Best Crossbody Bags

What Is A Crossbody Bag?

If you want a modern take on the classic purse, get a crossbody bag. You’ll get a fresh look, easy access to your important items, and a fashionable result.

Similar to a clutch, handbag, or mini purse, crossbody bags have become all the rage over the last few years. You’ll find that crossbodies provide security, support, and comfort.

You don’t notice them as much as you notice a purse (since you don’t need to use your hands to carry one), and they are typically also very lightweight. This makes wearing a crossbody bag a much more pleasant experience, as well as a much more fashionable one.

Crossbody bags also work well for travel, as they are big enough to fit all your essential items, but small enough to easily keep over your shoulder. Just like the name implies, crossbody bags are worn across the body, lessening the strain of the bag on any one particular part of your body.

This results in a much more comfortable carrying experience. Crossbody bags typically have a pouch, flap, or zip-top, and sometimes come with very long shoulder straps.

How To Wear A Crossbody Bag

Wearing a crossbody bag takes some slight planning, but that’s true for all of fashion. You can pair a great crossbody with just about any outfit.

You can wear your favorite coat, dress, shirt, or blouse – and still look gorgeous. One thing to consider right off the bat (and why we recommend owning more than one crossbody bag) – what color do you need?

Matching the color of your crossbody bag to the rest of your outfit is crucial for maintaining a sleek, upscale look. Of course, we don’t necessarily mean you need to match all of the colors – you don’t want to be a blob of red or black.

Simply make sure that the crossbody you choose, doesn’t conflict with the rest of your outfit. We like pairing a black crossbody with a sleek black skirt, for example.

Another great strategy is to simply pair a dark outfit with a bright crossbody bag. This will make your bag stand out (a particularly useful strategy when your bag is brand new), and won’t make your outfit clash.

If you are going for more of an upscale look, opt for a chain strap on your crossbody bag. This will create the illusion of a dressier outfit, even if your bag isn’t that expensive.

When it comes to wearing a crossbody bag, keep it at waist-level to look trendy. Trust us, you’ll thank us later.

For some unexplained reason, this area makes your bag (and you) look extra-sleek. We love this look, as it also feels more comfortable and casual.

If you want an additional way to wear a crossbody bag, try putting it around your hips, which will give you more of a traditional look. You can also put the crossbody bag behind your back, to keep it out of your way, if you are in a hurry.

Gucci Crossbody Bag

Gucci is a brand with a stellar reputation, and for good reason. They make excellent crossbody bags, though they are certainly not low-end.

If you are looking for the absolute best, you may want to go with a Gucci crossbody. However, if getting the best deal is your thing – you may want to opt for a lower priced brand.

Louis Vuitton Crossbody Bag

Louis Vuitton is a tremendous designer, with a stellar reputation. We love their crossbody bags, and think you will too.

Of course, Louis Vuitton (by definition) – never make the cheapest products. So if you are on a strict budget, you may want to choose a different brand of crossbody bag.

Coach Crossbody Bag

Coach is another well-known brand, and they have some crossbody bags that are less expensive than brands like Gucci or Louis Vuitton. Coach specializes in sleek, minimalist upscale style, and we found their crossbodies paired well with just about any outfit we tried them with.

However, Coach also provides a very specific look. You may not be a fan of this aesthetic, in which case, you should opt for a different brand of crossbody bag.

Kate Spade Crossbody Bag

Kate Spade makes great crossbody bags, and we particularly love their sleek, upscale style. You can pair a Kate Spade crossbody bag with nearly any outfit.

Try pairing your favorite pair of black leather heels with one of Kate Spade’s bags. Or, get a little adventurous, and pair a black Kate Spade crossbody with your favorite little black dress.

Michael Kors Crossbody Bag

Michael Kors is one of the most instantly recognizable designers in the world. With their signature MK logo, and classy designs, every woman covets their brand.

We loved a few different Michael Kors crossbody bags in our testing, and we know you’ll love them too. Of course, Michael Kors is never going to be the cheapest option on the market (this is done by design) – so if you want a less expensive bag, you may want to opt for another manufacturer.

Men’s Crossbody Bag

Believe it or not, men can also wear crossbody bags. When worn on a man, cross bodies typically look sleek, stylish, and hip.

We recommend going with a black or tan color, if you are shopping for your guy. Just like women’s crossbody bags, you can opt for upscale, designer, or casual, when it comes to the style of the bag.

Women’s Crossbody Bags

Women’s crossbody bags are – of course – the more popular option. Meant to essentially be a lighter purse, crossbody bags are perfect for a casual night out, as well as for dressier occasions.

Of course, we’d recommend opting for two different bags, on these occasions. Having a great casual crossbody bag, and another that’s dressier, is a relatively simple strategy to follow.

Designer Crossbody Bags

While you don’t always need to buy designer items, we do recommend designer crossbody bags, if you are looking for the best quality. There is simply no comparison between a Louis Vuitton crossbody bag and a no-name knockoff, for example.

There will be higher quality material, better stitching, and better durability, for starters. Designers also make sure their items are very well-crafted, so you won’t run into any strange issues, like your bag having its stitching break apart in the middle of your evening (we know, it happened to us during our testing).

Leather Crossbody Bag

We are huge fans of leather, and this is especially true when it comes to crossbody bags. We hardly tested a leather crossbody bag that we didn’t like, and often found ourselves choosing leather crossbodies to go out with at night.

While they don’t work with every outfit, leather crossbody bags worked with our jeans, our little black dresses, and even more upscale outfits. You won’t wear one every day necessarily, but these quickly became a favorite in our closet.

Black Crossbody Bag

Black crossbody bags go with nearly anything, and we particularly loved them during our testing. Working just as well with jeans and a t-shirt, as they do with our favorite little black dress – it’s impossible to go wrong with a black crossbody.

We also liked that there were flexible pricing options available for black crossbodies. You don’t need to spend too much, to get a great looking one, which our wallets definitely appreciated.

Clear Crossbody Bag

A very retro 90s look can be had by choosing a clear crossbody bag. These bags are see-through, so make sure you don’t have anything embarrassing kept in it, before going out.

While not perfect for every occasion and event, overall, we really like the look of clear crossbody bags. You can even wear them with jeans, if it’s a casual day for you.

Crossbody Bags For Women

While men can certainly wear their own versions of crossbody bags – women are the main demographic. If you want to opt for a high-end bag – there are plenty of great options out there.

However, you can also easily find cheap crossbody bags for women – and they will still be of reasonable quality. In our testing, almost every crossbody bag was durable, as well as pleasing to the eye.

Who Makes The Best Crossbody Bag?

Of course this is a subjective answer, but we are partial to Louis Vuitton. They have the high-quality materials to make an excellent crossbody, the high standards of manufacturing, and some of the best design in the world.

Of course, they are not the only great manufacturer of crossbody bags. If you don’t want to spend so much, there are a huge number of other great designers out there.

And if you don’t care about brand names – there are an even greater number of crossbody bags available for you to choose from. Ultimately you have to decide what you are specifically looking for, and then go from there.

The Best Crossbody Bags

There you have it – our picks for the best crossbody bags. Whether you want something casual, upscale, or luxurious – there is definitely a perfect crossbody bag out there for you.

Pairing the right crossbody bag with the right outfit is also crucial to making sure you always look your best. Even if you are just going to the mall – you want to look stellar.

High-end designers make great crossbody bags, but you don’t necessarily need to spend an arm and a leg to get a perfect crossbody. The world of fashion is certainly not limited to just crossbody bags though – be sure to take a look at our other picks in the handbag category.

OTHER REVIEWS YOU MAY LIKE

• Best Kitchen Knives
• Best Noise Cancelling Headphones
• Best Smart Watch
• Best Panini Press
• Best Backpack Leaf Blower