Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
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Wow! Nice stuff. That FRYE logo looked familiar to me...I've worn their boots for years! I guess I never knew they did handbags (duuuh!). http://www.thefryecompany.com/
P.S. I WANT A SAVERS STORE!
BTW, I only hung them on that pole to take pictures.
They're in pretty good shape, there are a couple of spots on the frame of the swinger bag where the leather is a little damaged and you can see the metal, but I'm not sure how much I'm going to worry about it. Here is the real problem with them now:
So you can see how dingy they look next to my also pretty darn vintage lightweights flap bag. That was the bag that also exactly matched the "Linen" acrylic paint that JOODLZ found, so it's not as pure white as it looks in the picture. That bag is also late 80's, the rest of the bag is cleaned and conditioned, but I only touched up the color on one little spot on the bottom. That bag is NOT pure white, it's pretty much ivory at best.
So the older bags look obviously greyish and over all..meh. I mentioned earlier that I wanted an older white bag that I "didn't love" to experiment on, and I am almost finished cleaning up a pretty dirty white Anderson Zip...she's not completely done and I will post before & afters, but that's not my point (I really am getting there). I wanted to try to do a "color wash" a white bag (paint with conditioner) before I messed with these two. I'm really happy with how the Anderson looks and I think I can get good results on these two.
But should I mess with the color on these two? As is, I'm not sure I'd carry them, and I want to-especially the little clutch which quite frankly is freaking awesome. (it's pictured in the UCLA Cashin pix, but I haven't saved it yet}.
I doubt I'll ruin them, but I hesitate to mess with anything this potentially collectible. Probably more so the clutch than the swinger...not sure how to date all the different versions of the swinger, this one has a coach lozenge stamped inside the kisslock. I don't know if anyone has figured out the timeline for those bags...
So, should I mess with them?
Beautiful bags, but what a dilemma! Contrary to my usually over-zealous approach to rehabbing, I think I'd be cautious with these, based on their collectible-ness IMO.
I have a Slim Side Bag, made by Coach for Bonwit Teller that has the metal coach lozenge that DemRam dated from mid to late 70s. Something in my head tells me the stamped lozenge may be earlier, but I can't find the exact reference, but here are 2 links (in regard to dating a Slim Satchel) that might be helpful.
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-694619-702.html#post21853539
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-694619-702.html#post21859335
But where's the Lilac Willis?
JOODLZ said:
Thanks so much for the advice. I was debating the contact cement idea since I saw some shoe sole repair cement at the cobblers the other day. I looked over the acrylic paint link and was considering that instead of contact cement. At the moment the bag is still in the drying process so I hope the leather tightens up a bit. Maybe it will lessen the look of the cracks. Maybe her cracks are like my wrinkles. Badges of honor
ok fine, keep taunting me with the elusive Lilac Willis!
You know, Willis is a common enough bag that I guess if I had my heart set on it, I could probably find a not very rare, old BT and strip and dye it. Can't imagine I'd actually do that, because I think it's the actually the thrill of the chase.
I often vacuum out my bags before washing. I use a narrow vacuum attachment that I think is designed to get in small spaces in upolstered furniture. I use an old toothbrush and sometimes a letter opener to dig the crud out of the cracks and crevices.
When I dunk the bag and it becomes more pliant, I am can sometimes turn it completely "inside out" in the bath so that I can really scrub the seams with my trusty old toothbrush!
BTW, I only hung them on that pole to take pictures.
They're in pretty good shape, there are a couple of spots on the frame of the swinger bag where the leather is a little damaged and you can see the metal, but I'm not sure how much I'm going to worry about it. Here is the real problem with them now:
So you can see how dingy they look next to my also pretty darn vintage lightweights flap bag. That was the bag that also exactly matched the "Linen" acrylic paint that JOODLZ found, so it's not as pure white as it looks in the picture. That bag is also late 80's, the rest of the bag is cleaned and conditioned, but I only touched up the color on one little spot on the bottom. That bag is NOT pure white, it's pretty much ivory at best.
So the older bags look obviously greyish and over all..meh. I mentioned earlier that I wanted an older white bag that I "didn't love" to experiment on, and I am almost finished cleaning up a pretty dirty white Anderson Zip...she's not completely done and I will post before & afters, but that's not my point (I really am getting there). I wanted to try to do a "color wash" a white bag (paint with conditioner) before I messed with these two. I'm really happy with how the Anderson looks and I think I can get good results on these two.
