Share Your Story: How Did You Fall in Love with Coach
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I'm relatively new around here, I joined quite a while ago but have just been lurking due to the fact that I worked for Coach and it was kind of frowned upon for me to be a member here. Anyway, I'm now a SAHM and I thought this would be a fun way to re-introduce myself! So here goes...
When I was 17 I started working in the outlets about 10 minutes from where I lived with my parents. My store was right next to Coach and everyday I would walk by it and dream. I loved the bags but my 17 year old self thought they were outrageously expensive. (When my sister bought a Market tote for $90 I thought she was insane. Ha! If I only knew what I would end up spending...) I got to know the Coach girls when they would come shopping in my store during their breaks. They kept telling me just to bite the bullet and buy myself a bag, and eventually they wore me down and I did. My first bag was a white canvas Hamptons hobo with red leather trim, in clearance for $70. I was hooked.
Fast forward two years, a bag and a few accessories later and I was looking for a full time job. I dreamed about working at Coach but somehow it seemed out of reach. So I started working at Cole Haan and HATED it. The store was run terribly and I only lasted 3 weeks. (Yes, one week of work and I then gave my two weeks notice.) In the midst of those three weeks I stopped into Coach after work and told one of the girls about how I was leaving Cole Haan. As I was walking to my car later, one of the managers chased me down and said "I hear your looking for a full time job?"
*Angels singing* I finished up at CH and started at Coach.
That was about 5 years ago. I'm sure you can imagine the collection I've amassed in that time. I'm known at my store as "their little fiend." They knew when to stay out of my way when transfers came in.
When I was 17 I started working in the outlets about 10 minutes from where I lived with my parents. My store was right next to Coach and everyday I would walk by it and dream. I loved the bags but my 17 year old self thought they were outrageously expensive. (When my sister bought a Market tote for $90 I thought she was insane. Ha! If I only knew what I would end up spending...) I got to know the Coach girls when they would come shopping in my store during their breaks. They kept telling me just to bite the bullet and buy myself a bag, and eventually they wore me down and I did. My first bag was a white canvas Hamptons hobo with red leather trim, in clearance for $70. I was hooked.
Fast forward two years, a bag and a few accessories later and I was looking for a full time job. I dreamed about working at Coach but somehow it seemed out of reach. So I started working at Cole Haan and HATED it. The store was run terribly and I only lasted 3 weeks. (Yes, one week of work and I then gave my two weeks notice.) In the midst of those three weeks I stopped into Coach after work and told one of the girls about how I was leaving Cole Haan. As I was walking to my car later, one of the managers chased me down and said "I hear your looking for a full time job?"
*Angels singing* I finished up at CH and started at Coach. That was about 5 years ago. I'm sure you can imagine the collection I've amassed in that time. I'm known at my store as "their little fiend." They knew when to stay out of my way when transfers came in.
I was raised in NJ in the 70's and we always went to this park near the river Husdson.. the business ladies would take there lunch breaks there and they would have there Coach bags and breifcases and I thought the bags were amazing and so richly lovely... Come from a working class family with a mother who had no interest in bags, I thought these ladies must be rich and that some day I would so love one..
Well I moved to Miami got older but we were still working class and still dreamed of Coach but knew my parents could not afford it, and when I started working it was for clothes, gas and going out so the bags did not happen either and for some reason I so believed that noway could I afford these bags..
I was 30 years old and I have met my soon to be Husband and I told him how much I loved these bags and the above story.. I thought he would think nothing of it, it was just small talk.. On V-Day I got my first Coach bag, brand new from Saks... I still have the picture of my face when I opened that box and I still have that purse... This is but one small reason I love that man..
Well I moved to Miami got older but we were still working class and still dreamed of Coach but knew my parents could not afford it, and when I started working it was for clothes, gas and going out so the bags did not happen either and for some reason I so believed that noway could I afford these bags..
I was 30 years old and I have met my soon to be Husband and I told him how much I loved these bags and the above story.. I thought he would think nothing of it, it was just small talk.. On V-Day I got my first Coach bag, brand new from Saks... I still have the picture of my face when I opened that box and I still have that purse... This is but one small reason I love that man..
I'm relatively new around here, I joined quite a while ago but have just been lurking due to the fact that I worked for Coach and it was kind of frowned upon for me to be a member here. Anyway, I'm now a SAHM and I thought this would be a fun way to re-introduce myself! So here goes...
