The hard part of buying a leather bag as a gift is that shape is a personal habit, not a taste. Someone who carries a crossbody will not switch to a tote because you bought them a nice one. So the useful question is not what looks best, it is what she already carries.

Match the shape she already uses

Look at the bag she uses on a normal weekday. If it hangs across her body, buy a crossbody. If it is over one shoulder and roughly rectangular, buy a shoulder bag. If it is big and open, buy a tote. Getting the shape right matters more than getting the colour perfect.

If you cannot work it out

Buy a small leather good instead of guessing on a bag. A card case, a passport cover or a travel accessory in the same leather is a real gift, takes a monogram beautifully, and does not require you to be right about a habit. It also leaves the door open to a bag later.

Colour and hardware

Look at her jewellery. Gold jewellery, choose brass hardware and a warm brown. Silver jewellery, choose nickel hardware and black or grey. It sounds like a small thing and it is the detail people notice when a gift feels considered.

Exchanges

If you get it wrong, 30 days, monogram or not. We would rather she has the right bag.