But should I mess with the color on these two? As is, I'm not sure I'd carry them, and I want to-especially the little clutch which quite frankly is freaking awesome. (it's pictured in the UCLA Cashin pix, but I haven't saved it yet}.
I doubt I'll ruin them, but I hesitate to mess with anything this potentially collectible. Probably more so the clutch than the swinger...not sure how to date all the different versions of the swinger, this one has a coach lozenge stamped inside the kisslock. I don't know if anyone has figured out the timeline for those bags...
So, should I mess with them?
I recently washed a white legacy zip that I got at a garage sale for $8 and it has the same problem, it's clean but it is dingy! I have been to Joann's fabric with the hangtag and found a matching acrylic shade and I plan to paint her; but I don't think I would paint Bonnie Cashin designed bags - they are too valuable.
I have thought about putting my white legacy zip through the washer but I honestly don't think that would make it good enough to wear, so I will probably try the paint.
If you can find a talented cobbler you might ask him for an opinion about dying bags back to their original whitish color.
You might also post a question about professional repair/restoration services in the TPF handbags forum. I am certain that I have seen links for such a service in the past. You mail the bag in for their services which are quite pricy, but in this case it may be worthwhile to investigate that option.
Congrats on the gorgeous and rare bags, and isn't it fun to find the original design for a bag that you own in the Bonnie Cashin archive at UCLA?
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I felt pretty strongly that I shouldn't make any changes to these bags, but I have to say, after what I did to my "guinea pig" white bag, I'm considering it. Mixing a little white acrylic with some conditioner and rubbing it in felt more like applying a coat of foundation to even out the blemishes than any major change. And I feel like I have more respect for keeping the bags true to their original than a cobbler would. I definitely wouldn't strip and redye them though.
So I'm still weighing it. I won't have time to do anything to them this weekend, so they'll stay in limbo for now. I received and washed them over a month ago.
You know it's funny, but after seeing this I kind of recall seeing a bag with that Frye logo somewhere that someone thought might be a Coach. Maybe it was in the authenticate thread? Maybe it happened in real life! (gasp)
It's like, I saw it, recognized the logo as familiar, and got distracted before my brain could connect the logo with Frye. So many of the old Frye "Carriage" bags are virtually identical to Coach.
I was just suggesting asking for a professional opinion to find out the options. Like on Antiques Roadshow, the experts are always telling the public to have valuable items professionally restored rather than attempting to do it themselves. But I agree that striping and dying is a pretty radical approach. So far I have only had one bag professionally dyed; it's sort of a last resort when nothing else has worked.
But I just got my brown Patricia's Legacy back from the cobbler and I am really happy with the results. He repaired a tear and replaced ripped stitching and spot-treated a damaged area so that you really can't see it anymore. I'm glad that I had it done!
Perhaps there is a better way to clean white bags so they look less dingy - without actually altering the original finish? If you find it, be sure to let the rest of us know about it! Good luck with your decisions!
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I can't wait to see your Pat's Legacy-I love mine.
I think if I take it to a cobbler here they would say "dye it black" and forget about it. It's just that I live in a different world, they probably don't see a lot of designer bags, they just resole cowboy boots!
I think the problem with these white bags isn't so much dirt as just age, fading, wear? Even when I first got them they were pretty clean. I was hoping the wash would remove the "burnishing".
So, I'll mull it over, at least over the weekend. I really appreciate everyone's input.
Hello ladies - I am back!
I have made some progress with my orange ergo hobo.. I did very little this time - gave it a bath, and instead of conditioning with Leather CPR, I used Effax Leather Oil. I kind of freaked out when I applied it because the orange just turned an ugly black-brown! That was the test spot, btw. I left it overnight, and when I returned, the area looked exactly like the rest, so I figured, it must be worth a shot on the whole bag. I thought it was magical... one application, and my cardboard stiff bag became that gorgeous chewy leather. The bag is no longer a washed out orange, but rather a deeper red-orange (lighting is a factor in color difference of pictures, but not solely to blame!) The handles are still a different color (different leather batch, I suppose) but I don't think I'm going to obsess over that. I'm not sure if I'm going to do anything else, but if inspiration strikes, I'm not adverse to playing with this one. I mean, I haven't even buffed this yet, so this is definitely not the end point.
Before:
After, 3 views:
Happened to luck out at the thrift store too. Got a Baxter bag (see http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-694619-267.html#post22259455) without knowing what it was for $30. I fell in love with it, and got it despite it being way over the limit I'd placed on my rehab projects. Looks to be british tan, but we all know that could change after it's been bathed and reconditioned. It's stuffed now, and drying.. I'll probably use the same leather oil on it (I feel that it's a LOT more convenient than leather cpr).. Keeping my fingers crossed that it turns out well!
