I a!says use bag liners wouldn't dream of carrying liquids in any bag without one
Do you find Coach 1941 Collection bags to be comparable to higher end contemporary/premier bags?
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If it is one of the linings that is not sewn to the bottom of the bag, you can pull it out and either hand wash it under a faucet or just use a wash cloth to clean it. If it doesn't pull out, then a wet wash cloth (not soaking wet) will do, a bit of stain remover or Dawn could be used if necessary. We're talking medium to larger bags here, small bags and clutches are a different story. And yep, the leather linings are soooo soft!
This is a really good question.
I have a Chanel Boy Bag which I absolutely love, but now looking back, it's no way on earth worth $5000. The inside lining is fabric and it really does detract from the luxury pedestal we place Chanel on. Even so, I still love the bag and I've had it for two years. Did I get two years worth of usage out of the bag? Heck no. I've used it maybe a couple dozen times since.
I also have a Givenchy pandora bag. It's definitely not a luxury bag to me. It's more of a hobo chic with a high end designer logo stuck on it. Inside lining is also heavy duty fabric. I do use it on days where I want a slouchy boho look to my outfits. It serves it's purpose. Could I have found something way cheaper at Anthropologie or Free People for a quarter of the price? Probably.
Balenciaga however is probably my only weakness when it comes to designer bags. I love Balenciaga, but only the oldies. Meaning the bags made between 2002-2007. I tend to not like the newer Balenciaga bags. The leather just isn't the same. I will often peruse Ebay to find an oldie from 2005. It's really hard to find one in excellent condition these days. It's true the inside lining is also a black cotton fabric but the leather on the outside makes up for it. I find these bags to be fairly durable if treated well. I have one from 2003 that is still going strong and has a nice broken in feel. It's like a puddle of leather.
I have a LV Speedy 30 that's also in my collection. I'm not a huge fan of LV's designs but I do admire them for their durability but I feel the canvas is not substantial enough to warrant the price tag.
Then there's my Gucci Marmont. The leather and quality I find is no different from Coach. The inside is a microfiber that feels a lot like suede. It's very soft I'll give them that. The chevron front with the double G logo is a nice tribute to the 70s. But I really bought into the Marmont because of the nude color. If it wasn't for the color, I wouldn't have wanted one. The whole thing just works. Also the price point isn't horrendous for a premium designer. $1200.
This year I bought 2 new Coach bags. A Swagger 21 and a Rogue 25. These two are my first Coach purchases in over 10 years. I found both of them on eBay for less than retail and couldn't be happier. I still can't bring myself to pay retail for a Coach bag since I know in a few months it will probably be on sale, except of course the classic black colors.
I've been using my 2 Coach bags on rotation almost everyday during the work week. The weekends I bust out with my higher end bags. I think Coach has a lot of potential with Steve Vevers and hope he sticks around.
For Christmas my husband is getting me a monogrammed Dinky tea rose that I've been wanting. I'll post pics once it arrives.
So my verdict is, yes Coach quality is comparable to other premium designers. I personally find their design sometimes lacking. I'm very picky about which Coach bags I buy. I really like the tea rose in Rogue but find that the black one is probably the best one and won't need another in any other color. I love the butterflies on the Swagger but also don't think I'll ever purchase another Swagger. As for the Dinky, I am super pleased to find how nice the leather is but find the size to be just a tad too small for everyday. I am definitely a fan of Coach even though I had a bad experience with their MTO service and I look forward to their future offerings.
Here's my current bag collection.
I have a Chanel Boy Bag which I absolutely love, but now looking back, it's no way on earth worth $5000. The inside lining is fabric and it really does detract from the luxury pedestal we place Chanel on. Even so, I still love the bag and I've had it for two years. Did I get two years worth of usage out of the bag? Heck no. I've used it maybe a couple dozen times since.
I also have a Givenchy pandora bag. It's definitely not a luxury bag to me. It's more of a hobo chic with a high end designer logo stuck on it. Inside lining is also heavy duty fabric. I do use it on days where I want a slouchy boho look to my outfits. It serves it's purpose. Could I have found something way cheaper at Anthropologie or Free People for a quarter of the price? Probably.
Balenciaga however is probably my only weakness when it comes to designer bags. I love Balenciaga, but only the oldies. Meaning the bags made between 2002-2007. I tend to not like the newer Balenciaga bags. The leather just isn't the same. I will often peruse Ebay to find an oldie from 2005. It's really hard to find one in excellent condition these days. It's true the inside lining is also a black cotton fabric but the leather on the outside makes up for it. I find these bags to be fairly durable if treated well. I have one from 2003 that is still going strong and has a nice broken in feel. It's like a puddle of leather.
