There are different types of fashion people. Some will splurge on shoes, dresses, jeans, or jewelry. Then there are people like me, who have always had a soft spot for bags. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been the person who saves up every penny for a luxury purse. And even then, I was usually hunting down a secondhand one, because spending that much on a bag has never come easily to me.
The iconic Balenciaga City Bag has always been at the top of my wish list, but I could never quite justify the price tag or find a pre-owned one that checked all my boxes. So when a Free People bag started going viral for looking almost identical to the coveted, thousands-of-dollars City Bag, I was immediately intrigued. Could this finally be the affordable alternative I’d been waiting for?
Mind you, I’m usually the first person to say I’d rather have the authentic version. But this bag nails the look for less than $250. From the rectangular silhouette to the vintage, worn-in feel, it captures everything I love about the original. The tasseled zipper pulls are the finishing touch. Honestly, if you didn’t know better, you’d probably assume it was the real thing.
With hundreds of rave reviews and an almost perfect 5-star rating, shoppers say it’s become their go-to bag for carrying just about everything (including your laptop!). It features both interior and exterior pockets to keep essentials organized, and the detachable, adjustable strap lets you wear it as either a shoulder bag or a crossbody. Whether you’re running errands, working, traveling, or using it as your everyday bag, it works for just about any occasion. It also comes in a smaller version—the Baby Emerson Tote Bag—if you want something smaller.
I also found these affordable lookalikes that are just as good!
Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
