The 10 Best Michael Kors Bags

For a first Michael Kors purse, the Jet Set Large Crossbody is the safe choice, and the black one has been sold for years. Its cross-hatched Saffiano leather has a sealed finish that shrugs off scratches and keeps its shape. A zip closes the main section, and the strap adjusts so it can ride at the hip or higher. Expect room for a phone, a slim wallet and keys, not much more, and the corners can scuff over time.

Commuters who want everything zipped away should look at the Jet Set Top Zip Tote. Its coated canvas wears the repeating MK logo and is made to wipe clean after a spilled coffee. Two outside slip pockets keep a phone and keys handy, and a zip runs across the top so nothing tumbles out on a crowded train. The catch is that this is printed canvas, not leather, and the logo pattern reads loud in some offices.

Office days suit the Ruthie Medium Tote, with a firm, boxy shape that stands up on a desk instead of slumping. A zip pocket down the middle splits the inside in two, so a tablet and papers stay apart from lunch and keys. Two long handles sit on the shoulder, and a hanging MK charm finishes the look. The sides feel stiff at first, and the seller describes the material two different ways, so check the tag if leather matters.

Fans of the classic Michael Kors look will find it in the Hamilton Large Satchel, with a gold-tone padlock and a belted strap across the front. This updated version pairs cream logo canvas with tan trim, and it zips shut beneath the two top handles. A long strap with a chain section lets it hang from the shoulder instead. It is big and gets heavy once loaded, and this version is new enough that few owners have weighed in.

Anyone after a polished little handbag for dinners and weekends should consider the Marilyn Small Crossbody. Its accordion sides open into three sections, so cards, lipstick and a phone each get a spot, and a snap keeps the middle shut. Two short top handles join a strap for wearing it across the body. The Saffiano leather comes from tanneries rated by the Leather Working Group. It is small, though, and holds the basics and little else.

The Winston Top-Zip Pocket Tote brings pebbled leather to a mid-priced tote. The grain hides small scratches better than smooth hide, and slip pockets run along the front for a transit card or sunglasses. A zip closes the main section, and the inside is roomy enough for groceries or a gym top. The look is plain, and the leather can darken with handling and sun, which the maker counts as normal wear.

For evenings and dressier workdays, the Jacquelyn Medium Chain Tote swaps flat handles for gold-tone chains. Pebbled black leather keeps it understated, and a zip closes the top. Inside sit a zip pocket and two slip pockets, with two more on the outside ends for a phone or a pair of glasses. Chains press into the shoulder harder than leather straps once the tote is loaded, so it suits lighter days best.

Long days on foot call for something light, and the Jet Set Charm Large Crossbody trades leather for tough woven nylon, keeping leather for the trim. A front zip pocket, a snap pocket on the back and several slip pockets inside give small things a home. The flat shape sits close to the body under a coat. Nylon reads casual, though, so it fits travel and weekends better than a formal office.

A flat Jet Set Messenger in brown logo canvas makes sense for trips, since it zips shut and hangs across the body, out of the way in airport lines. The coated canvas is built for knocks, and the inside fits a wallet, phone and sunglasses. A hanging MK charm adds a little shine. The strap runs long for shorter frames even at its tightest setting, and the soft shape slumps when half empty.

The Jet Set Travel Small Wristlet is a low-cost way to carry the logo canvas, and it doubles as a wallet inside a bigger tote. A zip runs across the top, and a wrist loop lets it dangle from a hand on a quick coffee run. It holds cards, cash and a phone, though a big phone can be a squeeze. This version arrived recently, so long-term wear reports are scarce, and it has no shoulder strap.