I don’t regard Coach and D&B as “designer.” Just good quality. (At least the OLD Coach.)
I would regard buying a Judith Lieber creation in the same light as buying a Faberge egg. 
I think designer is all about how you think about it. Besides this is a wonderful first world problem!
I like nice leather handbags that aren’t so expensive that I can change them a couple of times a year. I like to get bored of what I’m carrying and not feel bad about changing. As I’ve aged, those bags are nicer now than they were when I had 2 in college. Or before the Internet 
My sister carries leather Longchamp bags. She carries one until it breaks or falls apart and then buys another. I like to spend less and have more bags. Right now I have a white coach bag with gold studs on it. It’s small but big enough to hold my phone and wallet and only a few other things. I can carry it on my shoulder or use as a cross body. I just ordered a Dooney and Burke satchel. I don’t like a big handbag as I want something that’s not heavy and hurts my back.
When I travel, I bought a black baggallini tote. It’s light has tons of pockets and holds a ton. It’s perfect to travel with.
Since I’m the OP with the question, I’ll define what I meant. $200 or above I consider “designer”, a term used loosely. That include Coach and others of the same price. That was just the minimum. I was interested in what colors you bought for expensive prices and if they were carried year round, seasonally. I’ve never spent more than $75 on a purse, and finding it difficult right now to find a thing I like. Like another poster, I don’t like the feel of the latest hard, structured purses that are in style right now. I like the soft leather, even faux leather interesting boho purses. Not so easy to find right now. I like a zippered center and one on the side. Even outside pockets are great.
D2 had a big windfall and bought a Dolce and Gabbana bag in Berlin. It’s nice, will definitely last a long time, and will not go out of style quickly.
Still, not something I would ever buy.
https://www.fossil.com/us/en/products/maya-crossbody-sku-zb7229694c.html
@conmama something like this maybe? Fossil makes colored bags in different leathers. Look for past season colors for sales.
http://www.6pm.com/p/fossil-preston-small-flap-wine/product/8449301/color/17
I have only recently “graduated” to purses above $200. I usually buy on deep discount, so may pay $200 for a $600 item. I am OK with it being from last season. My criteria include soft leather, lightweight, good organization (pockets and compartments), long handles or strap for carrying on the shoulder, and zip closure. Material quality and weight are best evaluated in person, so I shop for bags in stores.
I normally have 2 purses - for winter and for summer. My current winter purse is black from All Saints, and the summer one is baby pink from a “designer” I never heard of, from Nordstrom Rack.
Frye makes some nice, soft leather bags. I have an adorable yellow tiny one that I tried to make work, but it just doesn’t hold enough, so I use it for sports events (going to games) when I just take phone, small wallet and lipstick.
I’m with the crowd that says weight matters. I find D&B to be too heavy.
One of my favorite purses ever was by Elliot Luca. I’m not sure if he(?) counts as designer or not, but it was a black woven leather bag that was pretty light weight and had a nice strap for over the shoulder (not too thick and not too thin).
I don’t like “chains” on bags, and I really prefer not being able to easily tell who the designer is.
I forgot to mention that any bag I use daily has to be big enough to hold a book. 
Another lady with a Coach bag for every season! HTey aren’t ridiculously priced, but they aren’t…LeSportSac either.
I carry a black sling backpack and have ever since my teenagers were little. You can wear one and bend over without it falling off your shoulder. I’m definitely not a fashionista. Every time I see my sister (once every two years or so) she asks me “Is that thing your purse?”.
I love a backpack purse. There are some very nice looking ones that are simple but effective. Don’t resemble a school backpack in anyway! Like this! :
http://www.6pm.com/p/cole-haan-ilianna-backpack-mineral-red/product/8877264/color/124192
What I completely don’t get is bucket bags. A couple of years ago every fashionista went banzai about M-G bucket bag. All I was thinking, “Try to ride a crowded transit bus with that!”
Personally, I like slim profile purses that can double as cross-body. It’s just easier for me to manage in nearly all situations. Huge bags are an invitation to overstuff and end up with shoulder pain, imho.
Chiropractors and DOs are familiar with “purse shoulder.” Yup, there is such a disorder - caused by overstuffed bags.
You can get bursitis and tendinitis in the shoulder from heavy shoulder bags–that bay an alternative name from the one your chiro uses.
It just seems foolish to possibly injure my aging body that I’m going to need for likely a good number of additional years. This is another reason I refuse to have handbags or totes or suitcases which are heavy when they’re empty – what is the point? I’m not interested in any weightlifting competition and my lifhteeit bags have lasted years and years. I can replace if they break or get “ratty” or worn.
If you guys are talking about my sling backpack as being too heavy, I can tell you that I’m older and not in great shape and I’ve never had problems with that design. It distributes the weight better across the body IMO and I carry a lot of junk usually with a couple of bottles of water. Now only if I could find a pretty one like @abasket included a link for!
If you want an attractive sling backpack, this may be a candidate, priced under $200.
http://www.ebags.com/product/piel/tri-shaped-sling-bag/79092?productid=1006640
@HImom Now that is a nice bag with my name written all over it!! I’ll have to send my girls the link - Mother’s day is coming up you know!
Nope, we are talking about purses that weigh more than 2 lb when empty!