Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[LeOjo3]

I bought a medium leather Lily once on ebay. The minute I tried to lift it out of the box I knew it was a mistake. I think it weighed 5 pounds empty! I didn't even try to carry it once. I sold it as quick as I could.

When I first joined the forum, there were a lot of Legacy anniversary (2006) lovers here. No one talks about them much anymore. No one talked about 2007 Bleecker. I discovered those on my own.

Hi there. I am wanting to buy the Lily, but I was thinking of getting the XL. Are you saying the medium size was heavy? It's hard to tell from people's pics. I don't want an overnight looking bag, just something I can tote around daily with enough for all my stuff. Thanks!

 

[whateve]

Hi there. I am wanting to buy the Lily, but I was thinking of getting the XL. Are you saying the medium size was heavy? It's hard to tell from people's pics. I don't want an overnight looking bag, just something I can tote around daily with enough for all my stuff. Thanks!

The medium was very heavy. I bet the XL is super heavy. I bet there is a discussion of it somewhere on the forum. All that hardware weighs it down. They are beautiful but I wouldn't get one if I was going to have to walk anywhere with it.

 

[Dragonflyzoe]

I’ve learned not to skimp on the hardware and give it attention, even if it is minimal.
And make sure if the prongs of the male turn lock (so strange to write that!) are oriented north/south like on my Bella Court, press lower or south prong into place first. Then press the upper or north prong over that. I unconsciously did the opposite. Then reached into it while shopping and caught the littlest bit of the lower/south prong, which was on top, under one of my nails You better believe I took it out and rearranged the prongs.
Someone here recommended using the curve of a spoon to press prongs into place. Game changer.

Fabulous advice, thank you so much x

 

[americandreaming]

I unconsciously did the opposite. Then reached into it while shopping and caught the littlest bit of the lower/south prong, which was on top, under one of my nails

Ugh, I've done that before too

 

[Narnanz]

Whats everyone's experience with aqua colours...got an Aqua drawstring backpack coming next week and wondered if its better not to dunk but to just to a colour refresh

 

[LadaZuri]

Whats everyone's experience with aqua colours...got an Aqua drawstring backpack coming next week and wondered if its better not to dunk but to just to a colour refresh

I definitely recommend dunking, Narnanz. I have 3 aqua bags, but I've only had time to restore one of them, the Regina. She came back beautifully! No colour refreshing involved (and you know how I love to colour refresh! ) Here she is with the Lunch Box I've not had time to do yet.



Please show photos when you can!

 

[Narnanz]

I definitely recommend dunking, Narnanz. I have 3 aqua bags, but I've only had time to restore one of them, the Regina. She came back beautifully! No colour refreshing involved (and you know how I love to colour refresh! ) Here she is with the Lunch Box I've not had time to do yet.

View attachment 5285009

Please show photos when you can!

thank you...will dunk when I get it next week...and take photos

 

[Coachaddict4020]

First off, I wanted to say Happy New Year to everyone! Here’s to another year of great vintage coach finds & rehabs!

Now onto today’s post: I rehabbed my “mini station” & wanted to share the alterations I did!

So this bag came with a detachable lobster clip strap. I didn’t like how chunky the hardware looked against the bag so I tried using a smaller dog leash strap as well & the hardware still bothered me. I then decided to take a spare vintage coach strap I had lying around, remove the hardware & hand sew the strap directly onto the mini station’s d-rings. I learned the “saddle stitch” (tonnes of tutorials on YouTube) & got to work. Since the holes were already punched, it only took me about 30 minutes to sew each side. It’s super secure & the stitches blend right in.

Im SO satisfied with how this alteration turned out!

Night before, unraveling the strap:


After alterations/final results:

 

[Lake Effect]

First off, I wanted to say Happy New Year to everyone! Here’s to another year of great vintage coach finds & rehabs!

Now onto today’s post: I rehabbed my “mini station” & wanted to share the alterations I did!

