Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[welchka]

Hello, Purse Forum;

I'm very new here and to Coach purses, but the vintage bug has bitten me hard!
I have purchased this beautiful Pocket purse in green, which looks like black in real life. I was a little disappointed, since I'm the only person on Earth who does not care for black purses, and I'm interested in lightning it. I haven't tried leather conditioner or anything yet, since I think this looks like it's in fantastic shape.
Is it possible to lighten this at all, or should I just accept the fact that it's so dark it looks black?



Thank you so much for your help and opinions!
(Also, please accept my apology if I am asking a question that's been answered elsewhere - this is a delightfully active forum with so many posts to read through!)
Kathryn

 

[katev]

Hello, Purse Forum;

I'm very new here and to Coach purses, but the vintage bug has bitten me hard!
I have purchased this beautiful Pocket purse in green, which looks like black in real life. I was a little disappointed, since I'm the only person on Earth who does not care for black purses, and I'm interested in lightning it. I haven't tried leather conditioner or anything yet, since I think this looks like it's in fantastic shape.
Is it possible to lighten this at all, or should I just accept the fact that it's so dark it looks black?
View attachment 6192035
View attachment 6192037
View attachment 6192038
Thank you so much for your help and opinions!
(Also, please accept my apology if I am asking a question that's been answered elsewhere - this is a delightfully active forum with so many posts to read through!)
Kathryn

I would probably try to rehab it first, before considering altering the color. When it is cleaned and conditioned it may brighten up a lot and bring out the green coloration.

 

[whateve]

I thought this might be your recommendation - thank you! I’ve never used puff paint (for anything). Do you use a particular tool to apply it?

I have several bags in queue that need strap edge repair. Been putting them off. Now I’m intrigued to try both methods.

I usually just use my finger or a plastic knife.

 

[whateve]

Hello, Purse Forum;

I'm very new here and to Coach purses, but the vintage bug has bitten me hard!
I have purchased this beautiful Pocket purse in green, which looks like black in real life. I was a little disappointed, since I'm the only person on Earth who does not care for black purses, and I'm interested in lightning it. I haven't tried leather conditioner or anything yet, since I think this looks like it's in fantastic shape.
Is it possible to lighten this at all, or should I just accept the fact that it's so dark it looks black?
View attachment 6192035
View attachment 6192037
View attachment 6192038
Thank you so much for your help and opinions!
(Also, please accept my apology if I am asking a question that's been answered elsewhere - this is a delightfully active forum with so many posts to read through!)
Kathryn

I had this bag. The green was obvious IRL even though it looked black in pictures. I agree with @katev , you need to rehab it first.

 

[squeakyrose]

At the risk of over-posting these past few days, sharing my excitement over a wildly successful rehab step.

The afore-mentioned black pebbled 2014 Edie has soft finely ribbed grosgrain-like lining with tiny “Coach” name sprinkled across it. I noticed on receipt the lining was pilled. As I was vacuuming before dunking I realized the extent of the pilling was far more severe and extensive than I initially saw. If you know the Edie you know it has a ton of lining bc of the multiple deep compartment pockets! It was never going to look good enough to gift even after dunking.

So - I pulled out my little palm-sized sweater shaver and went to town on the lining. And it looks brand new! Smooth and soft, sheen restored, no damage anywhere and added benefit of removing a lot of embedded dusty/fuzzy crud. 👍

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

At the risk of over-posting these past few days, sharing my excitement over a wildly successful rehab step.

The afore-mentioned black pebbled 2014 Edie has soft finely ribbed grosgrain-like lining with tiny “Coach” name sprinkled across it. I noticed on receipt the lining was pilled. As I was vacuuming before dunking I realized the extent of the pilling was far more severe and extensive than I initially saw. If you know the Edie you know it has a ton of lining bc of the multiple deep compartment pockets! It was never going to look good enough to gift even after dunking.

So - I pulled out my little palm-sized sweater shaver and went to town on the lining. And it looks brand new! Smooth and soft, sheen restored, no damage anywhere and added benefit of removing a lot of embedded dusty/fuzzy crud. 👍

Cool. Looking forward to some photos!

I just started another rehab today, it looks like cat hair in the crevaces of the lining. I don't have a cat, so not sure, but it sure does look like animal hair. So, people like to carry animals around in their coach bags? Also, many, many, many of the Coach bags I've rehabbed also seem to have specks of glitter inside. I think that's funny! I guess Coach lovers are party girls!

 

[whateve]

Cool. Looking forward to some photos!

I just started another rehab today, it looks like cat hair in the crevaces of the lining. I don't have a cat, so not sure, but it sure does look like animal hair. So, people like to carry animals around in their coach bags? Also, many, many, many of the Coach bags I've rehabbed also seem to have specks of glitter inside. I think that's funny! I guess Coach lovers are party girls!

I've seen what looks like animal hair in bag crevices. I'm pretty sure most people aren't carrying animals in their bags so it must be getting in there another way. I've seen glitter too. Maybe it is makeup.

 

[squeakyrose]

Cool. Looking forward to some photos!

I just started another rehab today, it looks like cat hair in the crevaces of the lining. I don't have a cat, so not sure, but it sure does look like animal hair. So, people like to carry animals around in their coach bags? Also, many, many, many of the Coach bags I've rehabbed also seem to have specks of glitter inside. I think that's funny! I guess Coach lovers are party girls!

I've seen what looks like animal hair in bag crevices. I'm pretty sure most people aren't carrying animals in their bags so it must be getting in there another way. I've seen glitter too. Maybe it is makeup.

Definitely have found pet hair (and glitter, usually next to the bobby pin) in nooks and crannies and have wondered how it possibly all got in there. Now, while I don’t think is how *most* of that hair gets in there I will say back in the day my SIL used to have a teeny puffball dog — who went everywhere with her riding around with his tiny head sticking out of her LV’s….

ETA: Come to think of it connie, she WAS a total party girl!!

 

[Narnanz]

I found an eyelash in my Court when cleaning....

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

I found an eyelash in my Court when cleaning....

You mean like a whole eyelash set or just one strand? If I saw that I'd probably think it was a bug!

 

[Narnanz]

You mean like a whole eyelash set or just one strand? If I saw that I'd probably think it was a bug!

View attachment 6192326

 

[squeakyrose]

Edie post- hardware polish and bath with a good sponge scrub inside and out. With the unstructured leather and three deep compartments, I’ve found her hard to shape. So trying not to let perfection be the enemy.

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

Working on matching this green color for the color loss areas. It's hard! I have a vinyl repair kit and blended colors to make a dark green. So far, not loving it completely, but it's better! In process! (PS: I got this bag on Mercari for $10.) Earlier owner had knotted the shoulder strap and I'm working to unkink it as well. Sharing some photos.

 

[welchka]

I had this bag. The green was obvious IRL even though it looked black in pictures. I agree with @katev , you need to rehab it first.

Thank you so much, @whateve and @katev! I'll try cleaning it up more to see if that brings out a bit more green.

 

[squeakyrose]

Edie post- hardware polish and bath with a good sponge scrub inside and out. With the unstructured leather and three deep compartments, I’ve found her hard to shape. So trying not to let perfection be the enemy.

Edie step 2 drying and reshaping in process….the leather is really thick and lovely, much nicer hand than I expected.