Nice! Thanks for posting. Now I feel inspired to use some of my prettier Coach bags as decorator items. I find it interesting that she says that she thinks rehabbing may lower the value. I know this is true with a lot of collector items but I don't think that is true with these.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter bunnymasseuse
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
- Status
beautiful. I have a smoky bag now. I might try to alcohol rub. Weren't you worried that it would dry out the leather? Did you rub the inside suede too?
Fabulous job, especially for your first rehab! When I buy online I always ask about "smells" but I recently made the mistake of buying a navy willis in good shape at the thrift store and it reeked of cigarette smoke! I still haven't been sucessful in completely eliminating the smell but I plan to pick up some Zorbx at Lowe's that has been recommended here. I will try that next, keep your fingers crossed that it will do the job!
If you can get a jar of Black Rock Leather N Rich conditioner (it is available at tack shops and online) it would make your bag look even darker and more lusterous. I can't tell from the pics but if your bag still has some visible scratches or scuffs the BRs does a great job of making them disappear. Follow the directions and only apply lightly and wipe off the excess immediately.
Did you use a metal polish on the hardware? That really makes a big difference! I use Wenol but Brasso is also a good choice.
Again I can't tell from the pics but if the edges of the strap have lost any dark color it is really helpful to touch the sides of the strap up with permanent acrylic paint that you can buy at a hobby or fabric store for a $1-2. There is a product called EdgeKote that is often available at shoe repair and it does the same thing.
Congratulations on your first successful rehab and for bringing this lovely bag back to beauty and usefulness. There is a lot of interest in classic coach styles right now, and that's great, but I agree that you can get a pre-owned bag in good shape and clean it up for a lot less money, and the older bag may even be better-made!
But I warn you, rehabbing is addictive!
whateve said:
I rubbed the leather down really well but was afraid of the raw leather inside. I used a sponge (dipped in the water alcohol mix) to just gently wipe the raw leather. I didn't scrub or soak it because I didn't want it to get coarse and stiff. I wasn't worried about drying out the leather because I knew I'd be conditioning it later
It depends on what is done, IMO. If you find something in nice condition that just needs cleaning and conditioning, fine. I also think it's ok to touch up the dye a little.
A lot of collectibles have been through this debate, as you noted. Lots of great old furniture stripped and refinished and devalued. I've been (quietly) arguing with my husband about his car, which has the potential to be a collectible. I want him to keep it all stock, he likes to work on things for the sake of doing it and customizing. Fortunately he doesn't have the money to invest in it now so I'm winning by default.
On the other hand, I bought that beat up "Tubby" (so that's what they're called?) that Salearea was selling, I'm sure many of you saw it. The bag itself is in ok condition, the straps are trashed! I'll probably replace them with a chain. I'm even thinking about investing in the ball chains that Silver-Coach sells. I am not making any decisions till I rehab the body of the bag. I will try to clean and condition the leather, and might touch up the dye depending on how it looks. It's dry, but I have a feeling if I can dunk it without spoiling the striped lining, the leather will perk back up.
If none of that works, I'll do what it takes to make her pretty and use her as a display on my antique vanity, maybe display some jewelry tumbling out of her or somesuch.
So IMO, if it can't be restored to stock, then changing things is OK. I doubt I will be able to find leather straps to replace the originals, so I may do something to make it obviously "changed". We'll see. I think I will start on this one over the weekend. My biggest worry is that working on the leather will ruin the lining.
OOHH! But they don't have a PINK double kiss-lock, Slim Side Bag like yours! Thanks for posting this.
Yeah, and as expected, there's really nothing to be done with them. I just had a feeling that unless I got really lucky, it was a good chance to get an interesting bag at a price I could sort of afford. The bag itself is dry but totally refurbishable. Since it has metal kisslocks like the style that came with chains I figure it might be workable. If it had the leather kisslocks I probably wouldn't have bothered.
So I had decided not to bid on it, but I had it in my watch list to see if any fool would actually buy that thing. Then as I thought about it, I thought "I might go $35 or so on it". when I checked right before it ended and it was at $36 I thought maybe I'd go ten more, and that was it. So I put in my bid, and became the fool that bought it.