So this bag came with a detachable lobster clip strap. I didn’t like how chunky the hardware looked against the bag so I tried using a smaller dog leash strap as well & the hardware still bothered me. I then decided to take a spare vintage coach strap I had lying around, remove the hardware & hand sew the strap directly onto the mini station’s d-rings. I learned the “saddle stitch” (tonnes of tutorials on YouTube) & got to work. Since the holes were already punched, it only took me about 30 minutes to sew each side. It’s super secure & the stitches blend right in.

Im SO satisfied with how this alteration turned out!

Night before, unraveling the strap:
View attachment 5287224View attachment 5287225

After alterations/final results:
View attachment 5287226View attachment 5287228View attachment 5287230View attachment 5287231

Wow, that must be so satisfying!

 

[Ellen Cherry]

I just purchased a cream patent leather Coach bag, style name unknown, with the intention of dying it to cover the scuffs and discoloration.

The seller cleaned it up as best she could but I’m worried she might have damaged the patent. How could I tell?

second question: if it is damaged , can I still dye it with decent results?

 

[whateve]

I just purchased a cream patent leather Coach bag, style name unknown, with the intention of dying it to cover the scuffs and discoloration.

View attachment 5287371The seller cleaned it up as best she could but I’m worried she might have damaged the patent. How could I tell?

second question: if it is damaged , can I still dye it with decent results?

I've never dyed patent. What kind of dye are you going to use? Do they make a dye specifically for patent?

 

[LadaZuri]

First off, I wanted to say Happy New Year to everyone! Here’s to another year of great vintage coach finds & rehabs!

Now onto today’s post: I rehabbed my “mini station” & wanted to share the alterations I did!

So this bag came with a detachable lobster clip strap. I didn’t like how chunky the hardware looked against the bag so I tried using a smaller dog leash strap as well & the hardware still bothered me. I then decided to take a spare vintage coach strap I had lying around, remove the hardware & hand sew the strap directly onto the mini station’s d-rings. I learned the “saddle stitch” (tonnes of tutorials on YouTube) & got to work. Since the holes were already punched, it only took me about 30 minutes to sew each side. It’s super secure & the stitches blend right in.

Im SO satisfied with how this alteration turned out!

Night before, unraveling the strap:
View attachment 5287224View attachment 5287225

After alterations/final results:
View attachment 5287226View attachment 5287228View attachment 5287230View attachment 5287231

Beautiful rehab and excellent result with the strap! I love the look and size of this one, too!

 

[Ellen Cherry]

I have never dyed patent either. From the Oracle of YouTube I learn that you just use regular dye! I have a bottle of Angelus red dye I bought to refresh an older Kenneth Cole croc-embossed bag I have. (I have yet to start this project. Ahem.) But I was thinking of using the same dye on both, on the theory that the materials will be sufficiently different to give different results.

Hurray for New Year's resolution projects. I've already conditioned most of my bags, now on to the transformations.

I've never dyed patent. What kind of dye are you going to use? Do they make a dye specifically for patent?

 

[americandreaming]

So this isn’t a rehab but an alteration. I shortened the super skinny non adjustable crossbody strap that came with my Regina bag. I wasn’t happy with how the strap looked knotted. I saw that the strap ends were folded and clamped down with a clip so I took it upon myself to remove one side’s clip, pull out the staples, and adjust the strap to a drop I wanted before sewing it up and re-clamping the clip back on. Im very happy with the results- I will be doing the same to my Casino & Carnival bags as well. If anyone decides to try this, just a few things to keep in mind: triple check the strap drop length before cutting, use thread made specifically for leather or better yet, if you have a heavy duty stapler- use that. Lastly, make sure you wrap the clip with fabric before clamping it shut again, you don’t wanna damage the leather finish on it. I didn’t really mind if the strap got damaged if it didn’t work out but if this looks anxiety inducing, please go to a professional to alter your strap lengths! Here is my process in pictures:
View attachment 4814380View attachment 4814381View attachment 4814382View attachment 4814385View attachment 4814386View attachment 4814387View attachment 4814388

I need to do this to five Casino straps but I'm too scared!!!

 

[Coachaddict4020]

I need to do this to five Casino straps but I'm too scared!!!

The scariest part is putting the leather clip back on. I was really worried about ruining the finish. If you use a thick cloth & gently squeeze, you should be fine . Since I can’t guarantee anything though, proceed with extreme caution!