I’m a girl who loves color. But this year I got really into nice handbags, and every girl needs one classic black bag. After a long hunt, I found mine. This is my honest Parisa Wang review of the Madison Top Handle Bag in black, size medium, walrus texture, after three months of carrying it nonstop.
I will never be the Hermès girl. I’m not spending $10,000 on a purse. I do see the value in spending $500 to $1,000 on a bag that’s made well and lasts years, though, and the Madison lists at $458, under that range.
You can take 12% off Parisa Wang bags with my code WHIMSY12.
My Parisa Wang Bag Review in a Nutshell
Yes, the Parisa Wang Madison is worth buying. I don’t know where I’ve been without this bag.
Worth it if you want a structured black east west top handle bag that goes crossbody and doesn’t scratch the second you look at it. Skip it if you want a slouchy leather bag or something big enough to haul a laptop (the Parisa Wang tote further down handles that).
Why I Went Looking for the Perfect Black Handle Bag
I had a very specific checklist going in. I wanted a handle bag that:
- I could carry by the top handle, but that also came with a shoulder strap for crossbody
- Was easy to reach into, with a flap I could flip open fast to grab something
- Had internal storage so my stuff wasn’t rolling around at the bottom
- Could sit on its own on a table or the floor without flopping over
- Was the right size (not too big, not too small)
The Madison checked every box.
Three Months of Wearing This Parisa Wang Bag Everywhere
I took it to New York City and wore it every single day, usually with my leather skirt and boots. My favorite day was a long solo walk around the city. I hit Central Park and the Natural History Museum on my own, then met my friends out for dinner, and the Madison came with me the whole way.
In Palm Springs, I wore it to dinner at the top of the Aerial Tramway. There’s a really nice, fancy restaurant up on the mountain, so we rode the tram up and had dinner there.
Here in San Francisco, it’s the everyday handle bag I reach for when I’m heading to events or happy hours, and I was just in Wisconsin for the World Series and brought it along.
Parisa Wang Madison Top Handle Bag Specs
The hard numbers for this Parisa Wang review, from the brand’s size guide for the medium:
- Price: $458
- Shape: east west (wider than it is tall)
- Leather: Australian full-grain calfskin with a walrus texture (a pebbled leather version is also available)
- Top width: 9.5 inches
- Base width: 10.7 inches
- Height: 7.5 inches
- Depth: 4.25 inches
- Top handle drop: 3.4 inches
- Shoulder strap drop: adjustable from 18.5 to 23 inches (and the strap is removable)
- Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Closure: magnetic flap with the signature lock
- Inside: one zip pocket and slip pockets
- Hardware: gold-plated, with real gold in the plating
- Colors in the walrus texture: black, taupe, and earl grey
What I Love About This Parisa Wang Handle Bag
The Leather Hasn’t Scratched (Not Once)
I have a couple of other leather bags where the leather started scratching almost instantly. Too supple. Every brush against a table or a zipper left a mark.
Three months of heavy use, and the Madison doesn’t have a single scratch. The leather is so high quality. Parisa Wang says the walrus texture is more scratch resistant than smooth leather, and mine still looks brand new.
It’s a Top Handle Bag With a Shoulder Strap
I prefer holding it by the top handle. I think it’s super cute that way. When it’s crowded or I’m juggling a lot of things, I clip on the shoulder strap and switch to crossbody, and I’m a size 14 and the crossbody fits perfectly.
Pro-tip: the shoulder strap adjusts between 18.5 and 23 inches, so you can wear it shorter on the shoulder or longer across your body.
The Flap Is Easy to Get Into
Magnets hold the flap, so you lift it and you’re in. I don’t have to unzip anything to grab something on the go. The signature lock was inspired by vintage hardware on New York’s Madison Avenue, and you can leave it open or close it when you want things locked down.
It Stands Up on Its Own
The base is wider than the top (10.7 inches versus 9.5) and the leather is structured, so the bag sits up straight on a bar top or a restaurant banquette instead of slumping over and spilling your lip gloss.
