A designer purchase should feel special and magical, not scary and bankrupting.
Other designers will have you believing that you need to drop lots of zeroes to invest in quality materials, and it’s just not true. All you need to know is where to shop. Our philosophy is to stay honest and transparent about what materials should cost, and that’s why so many of our styles are accessible compared to other designers.
If you want to treat yourself to a designer handbag but also want to stay under $300, we’ve got just the list for you.
5 of the Best Designer Bags Under $300
From mini bags to large totes, a strict price limit shouldn’t actually mean limiting your options.
Medina Bag
You don’t have to go ultra-small if you’re looking for a designer bag at this price point, but you certainly can when the ultra-small bag is this cute.
The Medina Bag pairs a drawstring leather pouch with a wooden beaded exterior. We love the Medina because it offers the freedom of a card carrier — the pouch can pretty much just hold your keys and your credit card — while also providing the security of an actual purse. It’s a lot harder to lose the Medina, especially while you’re on vacation, which t is the perfect time to wear her.
Attached to each purse’s top handle is a Brandon Blackwood leather tag so that the girls don’t have to ask where you got your super cute purse from. But in case they do, you should also let them know that the Medina is only $150. Love that for you.
Mini Cara Duffle Bag
We have a little bit of a thing for taking classic luggage designs and shrinking them down into miniature sizes, like the Mini Cara Duffle Bag.
Think about it: Luggage is designed to keep your items more secure than standard fabric bags. Their structure protects the goods inside the bag. Why don’t our purses do the same? Considering we carry them everywhere.
The Mini Cara Duffle Bag is a tiny but supportive little friend. Available in three pastel colors and made with genuine smooth leather, the Mini Cara works as both a handbag and a crossbody bag, with the detachable, adjustable strap.
We love to wear the Mini Cara Duffle Bag when we’re going to a concert or meeting friends for a boozy brunch. It’s such a cute way to stay hands-free while still looking fresh. And at just $150, the Mini Cara sits at a totally accessible price point for many.
Mini Kendrick Trunk
The Mini Kendrick Trunk is that girl for a reason. Our frequently sold-out and constantly-rereleased bestseller is a Brandon Blackwood staple.
Like the Mini Cara Duffle, this trunk bag takes inspiration from a much larger version of the design. It opens from the top with a buckle-clasp fastener revealing a small rectangular space for just your most essential items. At around six inches wide and four inches tall, we mean your most essential.
For us, the Mini Kendrick Trunk is a night-out bag, which is why we’re always trying out new materials and patterns on this flawless design. Wear it either with the crossbody strap or simply hold it from the top handle.
No matter how you rock the Mini Kendrick, we can guarantee your Instagram photos will be looking expensive. The style exudes an air of sophistication and taste.
Right now, the Mini Kendrick is available in a variety of styles, which come in at different price points. The terrycloth versions are $155, while the beaded bandana versions are $165. Keep an eye on our Instagram feed to see when we stock new colors and patterns of the Mini Kendrick. We’re obsessed with how seamlessly this purse transitions from one season to the next.
Kuei Bag
Like the Kendrick Trunk, the Kuei Bag is one of our signature styles. In a conversation with Harper’s Bazaar, Brandon suggested snagging the Metallic Pink Leather Kuei Bag, saying, “It’s one of the hardest to make, and the material is so special.”
Spoiler alert, that metallic pink version of the Kuei Bag is now (obviously) sold out, but there are still so many other options to choose from.
The Kuei Bag has a bit more embellishment and flair to its design. This boxy, square handbag has the iconic strap across the front with a zipper at the center. So many celebrities and influencers have reached for the Kuei Bag as their first Brandon Blackwood purchase, and we think it all comes down to the youthfulness of the style. It’s got a sweetness to it, which lends itself well to all the fun and vibrant patterns we’ve used on it.
The Kuei Bag comes in everything, from colorful mesh ($155) to terrycloth ($155), to crocodile embossed vegan leather ($165). We love them all, but we have to say the peekaboo quality of the mesh version is just so fun. The vegan leather details outline your purse essentials like a fifth avenue window frame for all the world to ogle over.
You’ll choose your phone case and lip gloss carefully once you try the Kuei Bag in mesh.
Large Mandeville Tote
Many of the bags we’ve covered so far have aired on the smaller side, but that doesn’t mean that to stay under $300, you need to go for a small bag.
In fact, one of our biggest bags, the Large Mandeville Tote, comes in at $250 and is 11 inches wide and over fourteen inches tall. That makes it big enough to carry your books, tablet, and any other items you pick up throughout the day.
Once you start using the Large Mandeville Tote, it will quickly become your go-to everyday bag. It’s the perfect size for everyday use, and the thick, genuine suede exterior will retain its structure and elegance long after your canvas tote’s average lifespan. It’s pretty much our modern version of a briefcase.
Town & Country Magazine called it one of the best leather totes on the market right now. Just saying.
The Large Mandeville Tote in suede comes in four different colors, and the mini version (which isn’t so mini) is also available in delectable smooth leather. Each tote includes a removable pouch and name tag, which helps solve that quintessential tote issue where you end up spending half the time rummaging through them for your keys. You’re welcome, fam.
Accessible Luxury for All
Just because you’re making a designer purchase does not mean you need to take out a second mortgage. Luxury materials should cost more. Designer expertise should cost more. But we happen to believe that the bag industry has long overpriced designer goods to keep regular people out of the game.
Enough is enough. No more gatekeeping on quality design. Everyone deserves to know and appreciate the feeling of treating themselves with a lovely designer purse. We hope these styles, all set at under $300, can help you feel well worth the investment.
Sources:
29 Instagram Hacks From People Who Take Really Good Photos | HuffPost Impact
Where to Buy a Brandon Blackwood Bag? Try Saks Fifth Avenue | Harper’s Bazaar
The Best Leather Tote Bags to Carry All of Your Essentials | Town & Country