When I was 17 I started working in the outlets about 10 minutes from where I lived with my parents. My store was right next to Coach and everyday I would walk by it and dream. I loved the bags but my 17 year old self thought they were outrageously expensive. (When my sister bought a Market tote for $90 I thought she was insane. Ha! If I only knew what I would end up spending...) I got to know the Coach girls when they would come shopping in my store during their breaks. They kept telling me just to bite the bullet and buy myself a bag, and eventually they wore me down and I did. My first bag was a white canvas Hamptons hobo with red leather trim, in clearance for $70. I was hooked.
Fast forward two years, a bag and a few accessories later and I was looking for a full time job. I dreamed about working at Coach but somehow it seemed out of reach. So I started working at Cole Haan and HATED it. The store was run terribly and I only lasted 3 weeks. (Yes, one week of work and I then gave my two weeks notice.) In the midst of those three weeks I stopped into Coach after work and told one of the girls about how I was leaving Cole Haan. As I was walking to my car later, one of the managers chased me down and said "I hear your looking for a full time job?"
That was about 5 years ago. I'm sure you can imagine the collection I've amassed in that time. I'm known at my store as "their little fiend." They knew when to stay out of my way when transfers came in.
Oh my, what a fun job. I would love to work in a Coach store part-time. -I could just be paid in purses.
CA, you had me tearing up with your story. It sounds like you had an amazing mother and some great bags with even greater memories attached.
My mom had some Coach purses when I was growing up and I really liked the looks of them. Back then I didn't know anything about Coach. A few years ago I went to a purse party with all the knockoffs and bought *gasp, sorry* a knockoff Coach. It fell apart and is long gone in the garbage now btw 
I always said I would never ever pay over $100 for a purse. I was using Guess purses and became obsessed with them but then noticed the price of them were going up so I thought for a bit more money why not just buy a Coach purse? I bought a purse and a wallet (Maggie) and fell in love 
!! Now I own 5 purses, 2 wallets, 1 wristlet and a pair of shoes. I am HOOKED!
I always said I would never ever pay over $100 for a purse. I was using Guess purses and became obsessed with them but then noticed the price of them were going up so I thought for a bit more money why not just buy a Coach purse? I bought a purse and a wallet (Maggie) and fell in love !! Now I own 5 purses, 2 wallets, 1 wristlet and a pair of shoes. I am HOOKED!I don't know how I got into purses, all I know is it happened one day. I always bought purses from the cheap stores...Kmart, Walmart etc. I wouldn't even buy a bag from Kohls or Marshals.
One day my boyfriend's sister got a dog. She named him Coach. I thought it was an odd name but he told me that she bought a lot of stuff from the Coach store. I live in Hagerstown and the outlets have been here forever and I didn't even know there was a Coach store. My boyfriend said that she bought a lot of stuff from the store.
A few weeks later I was admiring her bag. One day I saw it sitting on the table and I went to analyze. I didn't want to snoop but I HAD to know what kind of bag that was. I looked and sure enough it was a Coach. I googled it a few days after that and came across the website and I have to say I wasn't impressed but I think I was completely overwhelmed. I didn't know where to start to look for the bag at all.....(now that I think about it, I think her bag was fake)
A few weeks later I was with my mom at a big yard sale thing. It was at a school and there were a TON of tables. I walked up to this table and by chance this lady had a Coach bag. She sold it to me for $10. After I got home, I questioned it's authenticity. I knew there were fake bags in the world but I didn't realize there were so many. After posting here I found out it was fake....
That Christmas my dad gave me a good amount of money. I decided I wanted a REAL Coach bag. I went into the outlets and bought a MFF satchel (that I sold to my boyfriend's sister...probably her only real bag) and I haven't looked back. It's funny because the outlet actually had the REAL version of the fake that I had bought. When I went back there that Christmas they didn't have it.
Now I do lurk a lot and I admire everyone's bags I look at the authenticity thread and try to educate myself. I have learned A LOT and it's scary because I see fake bags all over this town. It makes me sad because there is an outlet right there and people STILL go to NY and buy the knockoffs. My boyfriend's sister was even talking about how she went into an outlet with a fake bag and they wouldn't give her the time of day...I wonder why!!!?!
Right now I only have 3 Coach bags. We are moving to Florida and I sold a bunch of my bags. I have 2 MFF bags and a delete that I bought at the outlet. I also have a wallet, a keyfob and a wristlet. As soon as I get to Florida I plan on buying more.
One day my boyfriend's sister got a dog. She named him Coach. I thought it was an odd name but he told me that she bought a lot of stuff from the Coach store. I live in Hagerstown and the outlets have been here forever and I didn't even know there was a Coach store. My boyfriend said that she bought a lot of stuff from the store.
