The Best Bags for Women Over 50 in 2024

Bags provide comfort. The ideas that we have everything possible means some mature women now carry two bags — a handbag for essentials and a tote for add-ons like a water bottle, a weatherproof hat, mini-umbrella, sneakers or a workbag for a laptop. This is not necessary or even body smart. Many bags now multi-task with a variety of straps that shift from shoulder to cross-body to hand-carry in seconds; have zippered outside pockets or even easy access keychains; and secure compartments and safe sleeves for laptops on the inside. Do you prefer reaching into an open top hobo or tote to grab sunglasses or your phone or do you need to know all your “stuff” is safe behind a zipper or latch-key lock? Make a list of your own priorities. Some smart-bags include the Anthropologie The Love Knot Slouchy Bag in Navy, Chocolate or Black ($98, anthropologie.com) a spacious lightweight hobo with an unexpected snap closure and enclosed zippered pouch; the LC Lauren Conrad Presley Convertible Tote Bag in June Bug or Saddle ($35, kohls.com) a shoulder/crossbody tote with large and small pockets; and the Dagne Dover Daily Tote in Pinto or Onyx ($275, dagnedover.com) vegan leather, work bag with padded laptop sleeve, neoprene water bottle holder and plenty of pockets.

How you carry your bag matters. Most women over 50 now prefer a hands-free style that lets them text, talk on the phone or grab a latte-to-go, walk easily through airports with a carryon and shop in busy malls and supermarkets without worrying about theft. Forget hand-carried bags no matter how great they look. The weight of a bag like a satchel strains the soft tissues and muscles in hands and fingers, can be very uncomfortable — especially if you have any kind of wrist or joint pain, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Some satchels do come with a backup shoulder/crossbody strap but still look way too bulky when worn. Plus, a bag that rides very low on the hips or thighs also increases body width. Crossbody bags, hobos and shoulder bags that sit higher up on the hip and slings that cross the chest and chic backpack keep bag weight distributed more evenly and reduce shoulder strain. Body-friendly bags include the large but not too large Jessica Simpson Women’s Sadie Faux Leather 4 Poster Handbag in Meteorite or Thistle ($34, walmart.com), the organized Wild Fable Flap Sling Crossbody Bag in Green or Black ($18, target.com) and the MZ Wallace Crosby Hobo in Emerald, Magnet or Black Rec ($295, mzwallace.com) with zip closure and two adjustable wide straps — a shoulder and crossbody and a dressier chain. A splurge well worth it!

Hold low-cost bags and expensive bags to the same standards. Pay attention to buyer reviews and any revealing photos, especially the negative ones. Always check for perfect visible stitching with no loose threads; hardware that looks matte or gleamy but never shiny as tinfoil; buckles, magnetic closures, zippers and latches that undo and close easily. Just say no to big-deal designer bags and fakes. The former are crazy-expensive and the latter are cheesy (and illegal!). While department stores and resale/consignment sites indicate luxury bags like those from Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent are booming, the key buyers are women in the 25 to mid-40s age range who buy a recognizable “it” bag to gain confidence and “status.” Women over 50 already have a gutsy attitude — let’s not drop thousands of dollars on a bag. Beauties like the Charles & Keith Cesia Metallic Accent Shoulder Bag in Chocolate ($76, charleskeith.com) the JW Pei Yulia Faux Leather Bucket Bag($99, nordstrom.com) and the MKF Collection Women’s Mabel Shoulder Bag by Mia K in Olive ($71, walmart.com) will have everyone asking you this time “Love your bag! Who makes it?”

Lois Joy Johnson is a beauty and style editor who focuses on women 50 and older. She was the beauty and style editor at Ladies’ Home Journal and a founding editor of More magazine. She has written three books: The Makeup Wakeup, The Wardrobe Wakeup and The Woman's Wakeup.

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