What Fits Inside This East West Bag
Because the Madison is an east west bag, the opening runs wide, so it’s easy to see into and reach into. Here’s what fits inside my medium on a normal day:
- My wallet
- My phone (an iPhone 17, so it’s big)
- Hand sanitizer
- Lotion
- Lipstick
- Lactaid
- An external charger
- A scarf
All of that fits inside easily, and the internal zip and slip pockets keep the small things from sinking to the bottom.
Parisa Wang Review Cons (What to Know Before You Buy)
The Top Handle Is Short
The top handle drop is 3.4 inches. That’s a hand-carry or crook-of-your-elbow handle. If you want it on your shoulder, you’ll need the shoulder strap.
The Medium Won’t Fit a Full-Size Tablet
The brand says the medium fits a mini tablet up to 7.7 by 5.3 inches. A regular iPad won’t go in. Look at the Large for that, which fits up to a 10.9-inch tablet, or the Parisa Wang tote if you need a laptop.
The Walrus Texture Isn’t Everyone’s Thing
I love how it looks and styles. It is a visible, ridged grain, though, and one reviewer on the Parisa Wang site returned her bag because she didn’t like the walrus look. If you prefer a softer grain, the Madison also comes in pebbled leather.
Mind the Return Window
You get 15 days from delivery for a refund, or 30 days for store credit or a U.S. exchange. The bag has to be unworn with tags and packaging, and return fees apply. Keep the tags on until you’re sure.
Parisa Wang Madison Size Guide (Micro vs Medium vs Large)
I went medium and I’d pick it again. All three sizes keep the same east west shape.
- Micro: 9.7 x 6.5 x 4.25 inches, 1.2 pounds. Fits a smartphone. Good for nights out when you only need the basics.
- Medium: 10.7 x 7.5 x 4.25 inches, 1.5 pounds. Fits a mini tablet plus your daily stuff. The everyday sweet spot.
- Large: 12 x 8 x 5 inches, 1.85 pounds. Fits up to a 10.9-inch tablet. Better if you want one handle bag for work and weekends.
Parisa Wang Walrus Texture vs Pebbled Leather
The walrus version (mine) uses Australian full-grain calfskin with a bold, ridged grain that Parisa Wang says is more scratch resistant. The pebbled leather version uses Italian full-grain pebbled calfskin with a tighter grain. Same $458 price.
I’ve only owned the walrus, so I can’t speak to how the pebbled leather wears. If scratching is your biggest fear (it was mine), go walrus.
Other Parisa Wang Handbags to Know About
I haven’t tried these yet, so take this section as the facts from Parisa Wang’s site, not a review. If the Madison isn’t your shape, these are the other styles worth a look.
Parisa Wang Grace Soft Top Handle Bag
The Grace is the softer, more relaxed cousin of the Madison. It’s $458 in pebbled leather or suede, with a 3-inch top handle drop and a removable shoulder strap that adjusts from 16 to 23.5 inches. The small is 9.8 x 7.5 x 3 inches and the medium is 11.4 x 8.7 x 3.5 inches.
Parisa Wang Gabrielle East West Shoulder Bag
The Gabrielle is $498 and comes in pebbled leather, smooth leather, or suede. It has a 10-inch handle drop, so it goes right on your shoulder (the thing the Madison’s short top handle can’t do). It zips closed and has two magnetic exterior pockets. The small is 11.4 x 5 x 3.5 inches and the medium is 13.4 x 6.1 x 4 inches.
This is the one I want next!
Parisa Wang Tote (Gabrielle East West Tote)
If you need a work bag, the Parisa Wang tote to look at is the Gabrielle East West Tote. It’s $678 in Spanish full-grain pebbled leather (it also comes in smooth leather and suede), and Parisa Wang says it fits a 14-inch laptop. It’s 17.7 inches wide at the top, 9 inches tall and 6.3 inches deep, with a 10.3-inch handle drop for wearing on your shoulder, a zip top, and magnetic pockets on the front and back.
Parisa Wang Suede Bags
Want a Parisa Wang suede bag? The Grace, the Gabrielle, and a soft version of the Madison all come in suede. Know that suede needs suede-specific care, and the brand warns against using conditioners made for smooth leather on it.
Is Parisa Wang Worth It?