A few weeks later I was admiring her bag. One day I saw it sitting on the table and I went to analyze. I didn't want to snoop but I HAD to know what kind of bag that was. I looked and sure enough it was a Coach. I googled it a few days after that and came across the website and I have to say I wasn't impressed but I think I was completely overwhelmed. I didn't know where to start to look for the bag at all.....(now that I think about it, I think her bag was fake)
A few weeks later I was with my mom at a big yard sale thing. It was at a school and there were a TON of tables. I walked up to this table and by chance this lady had a Coach bag. She sold it to me for $10. After I got home, I questioned it's authenticity. I knew there were fake bags in the world but I didn't realize there were so many. After posting here I found out it was fake....
That Christmas my dad gave me a good amount of money. I decided I wanted a REAL Coach bag. I went into the outlets and bought a MFF satchel (that I sold to my boyfriend's sister...probably her only real bag) and I haven't looked back. It's funny because the outlet actually had the REAL version of the fake that I had bought. When I went back there that Christmas they didn't have it.
Now I do lurk a lot and I admire everyone's bags
I look at the authenticity thread and try to educate myself. I have learned A LOT and it's scary because I see fake bags all over this town. It makes me sad because there is an outlet right there and people STILL go to NY and buy the knockoffs. My boyfriend's sister was even talking about how she went into an outlet with a fake bag and they wouldn't give her the time of day...I wonder why!!!?!Right now I only have 3 Coach bags. We are moving to Florida and I sold a bunch of my bags. I have 2 MFF bags and a delete that I bought at the outlet. I also have a wallet, a keyfob and a wristlet. As soon as I get to Florida I plan on buying more.
I had loved the bags for a while but always put my money towards other things. Early in college, I somehow convinced my dad that I NEEDED one and he surprised me one day with a trip to the mall. It was a small bag but oh man, that made my year! I will never, ever get rid of it. It's way too small for me now, but you better believe I used it every single day back then!
Honestly I would have to say in 2003 I feel in love Coach, everyone had one in my school and my parents couldnt afford one for me. My first authentic bag was actually given to me from my boyfriend for Christmas in 2009. In October of 2009 I went to Long Island (my hometown) and went to the Coach store in the mall. I fell in love with one from the Poppy Collection line. He bought me a key chain in the store and then on Christmas I opened my purse, which I have not been able to switch to one of the many other purses that I have because this one was way above all the other that I owned. The quality of the authentic bags are great, they last a long time from what I can tell, and you can certainly tell the difference between the real thing and the fake ones. I recently fell in love with one of the purses in the Kristin Collection, a few days ago was my birthday and my gift was another purse. I have not been able to buy another purse since my first Coach purse.
I first started liking coach in college, I think-- it must have been right after the signature fabric bags made their debut (early 2000's). I REALLY fell for Coach when I saw a black leather legacy hippie in my local department store; loved the shape, the thick leather and the simple design. I bought the bag in 2001, and wore it TONS- it was great for college life (still one of my favorite cross-bodies).
Then I fell back in love with Coach with the Soho line, in 2003. I remember buying a black leather demi, and being positively SMITTEN. It was a splurge for me as a student, but I wore it nonstop through much of dental shcool. Now that I'm more of a big-bag girl, I don't know how I ever survived using such a tiny bag (how I fit everything in there I have NO idea), but it worked for me... and I used that little thing tons!
My SERIOUS coach obsession began after I left school (thank HEAVENS, b/c I needed a good job to finance it). It began with an MFF black legacy shoulder bag, and snow-balled from there to include old-style Peytons, Lindsay, parker hippie and various Madison bags.... these days I find myself with hardly any storage space left. So to borrow the phrase from Prof, a bag must be truly "sponge worthy" for me to feel tempted these days! But I love my bag collection, and enjoy choosing the best bag to go with each outfit. So I'm a happy Coach camper.
Then I fell back in love with Coach with the Soho line, in 2003. I remember buying a black leather demi, and being positively SMITTEN. It was a splurge for me as a student, but I wore it nonstop through much of dental shcool. Now that I'm more of a big-bag girl, I don't know how I ever survived using such a tiny bag (how I fit everything in there I have NO idea), but it worked for me... and I used that little thing tons!
My SERIOUS coach obsession began after I left school (thank HEAVENS, b/c I needed a good job to finance it). It began with an MFF black legacy shoulder bag, and snow-balled from there to include old-style Peytons, Lindsay, parker hippie and various Madison bags.... these days I find myself with hardly any storage space left. So to borrow the phrase from Prof, a bag must be truly "sponge worthy" for me to feel tempted these days! But I love my bag collection, and enjoy choosing the best bag to go with each outfit. So I'm a happy Coach camper.
