Is the Coach Stewardess Bag Messenger?

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#16
This thread got me curious so I got out my Stewardess Bag, unbuckled the strap and measured it and discovered that it is 39 inches long. That works okay for me as a crossbody but it is not an overly-generous length and I would actually like it better if it rode a little lower on my hip as a crossbody.

My bag was made in the US in 1999 and it is style number 9525. Coach continues to sell the 9525 style bag on their website for $298 but they list it with a 36" adjustable strap; so either they have shortend the strap or the listing is wrong.

The recently re-released "Coach Classic" Stewardess Bag 17996 that Coach sold for $358 (and Net-a-Porter still sells for $360) says that the bag has a "14 inch drop" so that sounds even shorter. No way could it be crossbody - even on a short woman like me!

Adjusted to it's fullest length my 1999 9525 bag has about a 19" drop.

Right now I am very happy that I snagged one of the originals for only $45 at the salvation army store! :woohoo:

Here is the net-a-porter 17996 "Coach Classic" Stewardess Bag:
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/106182?resType=single&keywords=stewardess

Here are before and after rehab pics of my 9525 "Coach Original" Stewardess Bag:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/finally-stewardess-bag-rehab-before-and-after-pics-701843.html
 
#17
#18
katev said:
This thread got me curious so I got out my Stewardess Bag, unbuckled the strap and measured it and discovered that it is 39 inches long. That works okay for me as a crossbody but it is not an overly-generous length and I would actually like it better if it rode a little lower on my hip as a crossbody.

My bag was made in the US in 1999 and it is style number 9525. Coach continues to sell the 9525 style bag on their website for $298 but they list it with a 36" adjustable strap; so either they have shortend the strap or the listing is wrong.

The recently re-released "Coach Classic" Stewardess Bag 17996 that Coach sold for $358 (and Net-a-Porter still sells for $360) says that the bag has a "14 inch drop" so that sounds even shorter. No way could it be crossbody - even on a short woman like me!

Adjusted to it's fullest length my 1999 9525 bag has about a 19" drop.

Right now I am very happy that I snagged one of the originals for only $45 at the salvation army store! :woohoo:

Here is the net-a-porter 17996 "Coach Classic" Stewardess Bag:
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/106182?resType=single&keywords=stewardess

Here are before and after rehab pics of my 9525 "Coach Original" Stewardess Bag:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/finally-stewardess-bag-rehab-before-and-after-pics-701843.html
Click to expand...

Ahh i see. Hmm. it sounds like i would have to try it on...thanks for all the info!
 
#20
LunaLove said:
wowowowowo! I wonder if thats real...it can't be...right? Who knows but it is a beauty thats for sure! Thanks for the swoon!
Click to expand...


I'd hope the seller would provide a creed photo if asked. I bet the authenticators on here would know, too. It's rare to find something unlike what anybody else has! But sometimes they would come up with an unusual color, like "olive" or light blue, so who knows?
 
#22
Jessi319 said:
I'd hope the seller would provide a creed photo if asked. I bet the authenticators on here would know, too. It's rare to find something unlike what anybody else has! But sometimes they would come up with an unusual color, like "olive" or light blue, so who knows?
Click to expand...

true..... hmm LOL
 
#23
katev said:
This thread got me curious so I got out my Stewardess Bag, unbuckled the strap and measured it and discovered that it is 39 inches long. That works okay for me as a crossbody but it is not an overly-generous length and I would actually like it better if it rode a little lower on my hip as a crossbody.

My bag was made in the US in 1999 and it is style number 9525. Coach continues to sell the 9525 style bag on their website for $298 but they list it with a 36" adjustable strap; so either they have shortend the strap or the listing is wrong.

The recently re-released "Coach Classic" Stewardess Bag 17996 that Coach sold for $358 (and Net-a-Porter still sells for $360) says that the bag has a "14 inch drop" so that sounds even shorter. No way could it be crossbody - even on a short woman like me!

Adjusted to it's fullest length my 1999 9525 bag has about a 19" drop.

