10 Best Designer Handbags under $1,000

There are so many incredible designer handbags that are priced under $1,000. With small bags being in style, there are more options than ever before to find a designer handbag within that budget. Today’s blog article inspiration came from a Direct Message (DM) I received on instagram of a young lady who messaged me saying she wanted to buy a designer handbag and couldn’t find anything she liked under $1,000.

I was shocked she couldn’t find anything. Then I thought maybe she didn’t know where to look or what brands carry affordable designer handbags. One thing that surprised me when I was helping her search was that many popular designer brands have options for those who want to stick under a $1k budget. 

Today, I’m going to break down my 10  favorite designer handbags priced under $1,000. I even found a Gucci bag that I adore, that’s under $800! At the end of the article I’ll also discuss if you should buy a designer handbag in the preloved market. Let’s go ahead and jump into the best 10 designer bags for sale under one thousand dollars. 

LongChamp Le Pliage Bag

The first handbag on the list for under $1,000 is the Longchamp Le Pliage Bag. Longchamp bags have been popular for years. The most popular Longchamp bag is the nylon bag, called the Le Pliage Bag. Launched in 1993, the LongChamp Le Pliage Bag can fold up which makes it easy to store when you’re not using it. 

Did you know that this French brand sells over 1 Million, yes that’s right you read that correctly, 1 Million Le Pliage Bags are sold each year! The LongChamp Le Pliage Bag is definitely worth the investment! I actually own 2 of them and I highly recommend adding this bag to your collection. Priced between $125 and $500 depending on size and material used.

Strathberry East / West Bag or Tote Bag 

Strathberry is one brand you’ve probably seen over and over again in my blog posts. I can not get enough of this brand. Launched in 2013, this London brand is extremely popular amongst the Royals, celebrities, and is definitely worth investing in. In my collection I have 3 bags and I am looking to expand and add a fourth one. 

In my opinion, it’s hard to just pick one Strathberry bag, as they are all so chic. The two I definitely consider classics and timeless pieces to add is the Strathberry East / West and the Strathberry Tote. Both of these have impeccable shapes and are made with high quality leather. 

Also a little side note for those considering adding a white Strathberry to your handbag collection. All 3 Strathberry bags I’ve owned for a few years are either white or a two toned white combination and I’ve had no issues with the white fading. Shop Strathberry Bags

Alexander McQueen Small Skull Shoulder Bag

When I say run, don’t walk to Net-a-porter to get your hands on the Alexander McQueen Small Skull shoulder bag, I’m not joking! This Alexander McQueen handbag is selling out like crazy, and I saw Net-a-porter had two colors left in stock. A little side note that on the website it said that they have low inventory.

What I love about these Alexander McQueen designer handbag is the subtle identifiable McQueen skull clasp. Another incredible feature about this timeless handbag is how versatile it is. It can be worn as a shoulder bag, or a clutch if you tuck the strap into the bag.

Gucci Petite Shoulder bag

Gucci has been around since 1921, and was launched in Florence, Italy. A few years ago, it was almost impossible to find a Gucci bag for under $1,000. As I mentioned above, with the rise of smaller bags I was able to find not only one but two Gucci handbags that I'm obsessed with.

The first Gucci bag that I’m absolutely obsessed with is called the GG Marmont super mini quilted leather shoulder bag. In early 2021, This bag is featured in the photo and is priced at slightly below $1,000. As of Nov. 2022 this bag is featured is now listed at $1200. This bag can fit a phone and a skinny wallet.

The second Gucci handbag that I’m absolutely obsessed with is called the Dionysus super mini textured-leather shoulder bag. This bag is also adorable! Similar to the other bag, it can fit a phone and a skinny wallet. Shop Gucci Mini Handbags

Marc Jacobs SnapShot Crossbody

One of the most iconic Marc Jacob bags is the Snapshot Crossbody. The Snapshot crossbody features the recognizable double J logos on the front of the crossbody. Not only does this crossbody come in many different colors, you can also change the strap on the bag.  This crossbody bag is priced under $350 and definitely deserves a spot on the list of designer handbags under $1000.

