11 Best Crescent Bags that are Timeless

The Y2K fashion trends are coming in hot. Whether you’re fashion-stalking models on Instagram or checking out the local fashionistas in your neighborhood, you’ve likely seen crescent bags popping up everywhere lately. 

Why the resurgence? Besides the love for all things early 2000s right now, the crescent bag has earned its place in your modern wardrobe because it’s the perfect everyday bag. Soft, supple, and not too stiff, a crescent bag is still functional but is way more elegant than your standard tote bag. Feeling tempted to jump on the trend? We’ve handpicked the best timeless crescent bags that will still feel stylish for years to come.

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11 best crescent bags for 2024

1. Best nylon crescent bag: BAGGU

For a fresh take on a cult classic, we’re calling the Medium Nylon Crescent Bag from BAGGU the #1 pick. While most crescent bags are itty bitty and just big enough to hold your phone and some lip gloss, most of us need room for a few other essentials on the daily. Made out of recycled heavyweight nylon with recycled ripstop nylon lining, this modern crescent bag was made to outlast the trends with a durable, classic material you can wear on repeat. (Bonus: It’s machine washable.) Available in 10 different colors, you can choose between timeless classics like Black, Navy, and Bay Laurel or show off your fun side in modern prints like Daisy, Clouds, and Pink Pistachio Pixel Gingham (say that five times fast!). 

Price: starting at $52


2. Best lightweight crescent bag: Away

If you’re looking for something that can go the distance without weighing you down, then we recommend Away’s Everyday Crescent Bag. Made from 100% recycled nylon and polyester materials, this crescent bag is incredibly lightweight and designed for everyday life — such as walking your dog, running errands, or going on a casual stroll in the park. Its interior boasts ample space to accommodate a 13-inch laptop comfortably, ensuring convenience for work or entertainment on the go. Additionally, the inclusion of a front zip pocket and an interior mesh hanging pocket provides effortless organization, while the adjustable crossbody strap enhances comfort and wearability, making it a perfect companion for any journey.

Price: starting at $60


3. Best leather crescent bag: Fossil

There’s nothing more timeless than a good quality leather bag. With this pick from Fossil, you get the best of both worlds: a fun, trendy shape in classic, quality leather that will stand the test of fashion time. The Harwell Leather Hobo Purse is made out of LiteHide leather with REPREVE recycled polyester lining. Inside, you’ll find one zipper pocket to safeguard your valuables and two slide pockets for easy access to your phone and cards. Available in four sophisticated earth tones, this leather crescent bag also comes with an adjustable shoulder strap so you can change up your style with the seasons and never look passé.

Price: starting at $205


4. Best tiny crescent bag: Amazing Song

For a night out when you're rocking your best drinks-with-the-girls look, you don't want to be weighed down with a heavy messenger bag or tote. Enter the Croissant Half-Moon Shoulder Bag from Amazing Song. Big enough to carry your phone, keys, travel wallet, and lip balm but not so big that it’ll cramp your style, this tiny crescent bag is the no-fail accessory you won’t want to leave the house without. It even features a wide strap so you can sport it as a crossbody when you need to go hands-free, making it a staple for staying fashionable but functional as you travel.

Price: starting at $68


5. Best colorful crescent bag: COACH

That’s right—even the big-name designer brands are catching a serious case of nostalgia when it comes to crescent bags. With a simple, no-frills design, the Soft Pebble Leather Luna Shoulder Bag from COACH gives you room to experiment with fun colors without venturing into the land of tacky. Shop it in Yellow Gold, Light Violet, Sport Red, True Blue, or six other colorful hues, and be prepared to welcome the fashion compliments. Made out of COACH’s signature pebbled leather construction, this colorful crescent bag masters the combination of elegance and trendy like no other.

Price: starting at $294


6. Best sustainable crescent bag: JW PEI

We all know the perils of fast fashion and how dangerous churn-and-burn trends are for the planet. If you want to get on the crescent bag train (Get in, loser—we’re going shopping!) without contributing to Mother Nature’s downfall, turn to the Carly Saddle Bag from JW PEI. Made out of vegan leather with a 100% recycled plastic lining, this sustainable crescent bag helps you indulge in a little retail therapy while still being eco-conscious. It also touts two interior pockets to help you stay organized, 15 different color options to show off your sense of style, and classic gold-toned hardware to add an element of sophistication, no matter the year.