Right now I am very happy that I snagged one of the originals for only $45 at the salvation army store! :woohoo:

Here is the net-a-porter 17996 "Coach Classic" Stewardess Bag:
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/106182?resType=single&keywords=stewardess

Here are before and after rehab pics of my 9525 "Coach Original" Stewardess Bag:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/finally-stewardess-bag-rehab-before-and-after-pics-701843.html
Click to expand...

Wait. I'm confused (and I don't mean to take over your thread Luna). So, there are 3 different versions of the "Classics"? --- 1) the originals made in the 80s/90s (and before) 2) The current classics on Coach's website and 3) These Net-a-porter remakes? Is that correct?

IF so, what is difference between the current classics on the Coach website and the Net-a-porter remakes?

I thought there were just the original bags made long ago and the ones on the Coach website currently (Which I'm assuming are just some sort of re-release)

Thanks for any info on this...and again sorry Luna for taking over the thread I'm just really confused.
 
#24
fleurdelis816 said:
Wait. I'm confused (and I don't mean to take over your thread Luna). So, there are 3 different versions of the "Classics"? --- 1) the originals made in the 80s/90s (and before) 2) The current classics on Coach's website and 3) These Net-a-porter remakes? Is that correct?

IF so, what is difference between the current classics on the Coach website and the Net-a-porter remakes?

I thought there were just the original bags made long ago and the ones on the Coach website currently (Which I'm assuming are just some sort of re-release)

Thanks for any info on this...and again sorry Luna for taking over the thread I'm just really confused.
Click to expand...


No, that's not correct.

Using the Stewardess Bag as an example, it was originally released as style 9525 in 1977. It was "made in the USA" out of glove-tanned leather and heavy hardware. Coach has continued to make and sell the same style bag ever since that time as model 9525.

It hasn't been available in the boutiques for years but you can still buy it for $298 off the Coach website from the "Coach Originals" page. This is supposed to be the exact same glove-tanned leather bag as originally released in 1977 but some people feel that the more recent bags are not as well-made as the earlier USA bags. That the leather isn't as thick or soft and the hardware isn't as heavy. I don't know that for certain. Over the years some minor differences have been seen in the originals made in other countries. I once bought a City Bag made in Costa Rica and it had a plastic inside zipper, unlike the USA-made bag.

Earlier this year Coach released updated versions of some of their older styles, including the Stewardess. They called them "Coach Classics" and described them as updated and light-weight so that you can have the classic style without the heaviness.

The leather on these new bags is shinier and stiffer than the older glove-tanned leather bags. The new Coach Classic version of the Stewardess is style number 17996 and until recently it was available on the Coach website for $358. So for awhile there were 2 versions of the stewardess for sale on the coach web site!

Coach is also selling their new Classics through Net-a-Porter, so the Stewardess on the NAP site for $360 is the new version 17996.

I hope that helps, here is more info and pics about the originals vs the classics vs vintage bags:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/coach-originals-vs-coach-classics-vs-vintage-697491.html
 
#25
Thank you, katev! That makes a lot more sense. Though,I am still slightly confused by something in the other thread that you linked to. You had put up 2 screen shots - one of Coach Originals and one of Coach Classics...Have these just been merged now into the Coach Classics page on coach.com? I'm wanting to buy a few of the "classic styles" but want to make sure I purchase only those that are the styles that have been in existence and made continuously...in other words, I don't want to end up with something that feels plastic and cheap like the NAP versions apparently feel. Thanks!
 
#26
Originally Posted by Jessi319 Because Willis and station bags are similar, I thought of you when I saw this auction. I've never seen this color before!! I'm a red bag gal more than any other color, and this may probably be TOO plum :D
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-purp...item4aaf59e744

LunaLove said:
wowowowowo! I wonder if thats real...it can't be...right? Who knows but it is a beauty thats for sure! Thanks for the swoon!
Click to expand...

Coach has done purple in the past, like in 1993 and maybe 1998. I had a 1993 Station Bag in Purple. The color tended to fade pretty quickly unless you kept it in the dustbag or out of the light when it wasn't being used.

