JW PEI black bags: the 12 to buy, from the Gabbi to the Hana tote

Black is where JW PEI sells most, and it is the colour the brand never puts on sale: the black Gabbi, the black Hana tote, the black Lucia are the core of the range. Luxury Handbags carries 182 black JW PEI colourways from $180 to $560, in smooth vegan leather, croc-embossed, faux suede, canvas, crystal and satin. Gemma Deeks picked the twelve to buy, with what each is for.

Key facts

• 182 black JW PEI bags at Luxury Shoes , $180 to $560, median $310.
• Finishes in black: smooth vegan leather, croc-embossed, pebbled, faux suede, canvas, satin, sequin and artificial crystal.
• Black is the colourway Irina Shayk and Megan Fox carried the Gabbi in, and the one Anne Hathaway carried the Maze in.
• Gold hardware on most black styles, silver on the Abacus mini and the Tessa; match jewellery to the hardware.
• Black vegan leather wipes clean and shows the least wear of any colour in the range; black faux suede can transfer colour to pale clothing.
• Every piece is authenticated and ships worldwide from Luxury Shoes .

The black JW PEI bags to buy

1. Gabbi Ruched Hobo Handbag in Black, $250

The black Gabbi is the reference JW PEI bag and the colour the street-style photographs were taken in. 24.5 by 13 by 6 cm, magnetic closure.

2. Hana Medium Tote Bag in Black, $310

The black work tote, 43 by 25 by 13.5 cm, takes a 12.9-inch iPad and stands on its base.

3. Lucia Classic Top Handle Bag in Jet Black, $310

The classic black handbag: turn-lock, rolled handle, detachable crossbody strap.

4. Abacus Mini Top Handle Bag in Black Croc, $240

The black Abacus is the evening bag that goes with any dress; the crystal edition if the dress is plain.

5. Joy Shoulder Bag in Black, $250

The black baguette for tailoring and slip dresses.

6. Rowan Ruched Drawstring Chain Bucket Bag in Black, $310

The black bucket on a chain strap, for travel and weekends.

7. Arden Belt Detail East-West Shoulder Bag in Black, $310

The long-line east-west shoulder bag, 34.2 cm across, with a belt detail.

8. Hana Large Tote Bag in Black, $440

The laptop size of the Hana, in black.

9. Thea Top Handle Bag in Black, $250

The smaller top-handle, with a detachable strap; the crystal Thea is the black-tie version.

10. Holly Metal Pendant Embellished Clutch in Black, $280

The black clutch with a metal pendant, for the evening.

11. Ellie Metal Ring Embellished Top Handle Bag in Black, $270

The ring-front top-handle bag, small and jewelled, on a long strap.

12. Tessa Crushed Shoulder Bag in Black, $250

The Tessa shoulder bag in black with silver hardware, the studded and crushed editions especially.

Matching black to an outfit

Black vegan leather takes gold hardware warmly, which is why the brand puts gold on nearly all of it, so wear gold jewellery with the black bags and silver only with the Abacus mini and the Tessa. With black tailoring the bag disappears into the outfit, which is the point of a work tote; with denim and a white shirt it becomes the accent; with a printed dress it is the one plain thing. The faux-suede blacks read softer and warmer than the smooth ones and sit better with camel and cream; the croc-embossed blacks read hardest and best with a leather jacket. Keep the black clutches and the crystal Abacus for the evening, where a black bag against a coloured dress is the safest choice there is.

Which black bag for what

Work: the Hana medium, then the Lucia for a lighter day. Evening: the Abacus, the Thea in crystal, the Holly. Weekend: the Gabbi, the Rowan. Travel: the Rowan and the Hana large. The black vegan leather is the most forgiving finish in the range; the black faux suede is the softest-looking and the one to keep away from cream coats. The best JW PEI bags ranks the whole range regardless of colour, and the brown bags are the other half of the core.

Frequently asked questions

Does JW PEI make black bags?

Yes, black is the brand’s biggest colour: 182 black colourways at Luxury Handbags from $180 to $560, across the Gabbi, Hana, Lucia, Abacus, Joy, Rowan and more.

Which black JW PEI bag is best for work?

The Hana Medium Tote in black: 43 by 25 by 13.5 cm, a 20 cm handle drop and a 12.9-inch iPad inside. The Hana Large takes a laptop.

Is the black JW PEI Gabbi bag available?

Yes, the black Gabbi Ruched Hobo is at Luxury Shoes , along with the other Gabbi colourways and the crystal mini editions.

Does black vegan leather scratch?

It scuffs less visibly than pale colours and wipes clean with a damp cloth. It does not develop a patina like leather.

What hardware do the black JW PEI bags have?

Gold-tone on most styles; silver-tone on the Abacus mini, the Tessa and a few others. Match your jewellery to the bag.

Read next

The best JW PEI bags. The Gabbi bag. The Hana tote. How to style JW PEI. Shop JW PEI at Luxury Shoes .