It’s a lot of pressure to be a travel handbag. Suitcase space is limited; your job description is long. For most people (especially the carry-on pros) single-use accessories are out of the question— meaning the bag they bring to dinners out is also the bag they carry to museum-hop, and the beach tote used to house a towel and paperback is also the shopping tote used to peruse the local market. You get the point. Narrowing down the right purse to bring on your trip is a packing challenge on its own, so we pulled together an edit to make the process go a little smoother.
Vogue’s Favorite Handbags for Travel
It starts with practicality: Materials like leather and suede are best-suited to city destinations, while any seaside or adventurous travels would benefit from something light, like straw, or performance-ready, like nylon. If you need space, opt for a tote; if the security of your travel-sized hand cream is your top concern, choose something that’ll zip or snap shut. We scrolled through hundreds of bags from the likes of Mansur Gavriel, Prada, Khaite, and Tory Burch, comparing technical features as well as sizes and materials for all. The result? 20 travel-ready handbags prepped to handle any style and scenario.
Keep reading to shop our favorite finds.
The Shoulder Bag
Comfortable enough to carry through airport terminals, sophisticated enough to wear for a day of sightseeing, a sleek leather shoulder bag is definitely a good investment in your travel capsule wardrobe. We like this Tory Burch design for its larger size (more space for your portable charger) and its adjustable shoulder strap.
The Crossbody Bag
Something about a crossbody you can keep close to you feels like the most secure option, if you’re wary of losing your phone or passport. Pick something that snaps shut for good measure; Khaite and DeMellier make versions with bold gold hardware for a stylish seal.
The Tote Bag
For the chronic overpacker: You need a tote. It’ll be the vessel for your travel scarf and laptop on the plane, and you can use it at your destination to squeeze in all your on-the-go essentials, from a camera to an umbrella. Liffner and St. Agni have extra-large versions that double as duffel bags, if you want a weekender in a pinch.
The Bag of Many (Many) Pockets
Put it this way—you’ll never have to rummage through the chasm of your bag to locate your coin purse ever again. With these purses, each of which has multiple compartments and pockets, all your items will remain neatly organized and within easy reach. It’s Miu Miu for the Type-A personality.
The Straw Bag
Heading somewhere warm? Make your travel purse one that doubles as your beach bag and your market tote. Woven from straw and raffia and accented with smooth leather, these options are the right blend of practical and fun—Hunting Season’s design even comes with a sculptural bag charm.