When it comes to staple accessories that everyone should have in their closet, the shoulder bag undoubtedly falls near the top of the list. With the revival of ‘90s and early 2000s fashion trends in recent years, shoulder bags have been having a major moment. Not only are they a stylish way to pull together an outfit, but they’re versatile and practical, as Jennifer Lawrence recently proved.
Earlier this month, Lawrence was photographed out and about in New York City sporting the same black shoulder bag—the Freja New York Mini Chrystie Bag—twice in one week. On one occasion, the Oscar-winning actress paired her little black bag with a white T-shirt and a baseball cap for a lowkey summer look, while on the other, she showed how it can easily be dressed up with a floral midi skirt and ballet flats. At less than $300, Lawrence’s shoulder bag is surprisingly affordable for a designer purse.
Made from supple vegan leather, the Mini Chrystie Bag has a ‘90s-inspired silhouette reminiscent of the baguette shoulder bags that dominated the decade. The thin, elongated shoulder straps ensure a comfier fit, a.k.a., you won’t need to retire this bag in the fall when you break out your bulky sweaters and jackets. This hardware-free purse has a magnetic flap closure for a supremely simple, sleek look. While black is classic, the Chrystie also comes in three additional colorways—a creamy off-white, pistachio green, and espresso brown.
It’s easy to see why Lawrence likes this bag so much that she wore it twice in the same week. In fact, in the past three months, Freja has racked up a roster of celebrity fans, including Hailey Bieber and Katie Holmes. This spring, Holmes nailed a chic rainy day look by pairing her khaki trench coat with the Freja New York Caroline Bag in Oat. The Caroline is also Bieber’s Freja bag of choice. The model and Rhode founder recently styled the black version with a leather jacket and a slicked-back bun.
It’s safe to say that Freja New York is a buzzy brand to watch, but if these exact bags aren’t in your budget right now, you can still try the shoulder bag trend. A seasoned shopper, I scoured the internet and found 7 cute black shoulder bags to shop at a more affordable price point. For instance, this under-$100 JW Pei bag has a uniquely cool asymmetrical shape—and it’s currently on sale at Amazon, so there’s no better time to add it to your cart.