Price: starting at $79


7. Best water-resistant crescent bag: Baggallini

When you’re committed to that location-independent life, there’s no telling what kind of weather you might find yourself. Rainy days in London. A snowstorm in Helsinki. So next time you travel, make sure you’re prepared for anything (while still looking fabulous) with the Modern Pocket Half Moon Bag from Baggallini. Specially made to be easy to clean, this water-resistant crescent bag is made out of a no-fuss water-resistant material with an adjustable, faux-leather shoulder strap and a scratch-resistant pocket. With pockets galore, including special pen and lipstick loops and a grab-and-go phone pocket, this is one of the most functional crescent bags we’ve found for frequent travelers. 

Price: starting at $90


8. Best convertible crescent bag: Kate Spade

Investing in a trendy piece can feel a little risky. What if this is a huge waste of money? What if you just dropped a whole bunch of cash on a very particular bag that can only be worn with a very particular outfit? To turn the trendy crescent bag into an investment piece that will play nicely with dozens of outfits for years to come, try this pick from Kate Spade. The Weston Leather Shoulder Bag Purse comes with an adjustable long strap that you can wear two ways: over the shoulder or as a crossbody purse. You can even completely remove the strap to sport this convertible crescent bag as an oversized clutch for nights out. Available in Warm Gingerbread, sweet pastels like Frosty Sky and Seawater, as well as basic Black, this convertible crescent bag is giving Y2K—but make it elegant.

Price: starting at $142


9. Best budget crescent bag: The Drop

If you consider yourself crescent bag curious but you’re not ready to make this trend your new fashion staple, take baby steps. The Addison Soft Volume Top Handle Bag from The Drop is a budget crescent bag that will give you a taste of the Y2K life without forcing you to commit to carrying around a moon-shaped bag with every outfit you wear. With 16 color options (from the basics like Black and Bone to more daring hues like Ultramarine Green, Dusty Blue, and even Hot Pink Fur), this is a great, affordable way to experiment with your sense of style. 

Price: starting at $40


10. Best vintage-inspired crescent bag: Patricia Nash

What happens when Y2K and vintage fashion collide? You get the Coley Crescent Hobo Crossbody from Patricia Nash. Equal parts pretty and practical, this vintage-inspired crescent bag gives you easy access to all your daily essentials with a top zipper that covers the entire length of the bag. (No more digging for your sunglasses in the dark depths of your tote!) Made out of 100% full-grain leather with a burned-edge finish, brushed brass hardware, and a romantic print inspired by vintage Victorian gardens, this crescent bag is delightfully dainty and an immediate favorite for all the girl’s girls out there. 

Price: starting at $140


11. Best sporty crescent bag: Manhattan Portage

If pastels make you cringe and you have no interest in describing yourself as “elegant,” don’t worry, girl—we’ve found just the bag for you. The Midnight Crescent Street Shoulder Bag from Manhattan Portage is the perfect combination of understated meets rugged-chic. Available in modern monotones only (Gunmetal, Black, Champagne, and Grey) with a rubber sole for extra durability and a dual-zipper front pocket for quick access to the essentials, this sporty crescent bag was made for your favorite sneakers and lived-in jeans. A gentle dose of eye-catching glitter adds mystique to this sporty accessory that’s sure to make you turn heads everywhere you go.

Price: starting at $105


Crescent bags - common FAQs

Are crescent bags in style?

Crescent bags are the latest Y2K trend to take over our Instagram feeds—and you don’t hear us complaining! Slouchy, curvy, and sexy, these croissant-shaped bags are available in all sizes, but you’ll notice most IT girls sporting the smallest and the sleekest.

What are moon-shaped bags called?

Those moon-shaped bags you’ve been seeing everywhere? They’re called crescent bags—and we’re totally mooning over them. For a slouchy, sexy bag that gives you that casual, too-cool-to-care vibe, moon-shaped or crescent bags are the thing.

Are crescent bags timeless?

Y2K fashion trends like crescent bags are coming back with a vengeance—but there is a way to make it timeless. For a classic look that won’t go out of style in a few years, look for a no-frills crescent bag made of leather or high-quality nylon that you can wear again and again.


Meredith Shubel

Meredith Shubel is a freelance writer and blogger. A few years ago, she quit her 9-to-5 desk job in PR … and has never looked back. Now she takes her expert knowledge and experience from writing all over the world to give fellow travel junkies the inside scoop on the best tips for satisfying a life of wanderlust. Talk to her on Twitter @merryshoebell.

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