I don't have buyers remorse yet. I'm going to dunk the straps and see how much the leather bleeds. I'd like to dunk the whole purse, but if it bleeds a lot I will just surface clean and condition the leather and go from there.
While I'm talking about it, can someone with the chain version of this measure their straps for me?
Thanks!
I feel pretty lucky with this one and the Patricia's Legacy. They both filled holes in my collection. Well, perceived holes, it's not like I'm caring my wallet in a papersack!
Right now I don't have ANYTHING in my watch list on eBay that I can't live without. Or at least nothing in my price range that I can't live without. I have a few projects to work on that I will need advice on though.
I just have to restrain myself from looking at new auctions!
I was trying to imagine why someone would do that to the straps. It's funny how we are loving these bags and considering them collectors items. But, the original (probably) owner mangled the bag. Was the shape okay? The center looked spread out a bit.
Yesterday I stopped at Savers, I know that I should stay away and concentrate on my rehab pile but at least I am trying to be more selective about the items I buy!
They had several nice Coach bags there but they were all pretty pricey or else they were in really bad shape, including a dirty, marked-up, putty city bag and a navy convertible clutch that was coated inside and out with shoe polish. What a shame, I left them there!
I picked up 3 non-coach small items for a total of $12 and I would appreciate input on them from my fellow coachie rehabbers. I have posted photos in the appropriate TPF threads, see the links below.
I've just noticed that all 3 of these items have crystal accents. I must have been in the mood for some bling yesterday!
Thanks in advance for your help!
Pink metalic MICHAEL Michael Kors large wristlet with crystal stud accents ($6). It is pretty clean but there is one dirty (or rubbed) spot on the metalic leather and a couple of small, dark marks on the inside metal tag:
http://forum.purseblog.com/michael-kors/authenticate-this-michael-kors-622659-25.html#post22019320
Lovcat "Gems" Camel Trifold Wallet ($5). Very cute but dirty and ink-marked, including one ink mark on the outside. This one is going to need a bath, anyone know anything about rehabbing items from Lovcat Paris?
http://forum.purseblog.com/handbags...e-lovcat-gems-wallet-754177.html#post22019419
No-name jungle print (faux?) fur kisslock coin purse with crystal accents ($1) It's really cute, any ideas on a possible brand name?
http://forum.purseblog.com/general-...-cheap-treasures-531824-593.html#post22019498
They had several nice Coach bags there but they were all pretty pricey or else they were in really bad shape, including a dirty, marked-up, putty city bag and a navy convertible clutch that was coated inside and out with shoe polish. What a shame, I left them there!
I picked up 3 non-coach small items for a total of $12 and I would appreciate input on them from my fellow coachie rehabbers. I have posted photos in the appropriate TPF threads, see the links below.
I've just noticed that all 3 of these items have crystal accents. I must have been in the mood for some bling yesterday!
Thanks in advance for your help!
Pink metalic MICHAEL Michael Kors large wristlet with crystal stud accents ($6). It is pretty clean but there is one dirty (or rubbed) spot on the metalic leather and a couple of small, dark marks on the inside metal tag:
http://forum.purseblog.com/michael-kors/authenticate-this-michael-kors-622659-25.html#post22019320
Lovcat "Gems" Camel Trifold Wallet ($5). Very cute but dirty and ink-marked, including one ink mark on the outside. This one is going to need a bath, anyone know anything about rehabbing items from Lovcat Paris?
http://forum.purseblog.com/handbags...e-lovcat-gems-wallet-754177.html#post22019419
No-name jungle print (faux?) fur kisslock coin purse with crystal accents ($1) It's really cute, any ideas on a possible brand name?
http://forum.purseblog.com/general-...-cheap-treasures-531824-593.html#post22019498
I think the straps are just dry rot. Who knows where and how it was stored all these years.
The shape is fine, it's a soft leather bag so it just needs a little reshaping, but there's nothing bent or out of shape about it.
That's good. I think you have the right idea about using chains. I hope you'll post pictures.
- Status