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Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
Luxury crossbody bags embody the utilitarian aesthetic. You can sling one on and carry it hands-free, and because their weight is distributed more evenly than with a shoulder bag, they’re also the most comfortable travel purse.
Beyond their high-quality materials and stylish designs, our favorite luxury crossbody bags we’ve tested also come with intuitive pockets to keep you organized whether you’re exploring a new city, running a quick errand, or attending a formal event.
I used to stuff everything in my pockets so I wouldn’t have to carry anything while I’m out. Now, I pretty much only wear crossbody bags. Below are 12 splurge-worthy styles that will work hard while complementing your outfit.
See more in our guide to the best luxury totes and best luxury work bags for women.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
My credentials are that I’m based in New York, and am constantly putting my collection of crossbodies to the test on crowded subway cars, busy checkout lines, and walks in the park. This is to be sure their design and quality can match the pace of daily life in the city. Living here also means I’m witness to the parade of well-dressed people flowing through the streets, so I have front-row seat to this season’s handbag trends.
In conversation with my fellow style editors (plus some lurking on r/handbags and various style Substacks), here are some lesser-known brands we agree make excellent luxury crossbody bags:
- Parisa Wang: It partners with the same manufacturer that’s worked with Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, and Celine.
- DeMellier London: Its design language is the epitome of quiet luxury. I also can’t get over how good the embossed leather smells.
- KAAI: Each bag is lined with a blue suede that is the softest suede you will ever feel. It’s great protection if I’m carrying something delicate, like wire-rimmed sunglasses or a naked iPhone.
- Strathberry: The structured, Spanish-made bags are fit for royals (among others), and they have some of the best color variety in the fine leather goods game.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider, Parisa Wang
What we love: The wide main compartment is flanked by well-placed slip pockets for easy organization. This bag is like if The Row’s Margaux came at a fairer price.
Drawbacks: It doesn’t lie flat, so it’s not ideal to pack in a suitcase.
I brought along this luxury crossbody bag from Parisa Wang when I traveled to Rhode Island for my best friend’s wedding. Parisa Wang partners with artisans who typically work with top luxury brands like The Row and Prada, and you can tell by the elite craftsmanship. It starts at the very bottom with tiny gold feet that protects the yummy chocolate suede from coming into contact with the floor.
On its sides are slip pockets that snap shut on their own with a satisfying magnetic closure, and inside is a wide main compartment where you can easily fit a variety of bulbous items (overpackers rejoice). The long strap is removable, so I carried it is as a handbag anytime I wasn’t wearing it slung over my shoulder.
The Gabrielle comes in two larger sizes, as described by style editor Samantha Crozier in our guide to the best work bags for women. “The Gabrielle 35 looks and feels like the ultra-coveted suede Margaux bag from The Row, which will run you $5K or more,” she writes. ‘”But dare I say that the Gabrielle is cuter?”
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
What we love: It weighs just over a pound, and the embossed Italian leather contrasts beautifully against its unique clasp.
Drawbacks: The edge paint peels at the flap joints, and it’s too narrow to fit more than the essentials.
The sleek, boxy shape of the Vancouver reminds me of an Hermès Constance or the Celine Classic. Its rigid structure is well reinforced by layers of support materials enveloped in small-grain Italian leather, which is coated in a heavy embossed finish.
I found it very lightweight and comfortable to carry for a bag this size (9 inches wide, 7 inches tall). You can also adjust the strap to wear it as a shoulder bag or crossbody, so it gets even more points for versatility.
I got the Dark Taupe with Ecru Stitching, and the color looks just as rich in person as it does in photos. The only material flaw I found was some weak coating on the edge paint, which starts to peel when you open the flap all the way.
The Vancouver’s interior lined with cotton, making it easy to clean. The inside is pretty minimal — besides the main compartment, there’s just one zippered pocket and slip pocket. I’d prefer if it had one more on the outside, since it’s too narrow to carry more than my bare necessities.
The main event of this bag is the double bar clasp, which keeps the bag closed and secure. All the hardware details are polished with a reflective, scratch-resistant finish, but not in a way that looks too brassy or shiny. You have to use both hands to undo the lock, which is a bit of a nuisance if you’re trying to access your phone in a hurry.
Overall, I’d say DeMellier London has created another classic with the Vancouver. It’s timelessly sophisticated, with just the right amount of unique embellishments to stand on its own.
Sally Kaplan/Business Insider
What we love: The bag fits much more than we expected, and it has an understated crescent shape that’s easy to style.
Drawbacks: The leather pulls if you’re carrying too many bulky items at once.
“Longchamp is known for its classic nylon totes, but the brand also has some really elegant leather bags we’ve come to love. There’s a mini leather version of its signature bag which is instantly recognizable, but for a more ‘quiet luxury’ approach, we prefer this understated crescent bag.