I talked to my dad not that long ago.. he mentioned that he used silicone to fill in the piping damages on his leather upholstery in his cars. I'm wondering if anyone else has done it, with the piping damage talk of late (I haven't read absolutely everything since my last visit).
I have made some progress with my orange ergo hobo.. I did very little this time - gave it a bath, and instead of conditioning with Leather CPR, I used Effax Leather Oil. I kind of freaked out when I applied it because the orange just turned an ugly black-brown! That was the test spot, btw. I left it overnight, and when I returned, the area looked exactly like the rest, so I figured, it must be worth a shot on the whole bag. I thought it was magical... one application, and my cardboard stiff bag became that gorgeous chewy leather. The bag is no longer a washed out orange, but rather a deeper red-orange (lighting is a factor in color difference of pictures, but not solely to blame!) The handles are still a different color (different leather batch, I suppose) but I don't think I'm going to obsess over that. I'm not sure if I'm going to do anything else, but if inspiration strikes, I'm not adverse to playing with this one. I mean, I haven't even buffed this yet, so this is definitely not the end point.
Before:
After, 3 views:
Happened to luck out at the thrift store too. Got a Baxter bag (see http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-694619-267.html#post22259455) without knowing what it was for $30. I fell in love with it, and got it despite it being way over the limit I'd placed on my rehab projects. Looks to be british tan, but we all know that could change after it's been bathed and reconditioned. It's stuffed now, and drying.. I'll probably use the same leather oil on it (I feel that it's a LOT more convenient than leather cpr).. Keeping my fingers crossed that it turns out well!
I talked to my dad not that long ago.. he mentioned that he used silicone to fill in the piping damages on his leather upholstery in his cars. I'm wondering if anyone else has done it, with the piping damage talk of late (I haven't read absolutely everything since my last visit).
I have this bag in orange too. I haven't done anything to it because it is in pretty good condition but now that I have seen yours, I think I will give mine a bath and conditioning just to plump her up and see if I can remove a few spots.Hello ladies - I am back!
I have made some progress with my orange ergo hobo.. I did very little this time - gave it a bath, and instead of conditioning with Leather CPR, I used Effax Leather Oil. I kind of freaked out when I applied it because the orange just turned an ugly black-brown! That was the test spot, btw. I left it overnight, and when I returned, the area looked exactly like the rest, so I figured, it must be worth a shot on the whole bag. I thought it was magical... one application, and my cardboard stiff bag became that gorgeous chewy leather. The bag is no longer a washed out orange, but rather a deeper red-orange (lighting is a factor in color difference of pictures, but not solely to blame!) The handles are still a different color (different leather batch, I suppose) but I don't think I'm going to obsess over that. I'm not sure if I'm going to do anything else, but if inspiration strikes, I'm not adverse to playing with this one. I mean, I haven't even buffed this yet, so this is definitely not the end point.
Before:
After, 3 views:
Happened to luck out at the thrift store too. Got a Baxter bag (see http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-694619-267.html#post22259455) without knowing what it was for $30. I fell in love with it, and got it despite it being way over the limit I'd placed on my rehab projects. Looks to be british tan, but we all know that could change after it's been bathed and reconditioned. It's stuffed now, and drying.. I'll probably use the same leather oil on it (I feel that it's a LOT more convenient than leather cpr).. Keeping my fingers crossed that it turns out well!
I talked to my dad not that long ago.. he mentioned that he used silicone to fill in the piping damages on his leather upholstery in his cars. I'm wondering if anyone else has done it, with the piping damage talk of late (I haven't read absolutely everything since my last visit).
I am very curious about using silicone. I have a few bags that have holes that it might work on. I don't think anyone else on this forum has tried it yet. I have sanded the handles on one of my purses where it looked really cracked and the conditioner wasn't really helping. After sanding, I applied blackrocks and the handles became smooth and beautiful.
Oh my, sanding leather. Did you use very fine grit? How far did you go? My one BT bucket has some cracking going on with the strap, so it's a prime candidate for that. Also, how did it affect the color and finish? Do you suppose it smoothed out because of blackrock's wax, or did it just feel like the smooth finished leather? I'm trying to picture it, and I can't help but think that sanding would rough it up and end up with napped leather, like suede. Very curious about this, as it might open up quite a few possibilities for me.
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