I Test-Drove This Buzzy Accessory Brand, and Yep, I'm Fully Converted

woman wearing three charles and keith bags
(Image credit: @balencianas)

As a fashion editor, there's nothing I love more than stumbling across a brand I'd never heard of before. While my days are spent (at times, mindlessly) scrolling through countless product pages for the chicest finds, I rarely find something that instantly jolts me awake. Case in point? Charles & Keith, the Singaporean internet-famous footwear and accessories brand that's a fan favorite of Gen Z darlings Olivia Rodrigo, Reneé Rapp, and Phoebe Bridgers, among others. While I'd briefly heard about the brand in passing thanks to its chic footwear, I hadn't taken its luxe bags for a spin yet. After a few recommendations from my editor friends who swore by their own Charles & Keith bags, I was sold and decided to try out some of the brand's best-selling silhouettes and trend-forward new arrivals firsthand. Spoiler alert: I wasn't disappointed.

I'd consider myself to be a handbag snob— someone who, somewhat embarrassingly, owns more satchels. clutches, crossbodies, and top-handle purses than I care to admit. I have bags from across the spectrum, from ultra-affordable to high luxury, so when I say a handbag passes my test, I mean it. In my eyes, Charles & Keith bags are probably some of the best out there right now, with their relatively low-cost, high-joy meter soaring through the roof. Most styles range anywhere from $50 to $200, with the majority of the bags I've been eyeing sitting in the low-$100 range. And, frankly, you can find almost any style for any type of sartorial taste—from colorful, unique statement bags to understated, minimalist purses.

woman wearing charles and keith bag

(Image credit: @balencianas)

I spent the last week testing and trying out all of Charles & Keith's top-selling bags, along with some new releases that the brand is heralding as a step in the right direction. Below, read all of my Charles & Keith bag reviews, and then shop some of my favorite styles in the brand's purse and shoe department. Trust me—you'll want to keep scrolling.

woman wearing charles and keith bag

(Image credit: @balencianas)

For a night out on New York's Upper East Side going to previews and parties, I picked out the Cesia bag, a sleek, minimalist shoulder purse that feels akin to something I'd find at a luxury store for ten times the price. This one feels easy, luxe, and no fuss—everything I want in an evening bag when I'm heading out the door.

Shop the bag:

woman wearing charles and keith bag

(Image credit: @balencianas)

Spring days in New York City mean I'm usually running around, taking advantage of the weather and walking in lieu of taking the subway or taxis. Naturally, crossbody bags are my go-to when I'm lugging around all of my essentials— so this adorable drawstring bag won my heart over.

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woman wearing charles and keith bag

(Image credit: @balencianas)

Naturally, I saved the largest bag of the bunch for a day when I needed to go into the office. While this U-shaped bag may not fit my laptop, it fits everything else I'll need for a work day: chargers, a water bottle, wallets, at least 3 lip gloss products... essentially, everything I need to be productive. The weighty metal chain also makes it feel extra luxe which, at the price-point, is a steal.

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woman wearing charles and keith bag

(Image credit: @balencianas)

I couldn't do a proper review without trying one of the brand's most iconic bags, the Petra bag. With two different straps — one for a crossbody and one for a shoulder strap — it's by far one of the most versatile (and most loved of mine) on this list. This silhouette comes in plenty of options but, as you can probably tell by now, I'm quite partial to neutral colors that go with everything. No joke, I got stopped while walking in Madison Square Park where someone asked me where my entire outfit is from, including this adorable bag. If that isn't enough to convince you, I don't know what is.

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Assistant Shopping Editor
Ana Escalante is an award-winning journalist and Gen Z editor whose work ranges from dissecting size inclusivity at fashion week to discussing how American Girl Doll meme accounts are the the answer to society's collective spiral. She's covered it all: Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, Roe v. Wade frontline protests, and the emergence of jorts (or jean shorts for the uninitated). At Who What Wear, Ana is responsible for delivering smart, insightful, personality-driven shopping guides and trend features for a digital-first generation.Before joining Who What Wear, Ana was Glamour magazine's editorial assistant, where she focused on daily news and special packages, including leading the brand's 2022 Met Gala coverage. For more than half a decade, she has covered style, beauty, and digital culture for publications such as Paper magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue Japan, and Allure, among others. Ana has been called a rising star in media by publications such as Nylon and Teen Vogue. (Her mother, meanwhile, calls her "the coolest person" she knows.)