Do you have a coach outlet by you? I know people hate the cheesy coach purses but I have a black leather shoulder bag that I've been using for years and it's held up incredibly well. and no cheesy coach markings on it. You wouldn't even know it's coach unless you looked inside.
In the Kate Spade/Cole Haan category, I would also include Michael Kors, Tory Burch, DvF and Rebecca Minkoff.
ETA: With your price point, the biggest issue might be size. If you're looking for a big work bag, that will be harder to find than a going out bag that holds a wallet and phone. But with a good sale, you never know.