I have a LV Speedy 30 that's also in my collection. I'm not a huge fan of LV's designs but I do admire them for their durability but I feel the canvas is not substantial enough to warrant the price tag.
Then there's my Gucci Marmont. The leather and quality I find is no different from Coach. The inside is a microfiber that feels a lot like suede. It's very soft I'll give them that. The chevron front with the double G logo is a nice tribute to the 70s. But I really bought into the Marmont because of the nude color. If it wasn't for the color, I wouldn't have wanted one. The whole thing just works. Also the price point isn't horrendous for a premium designer. $1200.
This year I bought 2 new Coach bags. A Swagger 21 and a Rogue 25. These two are my first Coach purchases in over 10 years. I found both of them on eBay for less than retail and couldn't be happier. I still can't bring myself to pay retail for a Coach bag since I know in a few months it will probably be on sale, except of course the classic black colors.
I've been using my 2 Coach bags on rotation almost everyday during the work week. The weekends I bust out with my higher end bags. I think Coach has a lot of potential with Steve Vevers and hope he sticks around.
For Christmas my husband is getting me a monogrammed Dinky tea rose that I've been wanting. I'll post pics once it arrives.
So my verdict is, yes Coach quality is comparable to other premium designers. I personally find their design sometimes lacking. I'm very picky about which Coach bags I buy. I really like the tea rose in Rogue but find that the black one is probably the best one and won't need another in any other color. I love the butterflies on the Swagger but also don't think I'll ever purchase another Swagger. As for the Dinky, I am super pleased to find how nice the leather is but find the size to be just a tad too small for everyday. I am definitely a fan of Coach even though I had a bad experience with their MTO service and I look forward to their future offerings.
Here's my current bag collection.
Yes ! I Love the Coach 1941 line . I think the quality is superb . The leather , HW , interior , design etc . I just recently purchased the new Cooper . Before I even carried her , I was very impressed . Being a long time LV lover and collector I have seen the quality diminish and prices jump . I can not speak for Gucci , Prada , Chanel , Hermes . All I know is I will purchase more Coach . Can not say the same about LV any more .
I'll echo the vast majority of opinions here that Coach's 1941 game is a strong rival to many "premium" brands that aren't really so premium. I too look for leather linings and quality touches before pulling the trigger on any bag now. Stuart is really spoiling us.
That said I'm eyeing a Chloe Nile (suede lined) and a Chloe Marcie (fabric lined). I'm glad the Nile is suede lined and it would most likely be a deal breaker at that price without it ($1690). The medium Marcie costs more ($1,990) but DOESNT bother me with the fabric lining because 1) the bag is so large a leather lining would make it weight 40lbs and 2) it's a more "wear & tear" kinda bag for me and leather would stress me more than fabric. But this is an exception for the Marcie & my usage.
It's interesting how a "lesser" brand will make me hold more "premium" brands to a new standard. And from others comments, not just with regard to build quality but also customer service & presentation.
That said I'm eyeing a Chloe Nile (suede lined) and a Chloe Marcie (fabric lined). I'm glad the Nile is suede lined and it would most likely be a deal breaker at that price without it ($1690). The medium Marcie costs more ($1,990) but DOESNT bother me with the fabric lining because 1) the bag is so large a leather lining would make it weight 40lbs and 2) it's a more "wear & tear" kinda bag for me and leather would stress me more than fabric. But this is an exception for the Marcie & my usage.
It's interesting how a "lesser" brand will make me hold more "premium" brands to a new standard. And from others comments, not just with regard to build quality but also customer service & presentation.
Great collection. What style Balenciaga bags do you have? Are they all the same? TIA.
I have two that are city size. One that's a small city and the turquoise is a first. The city size is the most popular.
I'll admit, I have had expensive taste since I was a kid. My first dream bag was a Kelly bag when I was a preteen [long before I knew the price.].
As a young adult, Coach was one of my first designer bags. I have been a Coach fan since then, and have many other Coach bags. As I have gotten older, and my disposable income has increased, I have thought about upgrading my bag choice. And I did - I got a Ferragamo bag. It was my daily bag for work and weekend. It is great, but sadly no longer fits my current incarnation of work needs, so its time in the rotation has decreased some.
