Five Crescent Shoulder Bags To Try the Trend

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Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

It's been a long while since we've a) rounded up purses and b) since we've done shoulder bags since it's felt like such a long time since shoulder bags have been in style. They're coming back, so we thought we'd take a swing through some of the more affordable stores to see what the best options are if you want to try the trend and see how you like it with your wardrobe, as well as to compare it to whatever you were carrying before (whether tote, crossbody, whatever).

Readers, what kinds of bags are you wearing right now? If you're wearing half-moon bags like these, what are some of your favorite features in the bags you have?

{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}

Our Latest Favorite Purses in General

Hunting for a great professional purse? In 2024, readers are loving affordable crossbody bags like those from Cuyana, Lo & Sons, and Madewell.

In terms of a designer bag to suit your life as a professional, readers have been loving affordable(ish) luxury brands like Polène, Tory Burch, Strathberry, DeMellier, and Mansur Gavriel, as well as more designer bags like Chloé (particularly the Marcie line) and Mulberry. (If money is no object, Loewe and Bottega Venetta are always worth a look!)

Great Crescent Shoulder Bags for Fall 2024

Banana Republic Factory

This leather shoulder bag from Banana Republic Factory is a great price, particularly if you want real leather. It's available in black and a pretty brown cognac for $105, marked from $175 (but excluded from any further promotion).

Madewell

This “essential curve shoulder bag” is a bestseller at Madewell — it's a bit on the large side, at 11.5″H x 10″W. They promise that the bag is perfectly sized to hold “up to an iPad, water bottle, phone, wallet and keys—plus, it has an adjustable strap that can be worn crossbody or over the shoulder.” The leather is also sourced from a tannery that was certified by the Leather Working Group.

The bag is available in “chocolate raisin” (pictured), black, and olive, all for $198. (It looks like it was also available in an indigo blue, but that color isn't available online anymore — call your local store if you're on the hunt.)

Lo & Sons

The new Aoyama bag from Lo & Sons is particularly great if you think you still want a crossbody because they call it “four bags in one” — it can go from a shoulder bag, to a handheld bag, to a long-strapped purse, to a crossbody.

Like a lot of Lo & Sons bags, there are really thoughtful design elements like a ton of pockets and a key leash — and it has a vertical side pocket along the outside of the bag. (Which they call a “one-of-a-kind vertical pocket, but I swear I have that feature on at least three other bags in my closet right now.)

It's available in three colors of sheepskin leather: black, ivory, and navy, all for $228.

Cole Haan

Cole Haan is often a great source for quality bags at a low price, and this pretty Kamila bag looks like no exception.

This is another big bag, at 12.2″H x 13.2″W x 6″D, made from a “soft, unstructured leather” with interior pockets and an adjustable handle.

It's $298 at ColeHaan.com; you can also find it at Nordstrom.

Cuyana

Cuyana is another reader favorite for affordable(ish) bags, and I like this “buttery soft” lamb leather bag. It's available in black and mocha, with a waitlist for a deep cherry color.

The bag is $398, at Cuyana.

Readers, what kinds of bags are you wearing right now? If you're wearing half-moon bags like these, what are some of your favorite features in the bags you have?

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