The Perfect Minimal Structured Bag For Fall

This year I’ve made my first two investment purchases in my wardrobe. First was the LoQ Ara sandals that has provided the perfect minimal summer shoe. And my most recent late-summer purchase is the Staud Bisset bag which I have been lusting over for so so long and finally took the plunge when I found it majorly discounted online. I absolutely love the subtle elegance and minimal structural shape it gives every outfit. I’ve been seeing this bag around the internet for years which I think is a true testament to its classic design. Although it’s not really your typical “classic” piece, it’s a bit quirky and I love that. And while looking around for a good alternative to this bag for some time I came across some real gems so today I want to show you my top picks for structured bags for fall!

Where To Shop

I’ve found some smaller handbag brands, some of which you may have already heard of. I like how easy it is to find smaller brands through instagram nowadays. I feel like some of my favorite wardrobe pieces have come from these types of brands and they are usually more affordable too. Here are a few of my new favorites!

Unitude

This is a really recent find for me and I am particularly smitten over the Bambi Crossbody bag. It seems like the perfect size and sturdiness. It reminds me of the Acne Musubi bag that is having a moment. I love the knot detail and while I’ve not seen it in person and cannot vouch for the quality, I think it’s priced pretty well for a leather bag. They have a ton of styles that look really high fashion for the fraction of the price, many of which seem inspired by other designer bags.

Azurina

This is a brand that’s been on my radar for a while but I’ve yet to try out their colorful, leather, monogrammed pieces. Their Madrid bucket bag is one of the best affordable dupes for the Mansur Gavriel bucket bag that I adore. If I ever need to replace my JW Pei bucket bag, this will be at the top of my list! They also have a ton of smaller accessories from croc effect leather phone cases and card holders to makeup bags, all in a variety of beautiful color options and finishes. Oh and everything can be monogrammed to give it that extra special personalization.

JW Pei

If you’ve read my blog or watched my Youtube channel before, you know I’m a big fan of this small brand. I have two beautiful structured bags from JW Pei and Friday by JW Pei and I use one or the other almost every day. That said, I’ve read some dodgy things about other people’s experience ordering from this brand. While I’ve never had a negative experience personally, it was a bit disheartening to hear this. So while I can vouch for the quality of these vegan-leather bags, I can’t promise you the same experience. The prices have also gone up considerably since I purchased the Fiona Bag and while I love it, I can’t say I would shell out that much for a non-leather bag. It is worth a look though, they have some lovely and classic styles that will serve your capsule wardrobe well. Here is my brand review video if you want to learn more.

Staud

I’ve admired this brand for a while, which I would say is a lower-price point designer label, the perfect place to start investing for me personally. One of my favorite bags that I’ve come across is the Bissett bag, which is such a minimalist staple and comes in some fun colors. After much deliberation (and long chats with mom) I decided to go with the warm ‘Saddle’ brown color, as opposed to black, mostly because the brown paired with the shape is just an irresistible combination in my mind. But it also gives my wardrobe more versatility, which is always something I try to consider. Now I can pair it with black, browns and neutrals, and navy - the main color palette of my closet. I’m sure you’ve seen some of their other popular designs at some point, from the Moreau net bucket bag that’s been everyone’s go-to summer accessory for the last few years, to the Shirley that likely singlehandedly started the clear vinyl bag trend, everything this brand comes out with is just perfection.

Polene

I just didn’t feel this list was complete without a mention of this gorgeous small Parisian brand. This is definitely an investment brand, but the paired back elegance of the designs will ensure that you get a whole lot of wear out of these bags. They currently have a very small selection of styles but each one comes in several colors and finishes. My personal favorites are the Numero Un Mini, the most chic everyday bag, and the Numero Six, the cutest mini single strap bag I’ve laid eyes on.