So I started thinking about finding another premium daily bag for the past year (or more) once I realized my laptop-friendly backpack wasn't really cutting it alone. I used my existing crossbody bags, but I wanted something luxe to carry every day - that isn't too big. A WOC briefly crossed my mind, but I need more space than that and prefer to care my current iteration of a full sized wallet, plus essentials.
So I started looking around casually. Examining bags at my local boutiques and department stores. And I started to notice - a lot of bags didn't seem very premium. The bags at a slightly higher price point than Coach aren't any nicer - with fabric linings hit or miss details. Even the premium brands weren't a guarantee of a luxe feel. Most Tods bags are lined in fabric. Ferragamo is maybe 60/40 leather/cloth. But the stitching and other build quality is amazing, so they get a pass. The SA told me people think leather lining is too heavy.
I got a Mulberry bag this year - it is nicely made. While it didn't end up being quite the right new daily driver - it was a good purchase. I have picked up and returned a few other ones, unfortunately. They seem to miss on some details - straps are really short and sometimes the pockets are kinda useless. I saw a few bags that were too small to fit my cell phone - even though the dimensions seemed reasonable. They need to make a few tweaks to their designs to be more practical.
I haven't checked out Chanel, but that is way out of my budget and it also feels like they have traded luxury and quality for profits in many ways. So while part of me would love a reissue flap bag, I don't think I want to invest that way, particularly in a newer bag with their policy shifts. Hermes is way out of the budget - but I am sure those are super luxe.
Anyway, in my cross-shopping, I keep coming back to the 1941 bags - which feel quite premium (even though they are not made in Europe), and Coach has served me well over the years, most bags I have have been really durable and do not show too much wear - even when I do not treat them kindly. And I have been super happy with my 1941 collection so far and other recent acquisitions (Urbane crossbody, Market Tote, Nomad, Drifter Top Handle, Dinky) as they are luxe feeling, have minimal branding and are pretty timeless in style. Coach also does a good job including practical details - cell phone pockets, key holders etc.
So maybe going premium doesn't really make sense. I haven't found anything that seems worth the extra money. Has anyone else been feeling this way?
This thread came up for me in the Unread threads. I admit that I haven’t bought a Coach bag after my early 20s (shoes yes) but this thread has piqued my interest in the 1941 collection.
OP, not sure what your budget is or what you consider to be your daily essentials but you may also want to consider seasonal Chanel styles to vary your collection as some can be in the $3k range and have a classic look (if that is what you are going for). Preloved reissues are also much less expensive than preloved classics, since you mention the former. You may also want to consider the Hermes Evelyn or Garden Party with an organizer insert as an everyday bag. I really like the Samorga insert. I find Hermes leather to be so scrumptious! I also really like LV’s empreinte leather.
Without hopefully sounding snobbish, I will say that luxury is also very much about perception. Why do many carry a Chanel or an Hermes when there are other bags that may also have impeccable quality and detail? Much of it has to do with the cachet associated with a brand. IMHO, Coach still doesn’t conjure the same image of luxury to me. It depends if that matters to you or if it is materials/quality alone.
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I have one Balenciaga bag that is my workhorse bag! It is the Velo in Dark Night with Giant Rose Gold Hardware. The strap has been shortened by B, and is perfect for me to wear crossbody. The leather is thick and beautifully smushy!
I'm drooling over that turquoise Bal! What a gorgeous color.
I'm definitely drawn to classy structured bags. And I tend to like a little formality mixed in with my casual. I also like under the radar. Most Chanel and LV bags speak a little too loudly for me. There was a point in mynlife where more obvious luxury would have been more appealing (hello Chanel Classic Flap), but not at all anymore.
A luxury bag is both aspirational and a signal you've arrived. But I guess my aspirations are more like insider club than billboard.
These days practical is high on my list and multi purpose bags. I also like things that seem luxuries, but I don't want to make it obvious I spent more. I do not have a super firm budget. Maybe $3k is my mental max, I might comsider stretchijg a little further. But so far nothing has really tempted me to spend more. Who knows maybe a Diorama might be that splurge. Or maybe it doesn't exist.
LV’s epi line is very subtle as is its higher end line. I think the Sofia Coppola bag is discontinued but the leather on that is beautiful and it is very subtle with no LV monograms. I really like mine. The Hermes Garden Party I mentioned earlier is also monogram free, or you could turn the H on the Evelyn toward you which is actually the intended way. The reissue like you said is also subtle. What about Mansur Gavriel? Some of Celine’s newer styles are also very subtle.