Through our research, testing, and conversations with experts—including Walton and fellow street stylers Alyssa Hardy, Iman Hariri-Kia, and Sophia Cohen—we were able to determine the best shoulder bags on offer this year and detail some advice on how to care for your wider collection of handbags.
“I think the key to a shoulder bag is that it needs to comfortably fit on your shoulder,” says fashion expert and illustrator Jenny Walton, who, prudently enough, looks for shoulder bags that will fit effortlessly over her outerwear. “I have a lot of big coats that in the winter it’s hard to carry shoulder bags with because the armhole of the coat is just too low. And there are few things worse than a shoulder bag that constantly slips off of your shoulder.”
Enter: The shoulder bag, a hands-free carry-all that you can pull onto one shoulder, with no limit on size or shape to hold any item that you deem essential. Of course, not all shoulder bags are created equal, and the key to finding the right one has to do with both your personal style and sense of comfort.
It’s always a good time to buy a bag. At a minimum, shopping the staple is a mood booster. And at maximum, pulling the trigger on a piece that’s intended to tote essentials around town is also a practical move.
Best Overall
Gucci Horsebit 1955 Shoulder Bag
Gucci
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Introduced for Cruise 2020, the Gucci Horsebit 1955 bag was recreated from an archival design. The flap shoulder bag features the signature horse-bit detail and a special snap-button mechanism that allows you to adjust the length of the strap to carry it as a shoulder bag or convert it to a cross-body bag. “This is kind of your perfect bag size because it’s not too big or too small—[it's] just right,” says Walton, who prefers the solid red, brown, or corduroy versions of the bag.
Price at time of publish: $2,890
Material: Leather and microfiber | Dimensions: 9.8 x 3.1 x 7 inches | Drop: Can be adjusted from 9.8 to 17.7 inches
Best Budget
JW PEI Gabbi Bag
Amazon
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View On Jwpei.com
Celebrities are obsessed with this budget pick, and frankly, it’s not hard to see why. The bag is designed by AAPI-owned brand JW Pei, is sustainably made from recycled plastic bottles, and is very easy to wear. It has storage for all of your essentials, like a cardholder, a phone, some lipstick, and a set of keys. It also has a magnetic closure, so you don’t have to worry about items flying out or a zipper getting jammed. At around $80, we wouldn’t blame you for stocking up in a slew of colors that have been seen on the likes of Emily Ratajkowski, Gigi Hadid, and Megan Fox.
Price at time of publish: $80
Material: Vegan leather and faux suede | Dimensions: 9.6 × 2.4 × 4.7 inches | Drop: 5.1 inches
Best Classic
Prada Cleo Brushed Leather Shoulder Bag
Prada
View On Prada.com
The Prada Cleo bag is based on an archival design from the ’90s. Its sleek curved lines and sturdy brushed leather make for an ultra-modern hobo bag that you can team with anything. While the exact drop isn’t listed anywhere online, Walton confirms that it fits comfortably over the shoulder, even with thick outwear. “The strap is a little longer [than Prada’s Re-Nylon] and the top of the bag shape curves [downward],” she says.
Price at time of publish: $2,900
Material: Leather | Dimensions: 10.7 x 2.4 x 8.7 inches
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Best Contemporary Classic
Celine Triomphe Shoulder Bag
Celine
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For a contemporary take on a classic pochette bag, there’s Triomphe by Celine. The small flap shoulder bag has an understated, elegant motif that blends in and stands out, without contradiction, to complement virtually any look.
Price at time of publish: $2,700
Material: Leather and canvas | Dimensions: 8 x 2 x 4 inches | Drop: 8 inches
Most Versatile
Telfar Medium Shopping Bag
Telfar
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Telfar bags are the affordable “it bags” of the moment, and it’s no wonder why. Coined by the brand as “an everyday bag for everyone,” it’s roomy enough to fit all the essentials that a tote bag would, like a laptop, a wallet, and eyeglasses. Hariri-Kia says she has one in navy and loves wearing it over a giant coat, with trousers, sneakers, and a baseball cap to run errands.
Price at time of publish: $350
Material: Faux leather | Dimensions: 15 x 5 x 11.25 inches | Drop: 5.5 inches
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Best Leather
Gucci Jackie 1961 Small Leather Shoulder Bag
Net-A-Porter
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Jackie is a leather bag, but not just any leather bag. Like the horsebit, the hobo style has a place of honor in the heritage label’s history, being that it first was its first hobo bag and a favorite of Jackie O. (As its name suggests, it originated in 1961.) But perhaps most significantly, at least for the purpose of this description, Jackie transcends time and trends as a classic leather buckle bag that would make the drabbest outfit look polished and chic.
