Vintage Coach Photos & Chat

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#8,641
I decided to give myself a well- deserved vintage store visit. Lo and behold I ended up purchasing a Collegiate for $50. It has the Dinky look I desire but without that terrible skinny strap. I will post pictures later as I need a bit of help identifying the color + eye candy for you folks. It also came with the care paper and a factory slip!
 
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#8,642
Cocoabean said:
Well, it's mine now! Not sure if it will need much rehabbing. Not sure if it was a good price, but the funds went to an animal rescue, so I didn't really care. Will post more when it arrives!

Oh! Do you think letter sized file folders will fit in it? The measurements say so, but one can never be certain..
Click to expand...
Sorry I forgot to reply. As you have it now, you have your answer, no, unfortunatey. Funny, I bought mine off Goodwill online and they did not get the width right either.
I dunked mine and conditioned as it dried. Love the feel of the leather. It has been sitting for a few weeks while I have been busy. I think I may apply some dye/colorant to the bottom edges today, more so to experiment with this color I have. I will continue with this info on Rehab.
Hope to see a pic !
 
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#8,643
UPDATE: This is amazing. The first is a before picture of when I first bought it. The after picture is after a soak, twelve hours of drying and the first layer of conditioner. It must've been sitting for years and years.
 

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#8,645
Hello! I'm new here. I'm interested in owning a vintage Coach bag (haven't narrowed down on a style yet as many appear smaller than what I currently have). I was wondering if there is a list of sorts of websites or sellers that restore vintage Coach purses and sell them? For example, I found this seller on etsy (AmericanPurseandBags) who does this: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AmericanPurseandBags?ref=l2-shopheader-name#about

I also was browsing the Coach website and there was a video of a woman named Debi Nemetz who restores vintage purses as well. I believe I read she sells some of them in her local vintage store, but I couldn't find a site to look & buy them online.

I've never had the pleasure of examining a vintage Coach in person. I've browsed the various thrift & consignment stores in my area occasionally and have never seen one, but I've always ready the quality is *that* much better and I would really be interested in buying a second hand vintage purse. I know there are threads and blog posts that share tips for restoring, but I've never attempted anything like that before, and was thinking of maybe purchasing from someone who knows more than I do as my first purchase. I've tried searching on this forum & found posts that lists certain ebay sellers (as selling authentic product) such as silver-coach and ringo4422, but was wondering if there was an updated list or list of sellers who sell second hand restored purses. Thanks in advance!
 
#8,646
_MrsDarcy_ said:
Hello! I'm new here. I'm interested in owning a vintage Coach bag (haven't narrowed down on a style yet as many appear smaller than what I currently have). I was wondering if there is a list of sorts of websites or sellers that restore vintage Coach purses and sell them? For example, I found this seller on etsy (AmericanPurseandBags) who does this: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AmericanPurseandBags?ref=l2-shopheader-name#about

I also was browsing the Coach website and there was a video of a woman named Debi Nemetz who restores vintage purses as well. I believe I read she sells some of them in her local vintage store, but I couldn't find a site to look & buy them online.

I've never had the pleasure of examining a vintage Coach in person. I've browsed the various thrift & consignment stores in my area occasionally and have never seen one, but I've always ready the quality is *that* much better and I would really be interested in buying a second hand vintage purse. I know there are threads and blog posts that share tips for restoring, but I've never attempted anything like that before, and was thinking of maybe purchasing from someone who knows more than I do as my first purchase. I've tried searching on this forum & found posts that lists certain ebay sellers (as selling authentic product) such as silver-coach and ringo4422, but was wondering if there was an updated list or list of sellers who sell second hand restored purses. Thanks in advance!
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Welcome to the forum where all of us vintage-Coach lovers hang out. If you have the time, you might want to search EBay for "restored coach vintage bag". Better yet, search for a vintage coach bag on eBay (vintage is 20 years or more in age) and restore it yourself. If you buy an unlined vintage coach bag (preferably made in the US, Italy or Costa Rica) after having it authenticated, it isn't hard to recondition it yourself. The coach rehab forum is full of advice and supportive members. Many of us here have even become coach rehab addicts! It is so rewarding to do the work yourself, even if you are not good at sewing, crafting, knitting or other domestic skills.
 
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#8,647
_MrsDarcy_ said:
Hello! I'm new here. I'm interested in owning a vintage Coach bag (haven't narrowed down on a style yet as many appear smaller than what I currently have). I was wondering if there is a list of sorts of websites or sellers that restore vintage Coach purses and sell them? For example, I found this seller on etsy (AmericanPurseandBags) who does this: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AmericanPurseandBags?ref=l2-shopheader-name#about

I also was browsing the Coach website and there was a video of a woman named Debi Nemetz who restores vintage purses as well. I believe I read she sells some of them in her local vintage store, but I couldn't find a site to look & buy them online.

I've never had the pleasure of examining a vintage Coach in person. I've browsed the various thrift & consignment stores in my area occasionally and have never seen one, but I've always ready the quality is *that* much better and I would really be interested in buying a second hand vintage purse. I know there are threads and blog posts that share tips for restoring, but I've never attempted anything like that before, and was thinking of maybe purchasing from someone who knows more than I do as my first purchase. I've tried searching on this forum & found posts that lists certain ebay sellers (as selling authentic product) such as silver-coach and ringo4422, but was wondering if there was an updated list or list of sellers who sell second hand restored purses. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
There isn't such a list, and if there were one, it wouldn't include everyone, like the wonderful people on this forum who do excellent restorations. Not everyone who claims to do rehabbing uses the products or techniques that are recommended in this thread. Debi used to be a member of this forum and learned a great deal from us. There are very few sellers that I can recommend that always sell authentic because unless they get every bag authenticated or are experts on Coach, even some very good sellers sometimes make mistakes.

