A good purse can change your day. It can put a sparkle on any outfit. It can earn a much-deserved double take on the subway.
For many of us, a designer bag is an investment in that kind of magic that happens when expert craftsmanship and impeccable style meet. They’re purchases we save for, deliberate, and wait for the right moment — even if that moment is an impulse — to arrive.
Contrary to popular belief, making a luxury purchase doesn’t necessarily mean denting your bank account. We happen to believe that luxury should be accessible to all and style is for everyone.
So we put together this helpful list of four bags under 400 dollars that sacrifice exactly nothing:
4 Bags Under $400 You’ll Love
Shopping for a designer bag does not need to put you in the red. Quality, luxurious materials cost what they cost, but the markup game in this industry is insane.
That’s why these four bags represent a cultural reset. No more shopping for the few. It’s time for everyone who wants to get their hands on a beautiful designer handbag.
1. Kendrick Trunk
If you don’t know about the Kendrick Trunk, then today is your lucky day. It’s a party, girl. The more, the merrier.
The Kendrick Trunk is one of our all-time best-sellers for a reason. Perhaps it’s the way the simple rectangular style suits everyone. Perhaps it’s the way the short top handle and detachable crossbody shoulder strap make it versatile for any occasion. Or perhaps we just really love the way the mini version looks on the arms of one Megan Thee Stallion.
In any case, the Kendrick is that bag.
We haven’t actually found a color that the Kendrick Trunk doesn’t slay, so our shop is usually full of options when it comes to this style.
In monochrome, genuine leather, we have everything from True Green to Purple to Red. In Ponyhair, we have some amazing patterns from Dalmation to Cow Print in lots of different colors so you can live out a nineties music video fantasy. Speaking of, the Kendrick Trunk is also available in stunning denim shades, which provide a stellar styling opportunity. You also cannot get more chic than the Kendrick Trunk in croc-embossed leather.
The point is — this simple, sleek design looks fab in any material and shade. Follow us on Instagram to make sure you’re up to speed when we drop a new version. We like to experiment and keep things fresh with the Kendrick.
The materials will always dictate the price point — that’s part of how we are able to make designer purses accessible — so the Kendrick Trunk can range from $265 to $300.
2. Standard Sophia Bag
Next up is the Standard Sophia Bag. The Standard Sophia is an homage to so many of the purses we loved growing up in the late 90s and early aughts.
The Sophia is elegant, feminine, and brings together contrasting elements for a purse style that will always be en vogue.
It starts with the body. 100% suede leather is embossed with a crocodile pattern that feels luxurious under your fingertips. The Sophia Bag’s strap is made with a gold or silver chain, which can be doubled to be worn as a shoulder bag or single-looped to be worn across the body. The Brandon Blackwood logo on the front flap is subtle and iconic. The lining is made with microsuede.
The Standard Sophia Bag is just over ten inches wide, making it big enough for your day-to-day items but compact enough to go with you everywhere.
She’s available in soft, beautiful colors like Pink, Blue, Green, Black, and Brown. She tends to be the star of the outfit, so we recommend pairing her with complementary colors and letting her have her moment.
At $250, the Standard Sophia Bag is excellently priced, considering the quality of the suede that wraps around its body. She’s a worthy investment that will sit like a prize on your shoulder.
3. Jordanis Trunk
We released the Jordanis Trunk in 2021 as our first official piece of “menswear,” but we all know gender doesn’t matter. Wear whatever you want and whatever suits your style. The Jordanis would look killer on anyone.
More akin to the Kendrick, the Jordanis Trunk has a boxy, smooth body outfitted in genuine Black leather. It opens with a buckle closure at the top and includes a zipper detail on the front for easy access to a slip pocket.
The Jordanis is the ideal travel bag for that reason. Slip your ticket into that pocket and keep your wallet, phone, and passport within the trunk itself for easy access.
The Jordanis has a long shoulder strap, perfect for carrying over your shoulder, wearing across the body, or holding and letting it swing. The strap is also adjustable, so you can make the bag sit wherever you want it to on your body.
Made with genuine leather, silver metalware, and a microsuede lining, the Jordanis comes in at $310. Designer leather — always worth the investment.
4. Kuei Bag
Next up is the Kuei Bag. Another one of our classics.
The Kuei Bag is a less boxy option than the previous three purses. She’s a little more feminine, with angled edges and an embellished strap around the front for added flair.
The Kuei Bag regularly makes waves. As in, she turns heads. She makes news. She’s fit to print. The New York Times included our limited collection Kuei collaboration with friend and painter Tschabalala Self in their T List.
Some of our most popular styles for the Kuei include the Crocodile Embossed Brown Leather version, the Pink Mesh version, the Dalmation Ponyhair version, and the Metallic Green Leather version. The Pink Shearling version has been included in many best-of roundup lists for this fall as well. We highly recommend getting in quickly before the city girls snatch them all up.
The Kuei ranges from $155 to $220, depending on the style you choose.
A Designer Bag Makes for the Perfect Gift
One of the reasons we love making handbags at this price point is that they’re easily accessible to someone looking to purchase a birthday, graduation, or just-because gift.
Something truly magical happens when you open up a box, rip out that tissue paper, and see a beautiful designer, Brandon Blackwood bag waiting for you. Croc-embossed or feathered. Colorful or neutral. Style goes such a long way.
On that note, in a conversation with The Zoe Report, Brandon noted that the vibe right now is to take some fashion risks: “People are much more experimental with their handbags [these days] and want them to have [some] character on their own.”
At under 400 dollars, these bags are well worth the risk. Classic styles that won’t get aged out of the trend cycles + interesting and fun textures and patterns = a bag you cannot go wrong with. Take them out for a spin, and make sure to tag us on Instagram when you do. We love to see our friends in the wild, looking fab.
Sources:
MEG THEE STALLION for Brandon Blackwood | Jamaica Observer
The T List: Five Things We Recommend This Week | The New York Times
How to Style Denim Bag: The Thing That Can Make You Look Super Youthful | FMag.com