The Foulonné’s design is so simple and elegant. It’s not trying to be flashy, but the craftsmanship is excellent and you know it’s a luxurious bag when you feel the leather. Unlike Polène’s crescent-shaped bag, this one relies on streamlined detailing. The oval gold buckle allows you to adjust the strap and adds a little bit of interest to the bag without screaming at you.
It’s nice to know that I can carry it a little tighter against my body for secure travel, or let the strap down for more casual outings. It even features a small hoop on the buckle that you can attach a (very thin) bag charm to.
This bag carries way more than it looks like it can hold. I was able to fit a phone with a thick wallet case, a bottle of hand cream, several lip products, a pack of tissues, my small pill case, and a claw clip for my hair. When the bag is packed full, you can see some of the pulling in the leather, but I didn’t mind that at all because it just showed how flexible the bag is for oddly shaped items.” — Sally Kaplan, executive editor, Insider Reviews
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
What we love: It packs flat, so it’s easy to travel with. It also comes with two straps, letting you wear it as a shoulder bag or crossbody.
Drawbacks: The interior lacks compartments besides its single card sleeve.
It’s a rare I ever find a luxury crossbody bag that’s both alternative and elevated, but the Hammitt Kyle Med fits that aesthetic perfectly. I’ve lived in New York for seven years, during which my personal style has evolved from hokey transplant to “edgy with a corporate job.” A structured pocketbook with brassy hardware works great at brunch, but come nighttime, I love how this loosely structured, moto-inspired bag looks with a leather jacket and some spiky boots.
First off, this bag is the perfect size for everyday wear. It comes with two detachable straps, so you can easily convert it from an adjustable crossbody to shoulder bag. In the rear is a long zippered pocket for your phone and wallet, and on the front there’s a diagonal one to add some intrigue. Inside it’s lined red cotton twill, which makes it much easier for me to see what’s in my bag (even on a dark dance floor).
I’ve worn this bag clubbing from Brooklyn to Berlin, and the supple pebbled leather has held up beautifully. It’s incredibly soft and smooth, and because it packs flat, you can easily bring it on a trip. Hammitt’s signature rivets make it stand out against mainstream designer bags, yet it’s as functional as it is cool.
Tory Burch
What we love: The belted accent feels current, and the double compartments keep your items separated.
Drawbacks: It’s too small to fit more than the basics.
Tory Burch debuted the Lee Radizill line in 2018, but it’s had a big comeback lately in tandem with the belted handbag trend. These bags cost between $520 and $1,320 each and can be found in Napa leather, suede, pebbled leather, and croc-embossed leather.
Burch named this trending crossbody bag after socialite Caroline “Lee” Radzwill, the younger sister of First Lady Jackie Kennedy. This petite style really deserves to be called a pocketbook, due to its miniature size and square shape. The lock-and-key hardware details give it a more modern flair, and as with many of our favorite luxury crossbody bags, it comes with tiny metal feet on the bottom to protect its base.
Samantha Crozier/Insider
What we love: The music bar hardware detail and its gold feet that kept its bottom clean.
Drawbacks: It doesn’t contain a padded laptop sleeve.
This brand is literally fit for royals, as it’s been spotted on Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle. It’s not a traditional work bag — you won’t find a padded laptop sleeve or built-in tech compartments — but the Strathberry Tote is considered a holy grail over on the Reddit’s r/handbags forum as a luxury office purse.
The mid-tier luxury brand has a reputation for delivering exceptional materials and meticulous construction at a price that, while still a splurge, feels justified in the luxury space. Each Strathberry bag takes an artisan at least 20 hours to complete, and that care is evident the moment you see it up close. The stitching is precise, the leather feels rich and substantial, and the suede lining is soft to the touch.
Its signature music bar hardware is weighty, polished, and unmistakably luxe — the kind of detail that elevates even the simplest outfit. It also comes in Midi and Mini sizes.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
What we love: The convertible straps lets you wear it three different ways, it has a clever vertical pocket, and it stowed neatly under an airplane seat.
Drawback: The Ivory colorway stained easily.
The Aoyama 2 is our favorite travel purse because it’s actually three bags in one. You can convert it to a shoulder bag, clutch, or crossbody with its smart buckled straps. I brought it with me as my personal item on a flight to Florida, and ended up wearing it throughout my entire trip while hiking and attending a wedding rehearsal dinner.
Travel writer Maria Yagoda flew with hers on a 19-hour flight from New York to the Maldives. “The interior organization is elite,” she writes. “The Aoyama 2 has many smart internal pockets, including mesh ones so you can see what’s inside without rummaging. As an inherently disorganized person, these made it easy to keep everything (lip gloss, passport, pens, a book, gum) in its proper place. Inside are four webbed pockets, one zip pocket, and three card slots. The zippered external pouch for my phone also cut down on rummaging time.”
Read more in our full Lo & Sons Aoyama 2 review.