Parisa Wang New York was founded in 2016 by a luxury fashion designer who couldn’t find a designer handbag with a modern feel for under $1,000, so she made her own. The bags are designed in New York and handcrafted by a manufacturing partner in China. Selling direct instead of through department stores is how Parisa Wang handbags stay in the $400s.
The site says that manufacturing partner has also produced bags for Prada, Saint Laurent, Celine and Miu Miu. I can’t verify that myself. What I can check: the Madison sits at 4.8 out of 5 stars across 438 reviews on the Parisa Wang site, and every bag comes with a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
The Madison is my first Parisa Wang purse, so this Parisa Wang review covers that one bag. So far I’m really, really impressed, and I’ll definitely be buying more Parisa Wang bags.
Parisa Wang Bags FAQ
Is Parisa Wang a good brand?
In my experience, yes. My Madison has held up to three months of daily wear without a scratch. The brand uses full-grain leather, the Madison has 4.8 stars across 438 reviews on its site, and every bag comes with a one-year warranty.
Is Parisa Wang a luxury brand?
Parisa Wang New York is a direct-to-consumer handbag brand founded by a luxury fashion designer. Parisa Wang handbags use full-grain leather and gold-plated hardware but most cost around $400 to $500, not the thousands a heritage fashion house charges.
Is Parisa Wang worth it?
For me, yes. I wanted a well-made bag in the $500 to $1,000 range, and the Madison came in at $458 and still looks brand new after three months.
Are Parisa Wang bags real leather?
Yes. The Madison is full-grain calfskin, Australian for the walrus version and Italian for the pebbled leather version.
Where are Parisa Wang bags made?
Parisa Wang bags are designed in New York and handcrafted by a manufacturing partner in China.
Are there Parisa Wang stores?
I couldn’t find any Parisa Wang stores listed on the brand’s site. Parisa Wang New York sells its handbags online, with free U.S. shipping.
Does Parisa Wang make a suede bag?
Yes. The Grace, the Gabrielle, and a soft version of the Madison all come in suede.
Does the Parisa Wang Madison scratch easily?
Not in my experience. I’ve carried the black walrus Madison almost daily for three months, through New York, Palm Springs, and Wisconsin, and it hasn’t scratched.
Is the Parisa Wang Madison an east west bag?
Yes. The medium is 10.7 inches wide and 7.5 inches tall, so it sits horizontally, and that wide opening is what makes it easy to reach into.
Can you wear the Madison Top Handle Bag crossbody?
Yes. The removable leather shoulder strap adjusts from an 18.5 to 23-inch drop, so you can wear it crossbody or on your shoulder. I’m a size 14 and the crossbody fits me perfectly.
What fits inside the medium Madison bag?
I carry my wallet, an iPhone 17, hand sanitizer, lotion, lipstick, Lactaid, an external charger, and a scarf, and it all fits inside easily. The brand says it also fits a mini tablet up to 7.7 by 5.3 inches. A full-size iPad won’t fit.
What size Parisa Wang Madison should I get?
Medium, for most people. Go micro if you only carry a phone and a card, and large if you need room for a tablet.
Is there a Parisa Wang discount code?
Yes. Use code WHIMSY12 for 12% off at checkout when you shop through my link.
What is the Parisa Wang return policy?
Refunds within 15 days of delivery, or store credit and U.S. exchanges within 30 days. Items need to be unworn with original tags and packaging, final-sale items can’t be returned, and return fees apply.
How long does Parisa Wang shipping take?
U.S. shipping is free. Orders take 24 to 48 hours to process, then ground shipping takes about 4 to 6 days. Expedited options cost extra at checkout.
Does the Madison come with a dust bag?
Buyers in the reviews mention their bags arriving in a Parisa Wang box with a cotton dust bag.
My Final Verdict on the Parisa Wang Madison Top Handle Bag
If you’ve been hunting for one classic black east west handle bag, this is it. It goes from top handle to crossbody in two seconds, and three months of nonstop wear haven’t left a scratch on it.
Shop the Parisa Wang Madison Top Handle Bag here, and don’t forget code WHIMSY12 for 12% off.
Do you own any Parisa Wang bags, or are you still on the hunt for your perfect black bag? Drop a comment below and tell me what you’re carrying, or ask anything this Parisa Wang bag review didn’t cover.
