[1] Stella McCartney for LeSportsac Hobo, $182.99 [2] Linea Pelle 'Dylan' Patchwork Tote, $297 [3] B. Makowsky 'Berlin' Tote, $134 [4] Anthropologie 'Station-to-Station' Bag, $99.95

Let's say you've saved up around $300 to spend on a classic, high-quality handbag. Now before you go out and buy a Coach, stop and consider the following: Do you really want the same purse that every mall rat in America is carrying? Or do you want something a little bit more original, a little bit more distinct and dare I say, more fashionable? If your answer is yes (and it better be!), then keep reading for some Coach alternatives, plus ways to score a so-called investment bag on the cheap: