Handbags

[haddon9]

I have two Coach bags that I kept.  Most of the others are long gone.

One is a black signature fabric bag with leather trim that my DD surprised me with for my birthday many years ago.  She got DS to go in with her and she went to a Coach boutique to purchase it.  It was such a sweet surprise!  I have it and perhaps I should take it out again to use!

When DH was first going through his illness I would drive to the hospital each day for 2 weeks and it was over an hour each way.  To perk myself up I decided one day on the way back home to stop in a local mall's Coach boutique and buy myself a beautiful caramel leather bucket bag. 

It was a popular bag at the time (12 years ago) and I had seen some women online who collected them in every color!  To me the one was expensive enough and I used it a lot.  I should probably break that one out again as well.

[KittySoftPaws]

They became heavily counterfited for years, and it affected their popularity and brand recognition for a long time. After that, many people, including myself, viewed them as "cheap" even though they were not. It's still the case for me, especially when there are so many other designer-like brands out today that are much more unique and less expensive. I adore Aimee Kestenberg bags and the only ones I buy. 

[Shanus]

I have 2 tiny Coach bags...ones with short handles...phone, kleenex and a lipstick "small"...not useful for my life now. My others are the type you hold in your hand or crook on your arm. Not for my way of wearing a bag. The 4 I kept (two were my gift to my Mom that I took when she passed) have shoulder length straps and the signature printed canvas fabric and not too heavy unless I load them up with things I really can do without.

These days my every day bag is a black cross body nylon bag and/or my MZ Wallace cross body bag which came with an adjustable leather strap, a fabric adjustable strap and a chain shoulder handle for dressier wear. It is smaller, fabric, outside zipper for phone and much more useful.

[foxywoods]

Some of the old school "c" siggie bags have a following. small c's 

[stevieb]

I liked the more classic Coach quite a lot. More recently. though, the brand hasn't been a favorite. I do like the Rogue bags, but if I wanted to pay the price for a Rogue 30, I'd probably put the money toward an actual 'designer' bag.

[Jersey Born]

Well, I am now eating my words. I sprung for one of the new Coach Soft Empire 40 bags in Dark Navy color. I just got it a couple of days ago, and I wore it for the first time, yesterday. 

I first noticed this bag on another woman at a local restaurant a few weeks ago, and I thought to myself, "Is that a Coach bag?" When I got back home I looked online to find that that gorgeous bag was the Soft Empire 40 in Maple color, which was stunning to my eyes. I knew I wanted an Empire bag for myself, but I wanted to choose the color option best for my wardrobe, which turned out to be Dark Navy. I have two other navy bags (a Henri Bendel bag that is meant to resemble a quilted Chanel bag, and a medium-sized Coach bag in the shape of a crescent) that are much smaller in size. This Empire is much larger, and can carry anything I want or need to carry on a day when I want to bring everything, including the kitchen sink, with me.. 

Interestingly, when I entered a diner, wearing my Empire bag for the first time, a woman came right up to me and asked me if my bag was a Coach bag. That question led to an unexpected conversation about Coach leather, and a love of Coach handbags. What an unexpected encounter. Of course, I had thought of asking the woman I had previously seen carrying the Maple colored Coach Empire about her bag, as I loved seeing that glorious brown leather bag in person, but in the end, I elected not to approach her. Funny how handbags can be conversation starters for those of us who really enjoy wearing them.      

[faeriemoon]

@Jersey Born Enjoy your Empire! I have my eye on the 35 in honey brown but it is always out of stock.  

I bought another Rogue last week in a color similar to the honey brown. I think it was called tan.

[Jersey Born]

@faeriemoon - I hope you enjoy your new Rogue in brownish tan, and any Empire you ultimately select!

I also adore the Empire in the 35 size, and I just might spring for one in the future in Maple or even in Black or another color, should they offer it in another color in the future. The 26 is a little small, but it is adorable, and some department stores have Empires in a slightly larger 28 size (in Chalk and in Black). 

There are wild-looking, super large Kisslock bags that are going to arrive in Coach stores in March, allegedly. They appeared on the Coach Spring 2025 runway.  They would have to be carried as a clutch, essentially hugged by a person's arm. I kind of need to have a handle or a strap or two, so these are not for me. But how awesome would it be to hug such large expanse of smooshy leather? 

[faeriemoon]

@Jersey Born Thank you. 

I'm going to have to research that kiss-lock; I love kiss-lock bags.  Sometimes they are made with a strap that can be closed inside like a clutch or worn outside for the shoulder or arm.  I'm going to have to research that new Coach for spring and see what's what with how to wear it!!

[faeriemoon]

@Jersey Born 

I love it!!  

It's not looking like this bag has any kind of strap option from the pictures I have seen.  But I still want it.