Coach Originals vs Coach Classics vs Vintage

[darkangel07760]

I have two vintage Coach pieces, one is a small shoulder bag my mum gifted me, and the other is a Court bag that I found for $14 at a thrift store. I also had moreCoach, but it was more modern stuff that I actually am consigning at a local thrift shop because once I bought my mini duffle in Cobalt from the Legacy line, I realized how much more I loved the older Coach.
I like the simple clean look, and even though I paid for a new one (with a 25% pce), I don't mind because I really do need a small simple bag and in my searches I never saw a vintage small duffle.

 

[GoStanford]

For anyone interested in the Coach Classics (the five styles Coach brought back last year in the lighter-weight leather), Nordstrom has them on clearance for 33% off. I bought a Classic Duffle in british tan yesterday for $265 and change before tax. I've wanted this bag ever since it was re-released last year. I'd seen it, and the other Classics, IRL before and even compared the Classic Stewardess to the Original Stewardess.

I hemmed and hawed and missed out on the Duffle last week when Macys.com had it on clearance, but Nordstrom's price is slightly lower than Macys.com's was, and the bag was/is still full price in Macy's stores near me. When I talked to SAs over the phone, they weren't willing to price match the online price, and I wasn't in the mood to fuss with them about it.

Personally, I like the leather and feel that my duffle is well-constructed. I know that others felt differently about theirs, but this is JMO. I have a few vintage bags from rehab projects, but I also like having a fresh, new bag with that classic "look" and will be interested to see how this leather ages over time. The care card describes it as a burnished leather that will not darken over time, however I'd expect that it will soften, smoosh, and all that good stuff.

33% off isn't the biggest discount, but I'm not sure when (or if) Coach will send the Classics to the outlets in large quantities. JAX had plenty of the BT Classic Duffle in stock yesterday. If I were in Coach's position, I wouldn't send the BT and black Classic Duffles to the outlets just yet because this season is all about the duffle (albeit the new Legacy version, but still....the original style represented by the Classic version begat the "new" style).

I might pick up a Classic Stewardess at the outlet when/if it goes there. I don't like that the new Stewardess is narrower (yet pricier!) than the original, but at 40/30 or 50/30 I might overlook that discrepancy.

IMO, I prefer the color of the new Classic BT to the Original BT. I compared a new-with-tags, still-at-the-store Original City Bag to a Classic Madison satchel, in addition to my Stewardess comparison mentioned earlier. In store lighting, the original BT looks flat on a brand-new, never-carried bag; but the new BT has a bit more richness and depth. The new leather is thinner than the old, but as others have noted that makes the bag lighter weight - which is a good thing for a big bag like the Duffle IMO.

Was very tempted by the Classic Duffle on sale at Nordstrom online. My one concern is the shedding of suede bits inside which I saw in the floor model and also was commented on at coach online. I am pleasantly surprised that vintage coaches have relatively little shedding but I have had this problem with some other
Brands. Thoughts?

 

[whateve]

Was very tempted by the Classic Duffle on sale at Nordstrom online. My one concern is the shedding of suede bits inside which I saw in the floor model and also was commented on at coach online. I am pleasantly surprised that vintage coaches have relatively little shedding but I have had this problem with some other
Brands. Thoughts?

Maybe because it is new? The vintage Coaches might have shed when they were new. I bought a few way back when but I don't remember if they shed when they were new.

 

[GoStanford]

Maybe because it is new? The vintage Coaches might have shed when they were new. I bought a few way back when but I don't remember if they shed when they were new.

Well, my Janice bag from the early 2000s didn't shed as I recall - in fact if anything things I put inside it seemed to shed - like extra paper napkins would leave little white bits inside. (Why was I putting extra napkins inside - separate question!)

I don't think I have the patience to go through the initial shedding phase if there is one...but that said...these are beautiful bags.

 

[kdennis]

Maybe because it is new? The vintage Coaches might have shed when they were new. I bought a few way back when but I don't remember if they shed when they were new.

I don't recall them shedding; my sister and I carried Stewardesses and later City Bags. I believe they came with a card that we would send into Coach to "register" them but could be wrong as it was a long time ago. I know they laster forever and with the exception of "church, wedding, etc. bags", we carried the same bags, everyday, for years. They served well and fit like an old, favorite shoe.

 

[whateve]

I don't recall them shedding; my sister and I carried Stewardesses and later City Bags. I believe they came with a card that we would send into Coach to "register" them but could be wrong as it was a long time ago. I know they laster forever and with the exception of "church, wedding, etc. bags", we carried the same bags, everyday, for years. They served well and fit like an old, favorite shoe.

I don't remember them shedding either. I got a new one every year. By the time I was ready to switch to the new one, the old one was misshapen and dirty. I wish I had known that I could have washed them! I always gave the old ones to Goodwill.

 

[KittyKwilter]

I have older Coach bags in original leather, and two classic leather (lime satchel and vermillion city bag). The older ones did sometimes shed but the leather was really thick and even the inside "sueded" side was pretty thick. The newer classic leather doesn't seam to shed at all. (I could probably tell with lime green!) My older ones don't now though. I still use them, bc I love the classic styles.

