5 Underrated MID-RANGE Bag Brands to Shop in 2025

Welcome back to Style and Senses!

It’s been so long since I’ve done a fashion focus and brand review on the blog, so in the spirit of (almost) spring, I want to share 5 of my favorite bags from mid-range old and new brands. Some bags were gifted, and some I purchased myself. All are under $500!

Please note that gifted bags will be marked with (*), but they’re gifted in exchange for content on social content. All opinions are honest and my own. Hope this helps give you some ideas for your next bag purchase, and have fun shopping!

1. Freja Hudson Bag*

Black faux leather shoulder bag with an adjustable strap, magnetic closer, interior pocket, and metal feet at the base. Faux leather is Freja’s custom-developed pebbled vegan ultrafiber leather. The Hudson is lined in Freja’s signature vegan merlot ultrafiber, and it’s lightweight, water-resistant, and scratch-proof.

$288
10.6” L x 6.7” H x 4″ W.
Strap width: 0.6″

SHOP THE HUDSON HERE

REVIEW: My first impression when unboxing the Hudson was so pleased! The bag was nicely and carefully packaged with a lot of tissue paper, and it felt like there was attention to detail. I love how there are two – 3 sets of holes on each side of the strap to adjust the length of the bag, making it a shoulder bag or top handle (if you want to wear it around your elbow). Personally, it’s the perfect size for the everyday city stroll or weekend outings. It’s compact and lightweight. The flaps open and close easily, and my hand can fit inside in cases when I have to reach inside to get something. I’ve been wearing it every other day since I got it!

Faux leather: I typically don’t buy faux leather bags because they are essentially made from plastic/polyester. My Telfar bag didn’t last me long, but at least it got decent resell value. That faux leather material did start to crack and tear! Freja’s faux leather material is different, so I have high hopes for it. Make sure to check back as I will make sure to update this review after 6 months or a year!

Dupes: There’s no doubt that some of Freja’s bag designs look similar to certain trendy bag styles from higher-end designers and brands. For example, the Mini Chrystie resembles the medium Le Teckel from Alaia. I also adore this new Alaia style so much! And in case you haven’t realized, the Hudson is similar to the T-lock clutch from Toteme.

So, if you’re buying someone their first ‘designer bag’ like I’d gift my sister one, Freja is a great introduction brand. I think the price point is great, and you’re supporting a small NYC-based woman-owned brand.

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2. Reformation Medium Silvana Suede Bucket Bag

Slouchy bucket bag with a magnetic closure and interior zip pocket.

$398
Color: Boss Suede
9.5 in H x 13 in W x 9 in D.
12 in strap drop

SHOP MEDIUM SIZE HERE

SHOP SMALL SIZE HERE

REVIEW: If you know me and my style, you know I love bucket bags because of their practicality and versatility. They can be able to hold all of the daily essentials, and I love the look of them. Ideally, I’d prefer to buy leather bags because leather is a sturdy material that wears well with time. However, suede is having a big moment right now, and there are so many quality-made suede bag options that are available at great prices. So don’t sleep on suede bags!

You don’t have to buy new because, in fact, quality suede ages well and looks a lot better than brand-new suede (in my honest opinion). And I’m here to assure you that! Yes, I bought the Silvana new, but I bought it 2 years ago (at 25% off). It’s been one of my most used bags, and the suede wears super well. It’s softer now, and it’s got some natural slouch to it. It does have some weight to it, and I love the size and shape. In addition, I’m happy to report that the strap stays put, as it doesn’t slide off my shoulder, even when I have a few jacket layers on. It’s a great everyday bag option, and it also comes in a mini size. So cute!

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3. St Agni Mini Woven Tote Bag

Mini tote or shoulder bag with woven leather detailing, a magnetic fastening, internal lining, and card pocket.

$ 296
100% Bovine Leather. 100% Goat Suede lining. Vegetable-dyed. Leather Working Group (LWG) Certified
Manufacturing – Made in India (SGS Social Accountability 8000 Audit Certification. Manufacturer has signed the St. Agni Code of Conduct)
Dimensions – Length: 35 cm. Height: 24.5 cm. Strap: 39.5cm

SHOP MINI HERE

SHOP LARGE HERESHOP MINI TEXTURE HERE

REVIEW: This is the first St. Agni item that I own, although I do think they do clothes better than leather accessories. In my opinion, this bag is one of the bags that felt the most underwhelmed when I unboxed it (for the price and the quality). The raw cut on the leather strips used to create the woven pattern feels a little cheap. And I think the strap could have been improved as it does slide off my shoulder. The leather material feels a bit tough and rough.

It’s a flimsy bag, but I like how it’s an east-west bag style. I love the size and the fact that I can easily throw my stuff in, especially something like a book in the summer on park days. I use it more for casual purposes but have styled it up with a blazer in the summer before.

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4. Radley Bathurst Mews Bucket Bag*

Padded bucket bag with a thick adjustable strap, gold bar hardware, and bonded faux suede lining. There’s an interior zip pouch with snap buttons that is detachable.

$388
Soft-grained leather
W9.5 x H9.5 x D5 inches. Strap drop: 9.75 inches

SHOP MEDIUM SHOULDER HERE

REVIEW: My first bag from this iconic British brand, and I’m so pleased with the quality. I’ve heard from some Reddit threads that it used to cater to more mature audiences like Kade Spade in the US, but don’t let that stop you. It looks like they’ve gone through some rebranding and now offer so many great minimal and modern bag styles.

Again, I was gifted this bag in exchange for content, but I honestly think Radley deserves more attention. I love my bag! I love how structured yet minimal it is. It’s comfortable to wear, and the leather material feels sturdy and high-quality, and I’d 100% recommend this UK bag brand. I also love this style and this style!

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5. JCREW Berkeley bucket bag

Bucket bag with one leather side and one suede side that fits a laptop and a long enough handle to wear as a shoulder bag.

$198
12 1/2″H x 13 1/4″W at top; 12 1/2″H x 9″W at bottom.
9″ handle drop.
Fits 13″ laptop.

SHOP BAG

REVIEW: If you love this medium Park tote from The Row but are not ready to pay for the almost $2K price tag, the Berkeley from Jcrew is really an excellent alternative. I love that it fits my 13″ laptop, and I don’t have to be too precious about it. Again, this is another bucket bag style that’s not only practical but also stylish. I love the size and the fact that it has two different leather finishes, one suede and one leather. It’s sturdy, and the leather seems to wear well. No cracking nor tears so far, given the fact that I wear it so much. I love mine and cannot recommend it enough!