The purple color was only available that year on a few of the smaller bags, unfortunately not on the Willis. AFAIK the only time the Willis was ever available in any shade of purple was in 2004 and 2005 when the Chinese-made Willises were available in Aubergine, which was a little lighter and more muted than the 1993 purple on the Station Bags.
 

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#27
LunaLove said:
See there it looks very long! hmm I am 5'6 but I am busty...dunno if it will work. Dang.
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Luna, I have measured the strap of the 9525 that I received yesterday. The entire strap measures 40". There are 4 hole settings set 2" apart on each end of the strap. The bag can be worn at 36", 32", 28" and 24". If I were you I would take a measuring tape and drape it over my shoulder at these various lengths and see if it works for you.

The Stewardess is a gorgeous bag and made beautifully. The leather and hardware and identical to my black vintage Legacy Zip 9966. Absolutely identical. The Stewardess' measurements are the same as my Legacy Zip, however since the Stewardess has the full size flap it seems bigger and more cumbersome and bulky. It is really nice, though.

However since I find the Stewardess too similar to my Legacy Zip (and for that reason alone) I will be returning it to my boutique. Hmmm...if the Stewardess came in another color I would totally buy it.
 
#28
fleurdelis816 said:
Thank you, katev! That makes a lot more sense. Though,I am still slightly confused by something in the other thread that you linked to. You had put up 2 screen shots - one of Coach Originals and one of Coach Classics...Have these just been merged now into the Coach Classics page on coach.com? I'm wanting to buy a few of the "classic styles" but want to make sure I purchase only those that are the styles that have been in existence and made continuously...in other words, I don't want to end up with something that feels plastic and cheap like the NAP versions apparently feel. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes, it appears that they have added some (or all) of the Coach Originals to the page for the new Coach Classics - probably as they run out of stock on the Classics.

You can tell the Originals because each listings says "Part of the Coach Collection since ______"

If you want to see only the Originals without any of the new Classics, go to the Coach website and select "handbags" then "view all handbags" and "by collection" then "Coach Originals". It will display all of the older style bags that are still available for sale without any of the re-released Classics.

I have never seen any of the new Coach Classics in real life so I cannot give an opinion on the quality of the leather and hardware.
 
#29
DesigningStyle said:
Luna, I have measured the strap of the 9525 that I received yesterday. The entire strap measures 40". There are 4 hole settings set 2" apart on each end of the strap. The bag can be worn at 36", 32", 28" and 24". If I were you I would take a measuring tape and drape it over my shoulder at these various lengths and see if it works for you.

The Stewardess is a gorgeous bag and made beautifully. The leather and hardware and identical to my black vintage Legacy Zip 9966. Absolutely identical. The Stewardess' measurements are the same as my Legacy Zip, however since the Stewardess has the full size flap it seems bigger and more cumbersome and bulky. It is really nice, though.

However since I find the Stewardess too similar to my Legacy Zip (and for that reason alone) I will be returning it to my boutique. Hmmm...if the Stewardess came in another color I would totally buy it.
Click to expand...


Thanks! That is pretty great advice, I really have to get on it, I adore it. Especially after seeing in person, I can't imagine how glorious it would be in red. *swoon*
 
#30
Hyacinth said:
Originally Posted by Jessi319 Because Willis and station bags are similar, I thought of you when I saw this auction. I've never seen this color before!! I'm a red bag gal more than any other color, and this may probably be TOO plum :D
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-purp...item4aaf59e744



Coach has done purple in the past, like in 1993 and maybe 1998. I had a 1993 Station Bag in Purple. The color tended to fade pretty quickly unless you kept it in the dustbag or out of the light when it wasn't being used.

The purple color was only available that year on a few of the smaller bags, unfortunately not on the Willis. AFAIK the only time the Willis was ever available in any shade of purple was in 2004 and 2005 when the Chinese-made Willises were available in Aubergine, which was a little lighter and more muted than the 1993 purple on the Station Bags.
Click to expand...

Good to know, a lot of info here! Thanks!
 
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