2016 Saddle Bag Club!

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#676
Zuggy said:
I need some help making a decision. I bought the Saddle 35 in fog and I love everything about it EXCEPT for the strap.

I'm a shoulder bag girl. I do have some satchels and carry them occasionally but shoulder carry is my preference. I only carry swingpacks or vintage canteen bags crossbody and I usually only use them on vacations or when flea-marketing and such. I would never carry the saddle crossbody.

I'm considering having the strap on the saddle bag shortened. I would have it cut and re-sewn in the middle. So here are my questions. Am I completely crazy for even considering desecrating this bag?And do you think this is something Coach would do for me {for a fee of course}?

HONEST opinions welcome. Thanks in advance!
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If I had to do so much work to make myself happy with a bag, I don't think it's worth it. One time I bought a shoulder bag, thinking that I can easily convert that to a crossbody. To this day I have not found a strap that I am completely satisfied with it.

I haven't played around with the straps on my saddlebag. Are you sure the straps cannot be doubled? Finally, even if you can use it as a shoulder bag, would it be comfortable to get things in and out?
 
#677
Zuggy said:
I need some help making a decision. I bought the Saddle 35 in fog and I love everything about it EXCEPT for the strap.

I'm a shoulder bag girl. I do have some satchels and carry them occasionally but shoulder carry is my preference. I only carry swingpacks or vintage canteen bags crossbody and I usually only use them on vacations or when flea-marketing and such. I would never carry the saddle crossbody.

I'm considering having the strap on the saddle bag shortened. I would have it cut and re-sewn in the middle. So here are my questions. Am I completely crazy for even considering desecrating this bag?And do you think this is something Coach would do for me {for a fee of course}?

HONEST opinions welcome. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

If you love the bag and the only thing stopping you is the length of the strap, I would most definitely take it to a good cobbler, shoe repair place.....and have it shortened!
 
#678
pbnjam said:
If I had to do so much work to make myself happy with a bag, I don't think it's worth it. One time I bought a shoulder bag, thinking that I can easily convert that to a crossbody. To this day I have not found a strap that I am completely satisfied with it.

I haven't played around with the straps on my saddlebag. Are you sure the straps cannot be doubled? Finally, even if you can use it as a shoulder bag, would it be comfortable to get things in and out?
Click to expand...
Oh the strap can be doubled and for me, it's OK....but just OK. It sits pretty tight in my armpit. In a perfect world, I would like to have the bag hang right at my hip. That way, I would be able to lift the flap and root around inside while it's still on my shoulder.
 
#679
Zuggy said:
Oh the strap can be doubled and for me, it's OK....but just OK. It sits pretty tight in my armpit. In a perfect world, I would like to have the bag hang right at my hip. That way, I would be able to lift the flap and root around inside while it's still on my shoulder.
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If you are 100% sure you love the bag, then I also vote that you find a good leather works shop and have them adjust the shoulder strap to the way you want it.

And to answer your other question, no, I don't think Coach would do that. Once upon a time when Coach made bags in the U.S. you probably could have had that done, but not anymore.
 
#680
Do you think you could ask Coach if they could sell you the strap from one of the smaller saddle bags with the matching colour? I remember they use to sell mix and match straps for the legacy duffle.
 
#681
Zuggy said:
I need some help making a decision. I bought the Saddle 35 in fog and I love everything about it EXCEPT for the strap.

I'm a shoulder bag girl. I do have some satchels and carry them occasionally but shoulder carry is my preference. I only carry swingpacks or vintage canteen bags crossbody and I usually only use them on vacations or when flea-marketing and such. I would never carry the saddle crossbody.

I'm considering having the strap on the saddle bag shortened. I would have it cut and re-sewn in the middle. So here are my questions. Am I completely crazy for even considering desecrating this bag?And do you think this is something Coach would do for me {for a fee of course}?

HONEST opinions welcome. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
You can double the strap to make into a shoulder strap
 
#682
I second Lianje's suggestion. Then you could keep the original strap in case your style changes or you want to sell it. I bought a vintage willis at a consignment shop which was in good shape and just needed a bit of tlc. But I was very disappointed that the previous owner had cut short the strap and it was not useable crossbody at all.
 
#683
Teagaggle said:
Posting pics of my whiplash oxblood. Note this is after I took the fringe off and reattached only one small piece on each side under where the strap attaches. I can't describe this leather...its the best pebbled Coach I have...squishy and soft. Love the bag after I "defringed" it :)
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Love your version! The whiplash and pebbling really enhance this bag, I think.
 
#684
Zuggy said:
I need some help making a decision. I bought the Saddle 35 in fog and I love everything about it EXCEPT for the strap.

I'm a shoulder bag girl. I do have some satchels and carry them occasionally but shoulder carry is my preference. I only carry swingpacks or vintage canteen bags crossbody and I usually only use them on vacations or when flea-marketing and such. I would never carry the saddle crossbody.

I'm considering having the strap on the saddle bag shortened. I would have it cut and re-sewn in the middle. So here are my questions. Am I completely crazy for even considering desecrating this bag?And do you think this is something Coach would do for me {for a fee of course}?

HONEST opinions welcome. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I agree that I doubt Coach would do it, but there's no point in keeping a bag if you'll only get frustrated using it ... or just end up shoving it to the back of the closet. Customizing makes sense. (Just make sure the cobbler is experienced. Reading would certainly have, and I've heard of a good one in Bethlehem. :smile1: )
 
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#686
Lianjie said:
Do you think you could ask Coach if they could sell you the strap from one of the smaller saddle bags with the matching colour? I remember they use to sell mix and match straps for the legacy duffle.
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Hmmmmm....interesting thought! I remember they sold duffle kits that had a strap, tassels and a hang tag {I think}. It definitely doesn't hurt to ask. I'll call on Monday. Thanks!
 
#687
momtok said:
I agree that I doubt Coach would do it, but there's no point in keeping a bag if you'll only get frustrated using it ... or just end up shoving it to the back of the closet. Customizing makes sense. (Just make sure the cobbler is experienced. Reading would certainly have, and I've heard of a good one in Bethlehem. :smile1: )
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You know someone in Bethlehem? Please, by all means, spill! I would definitely appreciate the info. Are we practically neighbors?
 
#688
Zuggy said:
You know someone in Bethlehem? Please, by all means, spill! I would definitely appreciate the info. Are we practically neighbors?
Click to expand...

There's one on fourth street, just down the hill from Lehigh U. I've never used them personally, but only because I've never had anything that needed work. I know there've been profs/students who've had things done there, and I've always noted them as where I'll go when I do need something fixed. They also have good reviews online. Type ... Lehigh leather repair ... into google.

I went to Lehigh for graduate school. And yes, I've long guessed that we were neighbors.
 
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#689
momtok said:
There's one on fourth street, just down the hill from Lehigh U. I've never used them personally, but only because I've never had anything that needed work. I know there've been profs/students who've had things done there, and I've always noted them as where I'll go when I do need something fixed. They also have good reviews online. Type ... Lehigh leather repair ... into google.

I went to Lehigh for graduate school. And yes, I've long guessed that we were neighbors.
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Well, on your suggestion, I went to see the cobbler on 4th. He was a lovely, heavily accented Italian man who not only totally understood exactly what I was trying to describe, he had a sample to show me. Fingers crossed that my strap comes out as meticulously as the one I saw. I pick it up on Wednesday for the grand total of $30....cash only!

Thank you so much for the recommendation. Leather repair/shoe repair/cobblers seem to be a near extinct breed and I'm so glad you shared your intel with me.:ty: Hope you got to enjoy the near spring like temps we were blessed with today!
 
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