What are the different “levels” for handbags — and how do you upgrade your handbag collection? I’m curious to hear what readers say. We’ve already talked about how to upgrade your professional wardrobe, as well as where to buy grown-up furniture… up next in our Next Step series: handbags. I’m pretty solidly in Bucket 3 at the moment. I had a lot of fun wearing purses a few years ago, striving to wear a new one from my collection every week — but now I tend to reach for the same one whenever I head out, so I can see the sense in having a Bucket 5 bag if that’s the only one you wear. (Here’s what I usually carry in my bag.) To me, the must-have details in any bag are a good leather or durable canvas (unless it’s a really fun color that I’ve never owned before — and a good sale), interior pockets, feet, a zipper on top — and I always appreciate an attached key fob and fun lining. Ladies, what are your must-haves? Which buckets of bags do you currently own — and have you been upgrading them as you move up the career ladder? Which brands am I forgetting in the different buckets?
Bucket 1: Budget Bags
Aldo
Nine West
Thrifted bags (you often can get great deals)
TJ Maxx/Flash sale special (i.e., whatever’s on sale at Rue La La, Gilt, or Hautelook)
Bucket 2: Midlevel Bags
Ann Taylor
Banana Republic
Coach (logo bags)
Fossil
Fossil
Kate Spade Saturday
Lauren Ralph Lauren
Levenger (Halloween sale – take 31% off your entire order!)
Longchamp (nylon)
Talbots
Tiganello
Zara
Bucket 3: Upgrading
(can usually be found on sale or full price for $250-$500)
Botkier
Brahmin
Brooks Brothers (but some bags in Bucket 4)
Coach (leather bags) (moved from Bucket 4 as per reader discussion — see below)
Cole Haan
Dooney & Bourke
Furla
Kate Spade New York
Kooba
Michael Michael Kors
Rebecca Minkoff
Tory Burch
Treesje
Bucket 4: Splurges
(rarely on sale, usually around $600-$1200 full price)
3.1 Phillip Lim
Alexander Wang
Burberry
Goyard
Longchamp (leather)
Mulberry
Bucket 5: Money Is No Object
(usually start upwards of $1500)
Balenciaga
Chloé
Givenchy
Louis Vuitton
Prada
Proenza Schouler
Reed Krakoff
Bucket 6: Different Ballpark
(can cost as much as five figures)
Bottega Veneta
Céline
Chanel
Hermes
Nancy Gonzalez
The Row
Saint Laurent
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Gadelshina Dina.