KAAI
What we love: The interior suede lining is softer than any suede we’ve ever felt.
Drawbacks: It’s too narrow to fit anything bulky.
“KAAI’s Rebel Crossbody is the Rolex of functional purses,” writes style editor Samantha Crozier. The Belgian brand created this luxury crossbody bag with a unique, asymmetrical design and a long strap that can easily fit over a puffy jacket.
“Like all of KAAI’s beautifully made bags, it’s lined with a blue suede material that feels luxurious to the touch. On the outside, the single-source leather is treated to be resistant to weather and stains. This is super important to me, since I wouldn’t carry a bag this nice outside without trusting how well the leather can stand up to the elements. But all my KAAI bags have remained like-new, even though they’re some of my most used pieces,” continues Samantha.
“The only issue with this bag is that it is relatively narrow and structured, so you won’t be able to stuff it,” she advises. “A phone, wallet, lipstick, and keys fit perfectly, but anything bulky or irregular would prevent the bag from closing.”
Clare V.
What we love: It comes with two straps and has a relaxed shape that stretched around bulky items.
Drawbacks: It only has a single interior pocket.
I tested the Petite version of one of Clare V’s bestselling styles, the Moyen Messenger. The Petit is one of my favorite crossbody bags I own, but the larger size has a more practical advantage with the same relaxed, woven leather look. And I know this bag is a hot commodity because sure enough, Quince has its own dupe.
Clare V. is a Los Angeles-based brand that makes what I call ‘character bags.’ You can build an outfit around them and make them your own with their extensive collection of interchangeable straps. I’m not a huge bag charm person myself, but the D-rings on this luxury crossbody make it the perfect backdrop for colorful key chains.
The medium-sized Moyen Messenger comes with two straps, so you can wear it as a shoulder bag or a crossbody. It has a slouchy, curved construction like the hobo bags that are making a return. Even better: the soft, flexible leather lies flat, so I’m easily able to pack it in my carry-on.
Read more in our full Clare V. review.
Senreve
What we love: The 4-in-1 design is majorly versatile and it comes with a lifetime warranty.
Drawbacks: It bounces off your lower hip as you walk when it’s not weighed down enough.
The Mini Maestra from Senreve takes modular design to another level. This 4-in-1 luxury crossbody can also be worn as a tote, satchel, or backpack, depending on whatever you need it to be. The top features a flap and the Senreve’s signature studded belt closure, and inside is a zipper to secure your belongings.
Executive editor Sally Kaplan tested out the full-sized Maestra as a luxury work bag and confirmed it to be worth the splurge. Besides its fashion-forward shape, the 100% leather is seriously high-quality. It comes in both pebbled and long-grain finishes, and inside it’s lined with smooth suede. This premium leather is also water-repellent, so you can wear it out in the rain without fussing over stains. Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty.
See similar styles in our guide to the best convertible backpack tote bags.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
What we love: The flared base let us store wider items at the bottom, and the strap adjusts so you can wear it as a shoulder bag or crossbody.
Drawbacks: The smooth leather was prone to scratches.
I was inspired to test out this style when I was getting ready to go out with my friend, and she asked me if my bag was a Polène. In fact, it was from Quince. But when a Quince dupe can pass for French luxury, it makes me skeptical that the real deal could be any good to begin with.
Instead, I was happily proven wrong. The ‘Cognac’ shade of the Numéro Dix is the perfect color for people who wear similar gourmand shades like chocolate and almond. It’s made with a single panel of structured, full-grain leather that has a deliciously rich sheen.
It also beats out the Quince dupe in terms of storage capacity. Because the crescent shape has a flared base, I can fill it from the bottom up with my everyday carry. I’ve only worn mine as a crossbody or shoulder bag, but it also converts to a belt bag and the adjustable strap extension means it can fit a tall frame. There’s now a JW Pei dupe of the same style.
The real Numéro Dix feels worth the splurge because it’s a true heritage piece and the materials are primed to age gracefully. The simple, stylish shape puts an elevated twist on the contemporary saddle silhouette.
Talia Ergas/Business Insider
What we love: It’s so lightweight that we’ve worn it as a wristlet.
Drawback: It’s too tiny to fit more than the basics.
“Despite its teeny-tiny silhouette, this miniature crossbody can hold a surprising amount of items,” writes freelance style reporter Talia Ergas. If you’re getting your looks together for vacation season, Talia found the artisan-made Milaner Grazia Mini to be the perfect little clutch for tying your whole outfit together.
“My iPhone fits effortlessly across the bottom, and there’s plenty of room for my sunglasses, a small wallet, and some odds and ends like mints and a chapstick,” Talia writes. “I love this hand-woven leather bag because it has the elegance of a clutch with the ease and comfort of a crossbody bag. The strap is removable, though, which is convenient for occasions when I might prefer to swap in its shorter strap for a wristlet.”