When I moved to this country in 2000, I didn't even know what Victoria's Secrets was, let alone anything else! It took me a while to figure out the equivalents of the stores I used to shop at in England.
The one thing I couldn't find was where to buy decent handbags. Then I got a job with Finlay Corps, working at Lord & Taylor. OMG, I was in love with that store. From the fine jewelry I sold, to the clothes, shoes, cosmetics, I went hog wild in there. One day I went to look at the Coach purses. I purchased my first black leather satchel and purse there and never looked back.
The one thing I couldn't find was where to buy decent handbags. Then I got a job with Finlay Corps, working at Lord & Taylor. OMG, I was in love with that store. From the fine jewelry I sold, to the clothes, shoes, cosmetics, I went hog wild in there. One day I went to look at the Coach purses. I purchased my first black leather satchel and purse there and never looked back.
My first bag was Coach Hamptons Spring Patchwork Small tote #1481. Not sure what year this was even. It was such a cute spring/summer bag. I ended up selling it as I was too afraid of getting it dirty to enjoy carrying it as it was a light cloth material.
I did not pay too much attention to Coach as I was not a fan of the brown/khaki siggy bags that most of the population outside this forum think about when they first hear Coach. Browsing ebay I came across the pink holiday patchwork tote. I am pink girl all the way and I loved the gunmetal hardware. I remember agonzing to death over whether the bag was real or fake. The hardware did not feel as heavy as I expected. I actually brought it into my boutique to have it authenticated. I now know that this is a MFF bag which explains the hardware difference. And what I relief to find out it was real. I thought I was all that and a bag of chips then!
I found a facebook group which in turn brought me here. Until then I did not realize Coach made so many great all leather bags, which I ultimately prefer over siggy. I bought a black patent Sabrina and racked myself with guilt over spending so much on a bag. Once I got over it though and got promoted on my job (aka more disposable income) the addiction just took off
I did not pay too much attention to Coach as I was not a fan of the brown/khaki siggy bags that most of the population outside this forum think about when they first hear Coach. Browsing ebay I came across the pink holiday patchwork tote. I am pink girl all the way and I loved the gunmetal hardware. I remember agonzing to death over whether the bag was real or fake. The hardware did not feel as heavy as I expected. I actually brought it into my boutique to have it authenticated. I now know that this is a MFF bag which explains the hardware difference. And what I relief to find out it was real. I thought I was all that and a bag of chips then!
I found a facebook group which in turn brought me here. Until then I did not realize Coach made so many great all leather bags, which I ultimately prefer over siggy. I bought a black patent Sabrina and racked myself with guilt over spending so much on a bag. Once I got over it though and got promoted on my job (aka more disposable income) the addiction just took off
My first Coach purse came to me from my older sister about 3 years ago. She was giving away her used bags to us, her younger sisters, to make room for newer ones. I remember scolding her for spending so much on a purse and wallet. I think I even mentioned how I would never pay that much for a purse myself. Well, three years later and now it is I who buys a purse, wallet, or accessory in what appears to be every month. And if it is not for me, it is for my 16 year old daughter. I guess I was against it not because I saw it as an unnecessary expense or luxury, but because I wouldn't have been able to afford it at that time. Live and learn....
I have been a fan of purses since high school, but I didn't get into any specific brands until college. I got my first nice bag for Christmas 2005 (a Dooney & Bourke).
My first Coach item came in spring 2006, it was in my Easter basket from my then-boyfriend-now-fiance's family. A light purple signature Hamptons wristlet with white leather trim. I LOVED IT. I used it for MONTHS as a "wallet" inside my Dooney and some other bags I owned. I didn't buy anything else from Coach until late summer/early fall 2007 and that has pretty much brought me to where I am now. I went nuts for a period of time, buying a ton, reselling, etc but I am happy with my current group of 3 bags, some wristlets and a few other small accessories.
I still have that first wristlet, and it is actually in my purse right now.
My first Coach item came in spring 2006, it was in my Easter basket from my then-boyfriend-now-fiance's family. A light purple signature Hamptons wristlet with white leather trim. I LOVED IT. I used it for MONTHS as a "wallet" inside my Dooney and some other bags I owned. I didn't buy anything else from Coach until late summer/early fall 2007 and that has pretty much brought me to where I am now. I went nuts for a period of time, buying a ton, reselling, etc but I am happy with my current group of 3 bags, some wristlets and a few other small accessories.
I still have that first wristlet, and it is actually in my purse right now.