to try out a K. Carroll bag.

Nordstrom Rack

Here’s where I find a lot of hidden gems. There some very on-trend bags on the Nordstrom Rack for a great price. They also have some good deals on designer bags as well. One of the brands that I discovered on Nordstrom Rack is House of Want. I’ve purchased a couple of their bags and have been happy with them.

House of Want bags at Nordstrom Rack:

As I mentioned, there are a lot of options from brands like Rebecca Minkoff, Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson and even great deals on bags from Madewell. Here is a curation of some of my favorites:

Crossbody Bags:

Brands from left to right: Botkier, Marc Jacobs, American Leather Co,

Totes:

Brands from left to right: Etienne Aigner, Betsey Johnson, Nanette Lepore

Patterns

Brands from left to right: Betsey Johnson, Madewell, House of Want

Large Crossbody/Hobo

Brands from left to right: Rebecca Minkoff, American Leather Co., Vince Camuto

Affordable Handbags on Amazon

There are so many bags on Amazon that I couldn’t do it justice if I tried to list them here. But if I were to send you in a direction would be to the “The Drop”. That is where I got the brown bag in the photo below.

So what do you think? Would you be willing to “invest’ in one of these bags? Let me know in the comments below!

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