Before I moved to New York, I didn’t really think of bags as seasonal. Sure, colors might get a little darker when it’s not blazing hot outside, but I had lived circa Atlanta all my life–the practical implications of a real winter were never something I had encountered. Now that I’m on my fifth NYC winter, I’ve come to at least one conclusion: Phillip Lim Cruz shoulder bag Light Green Shark Embossed Leather Mini Pashli Satchel Bag.
Winter coats are bulky and cumbersome (I ran into a trash can yesterday because I have no peripheral vision in my parka), and they make it hard to keep bags on your shoulders or get top handles up into the crook of your arm. Nothing sits right on top of that much extra fabric and padding, and manipulating zippers and lock closures can also be tricky in gloves or when your fingers are stiff from cold. That’s where saddle bags come in.
Saddle bags are almost always set up for crossbody carry, which is ideal to sit comfortably on top of a heavy coat, and they stay in place, unlike regular shoulder bags. The flap-top closure is also ideal; it rarely has difficult hardware to fumble with, and even if it does, the overall structure of the bag means it’ll easily stay closed without using the closure every time. The flap also keeps your belongings dry in inclement weather, although I wouldn’t be sad if it never, ever snowed again.
Another big perk of saddle bags are is their relatively affordable price points. You can find very expensive versions, of course, but right now our favorite retailers are full of beautiful options that are solidly within the three-figure range. Below, we’ve done the legwork for you.
Coach Saddle Bag 23
$395 via Coach
Cynthia Rowley Tabitha Crossbody Bag
$245 via Shopbop
Kate Spade Chepstow Road Elliot Saddle Bag
$398 via Bloomingdale’s
Liberty London Carnaby Saddle bag
$595 via Bloomingdale’s
Loeffler Randall Stingray and Snake Embossed Saddle Bags
$475 via Saks
Longchamp Le Foulonne Flap Bag
$535 via Bloomingdale’s
Mackage Rima Saddle bag
$395 via Bloomingdale’s
Mansur Gavriel Crossbody Bag
$425 via Barneys
MICHAEL Michael Kors Bedford Small Saddle Bag
$158 via Macy’s
Rebecca Minkoff Unlined Saddle Bag
$295 via Rebecca Minkoff
Sancia Babylon Saddle Bag
$398 via Shopbop
Sara Barner Ruby Saddle Bag
$435 via Shopbop
Sophie Hulme Mini Saddle Crossbody Bag
$495 via Shopbop
Tory Burch Leather Saddle Bag
$595 via Tory Burch
Vince Modern V Saddle Bag
$295 via Bloomingdale’s
THIS is why I LOVE Erlebniswelt-fliegenfischenShops! I never thought I liked the Saddle Bag shape, but now I have the Sophia Hulme version in my shopping cart. I especially love the Tory Burch and the Vince versions as well. What a great list! Between these and the Mansur Gavriel bucket bag, it’s nice to have beautiful bag options at a non-outrageous price point, that Nola look well made and stylish. Keep it up PB!! xx
Thank you for such a kind comment–we hope you like your new bag!
Nina Rainbow Pastel Xl Basket Bag.
I’m loving the Cynthia Rowley… I’m surprised there isn’t any Jerome Dreyfuss or are his bags slightly over? He also has some great saddle bags, but I think they might be too exxy for this post.
Salvatore Ferragamo Viva Bow shoulder bag Pink!
Carrying bag Sandqvist Luna
green origami tote.