Tan is unique in that it’s the only neutral-ish bag colour that actually does something for an outfit. That’s also why it has to work harder than black. A good tan shoulderbag should read warm not orange, lean closer to biscuit, caramel or weathered saddle brown than pink undertones. That warmth is what allows it to go against navy, grey, denim and black without looking like an afterthought. The leather is more important than the shape. Look for structure, and grain.
A hide that will crease and soften with wear rather than crack. Tan bags genuinely get better with age where black ones rarely try. Stay away from coated plastics looking finishes that will scuff light and never recover.
Shoulder straps should be long enough to clear your hip without sliding the bag under your arm like a clutch, around ten to twelve inches tends to hit that sweet spot on most bodies.
Hardware is worth considering too. Brushed gold or antiqued brass looks better against tan than silver or shiny finishes that will cheapen your leather. Styling wise it’s less about matching colours and more about letting it anchor your outfit.
Tan works wonders against black by making both of you look more expensive than you really are, it does something similar for grey marl, white shirts and faded denim; where suddenly the bag is the warmest part of your outfit rather than grabbing all the attention. It recedes into your outfit against camel and cream and that tone on tone look only reads matchy if the shades are exactly the same. Tan also has a habit of making khaki, olive and rust look intentional instead of a mud stain that happened on the way to your pants.
Lastly it’s just your best bag for anything office related. Days where you need to look put together without trying too hard. Meeting days, travel, weekend errands that turn into brunch. It holds weight without reading corporate which is why it can spend more time on your shoulder than those trendy RTW shapes ever will. The best tan bags are purchased once and enjoyed for years, not seasons and that right there is why you choose tan instead of statement.
Top Picks
SYDNEY’S PICK
THREDUP (US)Shoulder Bag: Tan Bags
$21.99 THREDUP (US)
BROOKLYN’S PICK
SHOPBOPSTAUD Valerie Shoulder Bag Tan One
$350.00 SHOPBOP
QUINN’S PICK
W CONCEPT (US)Spring/Summer BLINK Shoulder Bag
$303.00 W CONCEPT (US)
MORGAN’S PICK
PETAL & PUP USWells Fringe Shoulder Bag
$23.97 PETAL & PUP US
CARL’S PICK
SHOPBOPChristopher Esber Turnlock Suede Shoulder Bag Russet/Tan One $795.00
$556.50 SHOPBOP
THREDUP (US)Shoulder Bag: Tan Bags
$21.99 THREDUP (US)
THREDUP (US)Anuschka Leather Shoulder Bag: Tan Bags
$244.99 THREDUP (US)
W CONCEPT (US)Vegan Leather Shoulder Crossbody Bag [Tan] (AP24-2348-TN)
$193.00 W CONCEPT (US)
KARL LAGERFELD (US)Karl Lagerfeld - Ikon K Woven Shoulder Bag, Woman, Brown, Size: One Size
$220.00 KARL LAGERFELD (US)
SHOPBOPSTAUD Valerie Shoulder Bag Tan One
$350.00 SHOPBOP
SHOEMALL.COMMellow World Sandi 3-Compartment Shoulder Bag Tan Bags No Size
$84.00 SHOEMALL.COM
SHOPBOPSTAUD Sylvie Shoulder Bag Tan One
$350.00 SHOPBOP
W CONCEPT (US)FASCIA Canvas MD Shoulder Bag [TA] (JHNEHA5BS235TA270)
$193.00 W CONCEPT (US)
THREDUP (US)Coach Shoulder Bag: Tan Bags
$257.99 THREDUP (US)
W CONCEPT (US)Spring/Summer BLINK Shoulder Bag
$303.00 W CONCEPT (US)
THREDUP (US)MICHAEL Michael Kors Shoulder Bag: Tan Bags
$113.99 THREDUP (US)
SHOPBOPSTAUD Harlow Raffia Shoulder Bag Natural/Tan One
$350.00 SHOPBOP
SHOPBOPPolo Ralph Lauren Small Grain Polo ID Mini Shoulder Bag Tan One
$498.00 SHOPBOP
THREDUP (US)Botkier Shoulder Bag: Tan Bags
$95.99 THREDUP (US)
THREDUP (US)Kenneth Cole REACTION Shoulder Bag: Tan Solid Pattern Bags
$35.99 THREDUP (US)
HARVEY NICHOLS USDragon Diffusion Santa Maria Woven Leather Shoulder bag - Tan
$521.64 HARVEY NICHOLS US
THREDUP (US)American Leather Co Leather Shoulder Bag: Tan Solid Pattern Bags
$94.99 THREDUP (US)
THREDUP (US)Madison West Shoulder Bag: Tan Bags
$39.99 THREDUP (US)
M.GEMIM.Gemi The Rigoletta Bucket Shoulder Bag Women's in Tan Tumbled Leather
$348.00 M.GEMI
VERONICA BEARDVeronica Beard Small Vida Shoulder Bag Black
$495.00 VERONICA BEARD
EGO (US & CA)Bravo Lock Detail Rectangle Shaped Shoulder Bag In Tan Brown Faux Leather, Women's Size US
$23.00 EGO (US & CA)
RENT THE RUNWAYPolo Ralph Lauren Accessories Tan Polo ID Mini Shoulder Bag Brown
$423.00 RENT THE RUNWAY
W CONCEPT (US)Vintage Two-tone Adjustable Shoulder Bag [Tiki Tan] (OCSBSD09)
$185.00 W CONCEPT (US)
W CONCEPT (US)time shoulder bag 2colors
$376.00 W CONCEPT (US)
W CONCEPT (US)Seio shoulder bag _ 2colors
$87.00 W CONCEPT (US)
CERQULARShoulder Bag Rosanna Tan
$421.08 CERQULAR
HARVEY NICHOLS USPolo Ralph Lauren Leather-trim Suede Shoulder bag - Tan
$573.16 HARVEY NICHOLS US
PETAL & PUP USWells Fringe Shoulder Bag
$23.97 PETAL & PUP US
DAILY SALE, INC.Women Backpack Purse PU Leather Anti-theft Casual Shoulder Bag - M / Tan
$39.00 DAILY SALE, INC.
HOBO BAGSAlba Frame Large Shoulder Bag
$348.00 HOBO BAGS
THE LUXURY CLOSETChloe Faye Medium Brown/Beige Leather and Suede Shoulder Bag
$412.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
EGO (US & CA)Calvin Buckle Ring Detail Shoulder Bag In Beige Faux Suede, Women's Size US
$33.00 EGO (US & CA)
W CONCEPT (US)Saffiano Cowhide Urban Shoulder Bag [Tan] (T21406)
$241.00 W CONCEPT (US)
SHOPBOPSTAUD Harlow Shoulder Bag Tan One
$350.00 SHOPBOP
W CONCEPT (US)Monaco Shoulder Bag (Tan/Black)
$181.00 W CONCEPT (US)
VERONICA BEARDVeronica Beard Small Vida Shoulder Bag Hazelwood
$495.00 VERONICA BEARD
SHOPBOPSTAUD Pine Shoulder Bag Tan One
$395.00 SHOPBOP
THE LUXURY CLOSETTod's Tan/Yellow Coated Canvas and Leather G-Line Easy Sacca Shoulder Bag
$380.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
KARL LAGERFELD (US)Karl Lagerfeld - K/signature Striped Shoulder Bag, Woman, Beige, Size: One Size
$190.00 KARL LAGERFELD (US)
VERONICA BEARDVeronica Beard Vida Shoulder Bag Acorn
$595.00 VERONICA BEARD
−30%
ACCESSORIZE UKDouble Zip Shoulder Bag Tan$45.00
$31.50 ACCESSORIZE UK
−50%
HARVEY NICHOLS USDkny Avril Small Leather Shoulder bag - Tan$249.88
$124.94 HARVEY NICHOLS US
−63%
KATE SPADE OUTLETKate Spade Cargo Shoulder Bag, tan$375.68
$139.00 KATE SPADE OUTLET
−61%
KATE SPADE OUTLETKate Spade Kayla Shoulder Bag, tan$356.41
$139.00 KATE SPADE OUTLET
−68%
KATE SPADE OUTLETKate Spade Kayla Large Triple Compartment Shoulder Bag, tan$465.63
$149.00 KATE SPADE OUTLET
−63%
KATE SPADE OUTLETKate Spade Kayla Snake Embossed Shoulder Bag, tan$402.70
$149.00 KATE SPADE OUTLET
−54%
KATE SPADE OUTLETKate Spade 454 Small Shoulder Bag, tan$345.65
$159.00 KATE SPADE OUTLET
−57%
KATE SPADE OUTLETKate Spade 454 Snake Embossed Small Shoulder Bag, tan$393.02
$169.00 KATE SPADE OUTLET
−59%
KATE SPADE OUTLETKate Spade 454 Large Shoulder Bag, tan$460.98
$189.00 KATE SPADE OUTLET
−30%
SHOPBOPChristopher Esber Turnlock Suede Shoulder Bag Russet/Tan One$795.00
$556.50 SHOPBOP
![Vegan Leather Shoulder Crossbody Bag [Tan] (AP24-2348-TN)](https://images2.productserve.com/?w=200&h=200&bg=white&trim=5&t=letterbox&url=ssl%3Acdn.wconcept.com%2Fproducts%2F7203722%2F64%2F720372264_1.jpg&feedId=21675&k=a433c0e3f86df57564c471e8c983e1d38c9b4a19)
![FASCIA Canvas MD Shoulder Bag [TA] (JHNEHA5BS235TA270)](https://images2.productserve.com/?w=200&h=200&bg=white&trim=5&t=letterbox&url=ssl%3Acdn.wconcept.com%2Fproducts%2F7204226%2F63%2F720422663_1.jpg&feedId=21675&k=9026f3c4369934e0eef629a62f2b343715d61070)
![Vintage Two-tone Adjustable Shoulder Bag [Tiki Tan] (OCSBSD09)](https://images2.productserve.com/?w=200&h=200&bg=white&trim=5&t=letterbox&url=ssl%3Acdn.wconcept.com%2Fproducts%2F7203881%2F60%2F720388160_1.jpg&feedId=21675&k=16837f1546f429154bda03493a3170cabc96f748)
![Saffiano Cowhide Urban Shoulder Bag [Tan] (T21406)](https://images2.productserve.com/?w=200&h=200&bg=white&trim=5&t=letterbox&url=ssl%3Acdn.wconcept.com%2Fproducts%2F7203814%2F83%2F720381483_1.jpg&feedId=21675&k=0a0c8987a5542189222b620d122acb99a558cb7a)