Rather than trying to only buy from a seller that restores, look at the condition of the bags in all listings. Some bags are in such good condition that they don't require rehabbing.

It is my opinion that the quality and suppleness of leather varies depending on the age of the bag and the style. There are some styles that have stiffer leather because Coach was trying to create a more structured bag. In most cases, in my experience, bags from the 90s and even into the early 2000s, have the softest, thickest and most supple leather; even better than the 70s and 80s that so many people rave about. The nicest leather I've ever found was on a 2001 Legacy drawstring.

We can help you narrow down a style. If you tell us the general size you need, we can make recommendations. Most vintage bags are lacking in pockets and lining. Generally the bigger vintage bags show more wear than the smaller ones because they were used more.

I recommend that you browse ebay, etsy, Tradesy, Bonanza, and any other selling site. Once you find a bag you like, you can ask for authentication in the AT thread here: https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/authenticate-this-coach.889527/ If you ask, we can advise you about condition as well. Once you have found a bag you like and authenticated it here, you can also ask about condition and how to make it look new in the rehab thread here: https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club.833400/
 
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#8,648
SakuraSakura said:
UPDATE: This is amazing. The first is a before picture of when I first bought it. The after picture is after a soak, twelve hours of drying and the first layer of conditioner. It must've been sitting for years and years.
Click to expand...
Yes, watching the leather change before your eyes is amazing :yes: It never gets old for me! I just wish life was not interefering with my rehab schedule lol! That is probably just the Bag Universe's way of pacing me lol.
I just touched up the edges of a BT Compartment Tote with dye/recolorant. Made a small difference. Will give it a day or two to dry and I will apply Blackrock.
 
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#8,649
whateve said:
There isn't such a list, and if there were one, it wouldn't include everyone, like the wonderful people on this forum who do excellent restorations. Not everyone who claims to do rehabbing uses the products or techniques that are recommended in this thread. Debi used to be a member of this forum and learned a great deal from us. There are very few sellers that I can recommend that always sell authentic because unless they get every bag authenticated or are experts on Coach, even some very good sellers sometimes make mistakes.

Rather than trying to only buy from a seller that restores, look at the condition of the bags in all listings. Some bags are in such good condition that they don't require rehabbing.

It is my opinion that the quality and suppleness of leather varies depending on the age of the bag and the style. There are some styles that have stiffer leather because Coach was trying to create a more structured bag. In most cases, in my experience, bags from the 90s and even into the early 2000s, have the softest, thickest and most supple leather; even better than the 70s and 80s that so many people rave about. The nicest leather I've ever found was on a 2001 Legacy drawstring.

We can help you narrow down a style. If you tell us the general size you need, we can make recommendations. Most vintage bags are lacking in pockets and lining. Generally the bigger vintage bags show more wear than the smaller ones because they were used more.

I recommend that you browse ebay, etsy, Tradesy, Bonanza, and any other selling site. Once you find a bag you like, you can ask for authentication in the AT thread here: https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/authenticate-this-coach.889527/ If you ask, we can advise you about condition as well. Once you have found a bag you like and authenticated it here, you can also ask about condition and how to make it look new in the rehab thread here: https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club.833400/
Click to expand...
I could *like* this post for so many different reasons. Thank you for such a thoughtful, articulate response!
 
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#8,650
Lake Effect said:
Yes, watching the leather change before your eyes is amazing :yes: It never gets old for me! I just wish life was not interefering with my rehab schedule lol! That is probably just the Bag Universe's way of pacing me lol.
I just touched thd edges of a BT Compartment Tote with dye/recolorant. Made a small difference. Will give it a day or two to dry and I will apply Blackrock.
Click to expand...

She's close to being dry - give or take another day. I have noticed that there's patches of missing color in the pockets but I don't think I'm going to tackle it. My semester will be complete tomorrow so I will have time to hang around the forum and work on business. I'm also going through some personal struggles and refurbishing is helping.
 
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#8,651
Lake Effect said:
Yes, watching the leather change before your eyes is amazing :yes: It never gets old for me! I just wish life was not interefering with my rehab schedule lol! That is probably just the Bag Universe's way of pacing me lol.
I just touched up the edges of a BT Compartment Tote with dye/recolorant. Made a small difference. Will give it a day or two to dry and I will apply Blackrock.
Click to expand...
what do you use for 'dye/recolorant'? i have a couple of gorgeous vintage bags that have faded edges; would love to touch them up, but want to use something permanent. i'm not reselling them, so not worried aobut that.
 
#8,654
buckeyebaker said:
what do you use for 'dye/recolorant'? i have a couple of gorgeous vintage bags that have faded edges; would love to touch them up, but want to use something permanent. i'm not reselling them, so not worried aobut that.
Click to expand...
For edges, I use acrylic paint mixed with conditioner. Lately I've been using fabric puff paint mixed with conditioner on some bags. The main difference is that the puff paint is shinier so it depends on how much shine I want. Both are permanent once you let them set but can be cleaned off early on if you don't like it. After application, let it set for a few days before conditioning any more as conditioner might remove it when it is fresh.
 
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#8,655
whateve said:
For edges, I use acrylic paint mixed with conditioner. Lately I've been using fabric puff paint mixed with conditioner on some bags. The main difference is that the puff paint is shinier so it depends on how much shine I want. Both are permanent once you let them set but can be cleaned off early on if you don't like it. After application, let it set for a few days before conditioning any more as conditioner might remove it when it is fresh.
Click to expand...
wow, i've never heard of 'fabric puff paint' but there it is, right on amazon! so just mix some with a generic conditioner like apple? ill have to play with this.
 
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