If you are looking for an alternative, I also highly recommend the new Marc Jacobs J-Link Shoulder bag. What I love about this bag is the structure and the minimalist style. Shop Marc Jacobs Snapshot Crossbody

Coach Tabby bag

Coach will always have a soft spot in my heart. My first job I worked at Macy's in the Coach handbag department and it was there I developed my love for handbags. Many of you  may remember, Coach was extremely popular back in the early 2000s. Then, it seems like Coach went silent for a bit.

It wasn’t until creative director Stuart Vevers stepped foot into Coach in 2013 and started turning the company around and gain popularity once again.

Today, 7 years later, Coach released their new sustainable collection, which is constantly being talked about. Especially the new Coach Tabby 26 bag! Vevers is on track to continue to create iconic, timeless handbags for Coach and I couldn't be more excited! Shop Coach Handbags

Loewe Basket bag in palm leaf and calfskin

I recently discovered Loewe handbags a few years ago, but it was actually founded in 1846 making it LVMH’s oldest fashion house. The Loewe basket bag is one of the most popular, recognizable Loewe bags. Even if you were unaware of the brand, I’m sure you’ve seen this bag out and about or on the gram.  

Priced at a little over $500, this woven basket bag has become one of my summer favorites!  What I love about this bag is the leather patch comes in different colors, the most traditional color being the brown. The Loewe basket bag in palm leaf and calfskin is definitely a bag I recommend.

Balenciaga Hourglass leather shoulder bag

The new Balenciaga hourglass leather shoulder bag featured in the photo has been taking the fashion world by storm since the launch at the end of 2019. As soon as this bag was released I knew it would become a timeless Balenciaga handbag. 

The hourglass name comes from the curved shaped bottom of the bag. The Balenciaga Leather Wallet on a Chain bag (Same as the photo minus the handle) has increased their price, making this bag over 1k now. This bag in the basic black color is priced right over $1,000 and can be used as a shoulder bag or a clutch by removing the strap. If you are wanting a croc effect print then the pricing is slightly above $1,200. I definitely recommend adding this chic Balenciaga bag to your designer handbag collection even with the price increase!

See By Chloe Joan bag

I’m a huge fan of See by Chloe and Chloe bags. I purchased 2 Chloe bags about 4 years ago now, and both have held up phenomenally. See by Chloe and Chloe bags are both made with high quality material and definitely deserves a spot on our list of best designer handbags under $1k. 

One of my favorite See by Chloe handbags is called the Joan bag and is priced at $320. What I love about this bag is how versatile it is and how it comes in a variety of colors.

Jacquemus Le Chiquito Bag

Jacquemus rose to popularity in 2018 and had explosive growth thanks to the Le Chiquito bag, which accounts for roughly 40% of all sales from the brand. If you are scrolling through instagram it’s almost impossible to miss. This IT bag is everywhere. What I love about the Jacquemus le Chiquito bag is it comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors! Even their super mini bags are adorable! 

Jacquemus is a relatively new brand, in fact, founder and creative director Simon Porte Jacquemus got his shot when he landed a spot in Paris Fashion week at the age of 22. Making him one of the youngest designers to ever do so. The Jacquemus Le Chiquito bag deserves a spot as one of the best designer handbags under $1,000!

Should you buy a designer handbag secondhand? 

The one thing in my opinion that I think people don’t talk about enough is the fact that timeless designer handbags / their permanent collection always increase their price year over year. Chanel is a perfect example of this when they announced a 21% price increase in 2020. This is why I’m such a big fan of buying handbags secondhand. 

What I love about buying preloved handbags is you can get more bang for your buck. Two of my favorite places to buy secondhand are The Real Real and Fashionphile! There are over hundreds of designer handbags listed on both of these sites for under $1k. I even saw a Hermes bag on there, yup that's right a Hermes bag in blue and brown for under $1,000! I also found a Lady Dior Bag priced at $995!

Recap on the top 10 Designer handbags for under $1,000

In short there are many designer handbags for under $1k especially with small bags being all the rage. One of the best things about shopping online is you can literally filter by price. So if you are unsure which designer brands carry handbags for under $1,000 head over to their site and filter by price. You'd be surprised how many designer handbags you can buy for under $1,000.

Do you have a bag you recommend to be added to the top 10 designer handbags list for under $1k? Feel free to drop me an email, or leave me a comment. I'd love to hear if you have any must-have bags that should be added to the list.

Diane 

Sincerely Petite in Paris,