Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials professional working women should have in their closets, but when you’re shopping for the first time or replacing what you’ve already worn, it can be a pain to find the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we shop for the basic item every woman should have.
East-West bag styles have taken off for a year or so – but I’m still seeing them absolutely everywhere. So let’s talk — are you a fan of East-West bags? Are you going to wear them to work, or are they more like your clutch because you’re only going to carry them around? What’s your favorite trendsetting brand?
I quickly took a look at some great options from student favorite brands…
{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}
Best East-West Performance Bags for 2026
Best East-West Budget-Friendly Bag: Quince
First: Quince. This Italian Leather Strap Shoulder Bag hits all the big notes — it’s East-West, and made from genuine leather. I like that it has an inside pocket, and a magnetic snap closure. It’s $98 in Quince, available in black and brown.
Internet Favorite: Freja
It’s easy to see why this Freja bag is an internet favorite — it’s generally affordable ($278), has an interesting look, and has a unique shape with both a slight slope to the top of the bag and a triangular body. It’s fake leather, unfortunately, but it’s made from OEKO-TEX certified materials. It has a magnetic closure and internal patch pockets. You can find it at Shopbop, Revolve, and FrejaNYC.com. Are you looking for a similar option for skin? This coach bag looks great.
Quiet Luxury Bag: Parisa Wang
Parisa Wang is a new brand to me, but I love their take on the trend – the curved top of this bag is unique while being comfortable, and I personally prefer a rectangular body (not a triangle) – even though it means giving up real estate I always feel awkward carrying a triangle bag under my arm. It’s also interesting to note that they claim to use the same manufacturer as Prada! The Gabrielle is $498 in multiple colors in suede, pebbled leather, and smooth leather versions.
Student’s Favorite Brand: DeMellier
Readers love DeMellier for its shiny, high-quality leather – and I love all the colors this New York shoulder bag comes in. They have it in three materials: small grain leather (pictured), suede, and raffia. Light blue is great if you’re looking for something a little different. (You can also find other colors and sizes of the New York series at Nordstrom!)
Investment Fund: Ferragamo
Some would say you should seek out one of the leaders of this trend for your investment bag, like Alaia’s Le Teckel, but for my money I’d go with Ferragamo. I’ve always loved the clean look of their Hug line of bags, and this oriental western shoulder bag is no different.
I like that there are two internal card slots, a leather lining and a leather pouch, and the artwork is great. Bag is $2500 at Nordstrom, NET-A-PORTER, or Ferragamo.com. (Oh my God — Ferragamo has 2 hug bags in bright cobalt blue Klein. LOVE.)
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