Price at time of publish: $2,950
Material: Leather and microfiber | Dimensions: 14 x 1.8 x 9.8 inches | Drop: 7 inches with an additional 20.5-inch handle
Best Beaded
Staud Tommy Beaded Bag
Nordstrom
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A great beaded bag, like this style from Staud, will bring you compliments left and right. Though, perhaps the best part is that it won’t cost you more than $250. “I think the Staud shoulder bag is an amazing middle-tier option,” Cohen says. “The shape is perfect and they come in all different colors and prints depending on your style.”
Price at time of publish: $250
Material: Glass and rayon | Dimensions: 10 x 2 x 5.5 inches | Drop: 9.5 inches
Best Croc-Embossed
BY FAR Mini Rachel Croco Embossed Leather
BY FAR
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BY FAR is a cool and affordable brand that specializes in sleek ’90s-inspired shoes and accessories you can’t help but love. Since it was founded in 2016, the brand’s printed leather pieces have pervaded social media and become celebrity staples—Kendall Jenner and the Hadid sisters are just a few who have been photographed carrying a mid- or mini-size version of the croc-embossed shoulder bag, the latter of which the brand promises is just big enough to fit an iPhone.
Price at time of publish: $370
Material: Leather and cotton | Dimensions: 7.5 x 1 x 3.5 inches | Drop: 5.5 inches
Best Slouchy
Bottega Veneta Teen Jodie Shoulder Bag
Bottega Veneta
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Bottega Veneta’s Teen Jodie is a splendidly luxurious statement bag that combines innovative design and fine Italian craftsmanship. It features the brand’s signature “intrecciato” detailing of finely woven leather strips on the style’s slouchy silhouette.
Price at time of publish: $2,650
Material: Lambskin and calfskin leather | Dimensions: 14.2 x 5.1 x 8.3 inches | Drop: 7.1 inches
Best Moto
Balenciaga Neo Classic Small HandBag
Saks
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As Vogue’s Liana Satenstein reported in September 2021, Balenciaga’s motorcycle bag is back in style. And really, it isn’t hard to see why; like your favorite vintage moto jacket, it’s defined by studs and zippers, with a relaxed leather construction that lends itself to wearing well over time. Make use of the whipstitched top handles to wear the bag on the crook of your arm, or sling it over your shoulder using the longer, detachable shoulder strap. For a more sleek and polished look, try the croc-effect leather version.
Price at time of publish: $2,600
Material: Leather | Dimensions: 13 x 6 x 8 inches (small) | Drop: 19.5 inches
Best Nylon
Prada Re-Nylon Re-Edition 2000 Mini-Bag
Prada
View On Prada.com
In line with many designers’ reinterpretation of archival accessory designs, Prada’s Re-Edition 2000 mini bag makes us nostalgic for decades past. Though, unlike the old model, this version is made from recycled materials, so you can feel even better about your purchase. A die-hard Prada fan, Walton says she uses this bag in the summer, as it’s too difficult to slip over a coat in colder months.
Price at time of publish: $1,250
Material: Nylon from recycled materials | Dimensions: 8.5 x 2.5 x 7 inches
Best Sequined
Simon Miller Sasi Bag in Silver Sequin
Simon Miller
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An elevated version of the infamous sequined hobo bag that graced the aughts is reborn via the Sasi bag by Simon Miller. Its chic silhouette is emboldened with a leather strap and circular metallic sequins that together make it the ultimate party accessory.
Price at time of publish: $445
Material: Plastic, polyurethane, and leather | Dimensions: 10 x 6 x 1.4 inches
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Best Minimalistic
The Row Terrasse Leather Bag
Nordstrom
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The Row specializes in basics that are luxurious yet functional. This is essentially why Walton loves the brand’s grained leather bag; the tubular straps fit very comfortably over the shoulder. And given its simple construction, the style teams well with just about anything.
Price at time of publish: $2,550
Material: Leather | Dimensions: 13 x 7 x 8 inches | Drop: 29 inches
Best Pink
Jacquemus Le Grand Chiquito Handbag
SSENSE
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View On Selfridges.com
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Jacquemus’ Chiquito flap bag will feed your desire for a visual splash of rosé. The super structured form is crafted from smooth leather and complete with a circular top handle and a long, flexible shoulder strap for versatility.
Price at time of publish: $840
Material: Leather | Dimensions: 9 x 3.5 x 6.7 inches | Drop: 21 inches
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