 

[kdennis]

I don't remember them shedding either. I got a new one every year. By the time I was ready to switch to the new one, the old one was misshapen and dirty. I wish I had known that I could have washed them! I always gave the old ones to Goodwill.

Me too! I would die to have those bags back. My favorite Stewardess was my navy blue one.

 

[darkangel07760]

Ok i have a bit of a dilemma. I love the new legacy line. I recently bought the mini duffle, which i love, but i was thinking about getting a regular size duffle instead.
I bought the mini because i have enough money that i could pay it off. If i got the regular duffle, it would take me 2 - 3 months to pay ot off, most likely 2.
Or should i scrap the new legacy entirely, and just find a used vintage one online?
I guess what i am trying to ask is...
What would be the best bargain?

 

[happybag]

Was very tempted by the Classic Duffle on sale at Nordstrom online. My one concern is the shedding of suede bits inside which I saw in the floor model and also was commented on at coach online. I am pleasantly surprised that vintage coaches have relatively little shedding but I have had this problem with some other
Brands. Thoughts?

It's subjective IMO, but a bit of suede shedding doesn't bother me. If it's shedding so badly that it's gunking up my mobile phone, then it's an issue...but my phone lives in its phone case so it's pretty well-protected. I'm willing to give the bag a chance, but I'll post an update if she starts shedding like mad after I carry her.

Ok i have a bit of a dilemma. I love the new legacy line. I recently bought the mini duffle, which i love, but i was thinking about getting a regular size duffle instead.
I bought the mini because i have enough money that i could pay it off. If i got the regular duffle, it would take me 2 - 3 months to pay ot off, most likely 2.
Or should i scrap the new legacy entirely, and just find a used vintage one online?
I guess what i am trying to ask is...
What would be the best bargain?

The best bargain is the one you'll carry most frequently. If the regular size Legacy duffle is more usable for you, then considering the cost per wear (or cost per carry) the regular duffle may be a better long-term bargain even though the initial investment is higher. The current PCE discount takes some of the sting out of the price. However, if you feel you'd carry a vintage one more frequently than either Legacy bag, then I'd go that route. I'm trying to wait for Legacy to go to the outlet or to Macy's clearance before I pounce....we'll see how that goes!

 

[whateve]

Ok i have a bit of a dilemma. I love the new legacy line. I recently bought the mini duffle, which i love, but i was thinking about getting a regular size duffle instead.
I bought the mini because i have enough money that i could pay it off. If i got the regular duffle, it would take me 2 - 3 months to pay ot off, most likely 2.
Or should i scrap the new legacy entirely, and just find a used vintage one online?
I guess what i am trying to ask is...
What would be the best bargain?

The regular sized duffle is pretty big. There aren't many vintage bags that are that big. There is a large vintage duffle but it is very hard to find and would cost more than most vintage bags, but not as much as the new duffles. More than likely, you wouldn't be able to find one in great condition.

I have many vintage bags, but I find my Legacy duffle to be more useful because of the size and the pockets. The only vintage bag I have that comes close is the Stewardess.

Another option is to wait a few months and stalk Ebay for a slightly used Legacy duffle. You should be able to find one under $200 eventually.

 

[happybag]

I was looking at pics of Classic Stewardess vs. older Stewardess bags on da 'bay, and I suddenly remembered inspecting the leather of the Original City Bag. The suede on the inside of that bag was shorter and less "fluffy" than the suede in the Classic.

Thanks KittyKwilter for sharing that your Classics haven't shed!

 

[darkangel07760]

The regular sized duffle is pretty big. There aren't many vintage bags that are that big. There is a large vintage duffle but it is very hard to find and would cost more than most vintage bags, but not as much as the new duffles. More than likely, you wouldn't be able to find one in great condition.

I have many vintage bags, but I find my Legacy duffle to be more useful because of the size and the pockets. The only vintage bag I have that comes close is the Stewardess.

Another option is to wait a few months and stalk Ebay for a slightly used Legacy duffle. You should be able to find one under $200 eventually.

I think i might do that. Thanks!

 

[darkangel07760]

Actually... I am going to returnthe mini duffle i bought. Well, i am pretty close to doing so. I just scored a legacy helen duffle bag, and i got it for $33! It is pretty well used, but i think i can rehab it.

 

[saturngirl]

Since the subject of vintage duffles has come up, I'd like to introduce you to my vintage Soho duffle/tote (style #4082) in glorious bottle green. I received her as a Christmas gift about 20 years ago (pre-1994 registration number)., Though she's not terribly heavy, she a very BIG girl at 17.5"H 15.5"L x9"W. At barely 5 feet tall, I look like one of Santa's elves lugging around a sack of toys. But I love her anyway, and have officially dubbed her "The Christmas Bag."

I'm not ashamed to say I prefer vintage over modern Coach. I saw some of the Legacy bags at Macy's last week, including the Legacy Duffle, and couldn't resist fondling them while the salesgirl gave me the evil eye, They were lovely in their own way but I think I'd miss the wonderfully tactile *substance* of the older bags.

Pre-1994 Soho duffle/tote in bottle green