Back On The Radar: Coach
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| Legacy Candace tote |
I’ll admit it: if you’d told me a year ago I’d actually step foot in a Coach store of my own volition, I would have said you were hallucinating. But something’s happened at Coach. They seem to have woken up from their fever dream of eye-searing, screaming logo bags (well not totally, but it’s a start) and have made a nod, at least, to their roots with the Legacy line.
Coach used to be one of the go-to lines for simple, classic, functional bags. Granted, they weren’t the most fashion forward, but the quality was hard to beat. One of my first “good” bags was a coach bucket hobo bag, a classic design I wish I’d kept. In recent years they drifted far, far off that path (but made oodles of money) selling tacky looking canvas bags to the logo-addled.
I saw the tote above in a front-of-store display, and it drew me right in for a closer look. The trapezoid shape is modern, and the contrasting details give a nod to color-blocking without being too literally on-trend. This style (“Candace”) is available in three sizes and also in solid colors and smooth leather. If you’re looking for a functional and well-made workday tote that won’t set you back a mortgage payment you could certainly do worse.
If a shoulder bag is more your thing, this simple leather duffel is available in a Crayola box of color options.
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| Coach Legacy duffel |
This “black cherry” is one of those great could-be-a-neutral-or-pop-of-color colors.
I was told by a Sales Associate that Coach still guarantees stitching, hardware and construction for “the normal life of the bag.” Coach will no longer re-furbish leather, which used to be part of their lifetime guarantee. The bags I examined seemed to be very well-made and the leathers quite thick, soft and even. Coach is now back on my radar, at least with this Legacy line.
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I don’t know Coach at all but they have just opened here, and I am lusting after that shoulder bag, it comes in the most amazing colours.
That Candace is the very bag I want. When I was searching reviews, I discovered that many current Coach fans feel the Legacy line is too boring or for older people. I guess that would be me. Many of the bags are Bonnie Cashin inspired. A good thing, in my opinion.
How I coveted a Coach in my grad student days! I only knew two people who had them: my friend Joan (who had a real job–her husband was a grad student) and Dale (the rich girl, whose parents gave her a BMW for her 30th b-day!).
Some of them are very beautiful, but given the price… what can I say? Out of reach for many of us. Then again, I tried on the most spectacular Coach stacked heel a few months back – the leather like butter, a heavenly blue, the style was stunning, the fit was comfortable… and it was not outrageously priced.
I didn’t indulge, but I was tempted.
Purse vs. Shoes. (Which way would I lean?)
🙂
Ooh, what a coincidence… I saw the first bag in the window of the London shop the other day & stopped to have a look at it! I do think it’s best when brands keep it simple.
I bought a similar Coach bag to the Candace in white a couple of years ago. I have used it every day through the warmer 7 months of the year and it still looks almost as good as new. I am VERY hard on bags, so I highly recommend these Coach bags. It fits masses of stuff and the handles are long enough to fit over the shoulder if you like it that way. (I do). The only downside is that it is held shut by a magnet, which is all very well until you stop suddenly in the car and the handbag falls off the seat spilling it’s guts everywhere. I prefere a zip.
My mom just bought that exactly duffel in black cherry and it is gorgeous. The most beautiful shade of burgundy/bordeaux. I am a wearer of coloured bags and I can tell you that colour really is like a neutral. It goes with so much!
As for price: Coach had a 25% off coupon on Facebook recently. I imagine they will have others.
I’m going to keep an eye on the sales cycles also.
My daughter just purchased a Coach bag that harkens back to their original designs. She has one that my BFF and I both bought back in the day. The quality is there and like you I wish I’d kept that bag of mine it would still be a great basic.
Another person whose first good bag out of college was a Coach. Actually, it may have been one of my earliest major purchases from my first few paychecks. That Candace tote in yellow for spring/summer is perfection! So happy they’re moving away from everything being logo ugliness.
Coach lost its way in 2000 when it jumped on the logo bandwagon. Interestingly, that made it the second most popular imported accessories brand in Japan, after Louis Vuitton. Thank goodness they’ve seen the light. Logos are OVER for me, have been for a while.
How nice to hear! I loved Coach–and owned a few beloved bags–long ago, but in the past decade-plus they’ve become unrecognizable. Glad to know they’re returning to their roots.
My first “good” handbag was a Coach, too! It was a gift from my now father-in-law in 1994 or 1995 and I was so thrilled to receive it. I still have it; it’s one of the classic style shoulder bags with the single flap that closes with gold turnlock and has a removable strap. I’ve been waiting for it to come back in style and I think its moment has arrived again.
” … the logo-addled.” 🙂
These look beautiful and I agree…it is time for the logo bag to go!
I used to adore Coach bags but agree-they lost their minds for a while. I still have a couple of the old very classic styles. I’ve also noticed Dooney and Burke are returning to the classic (updated) versions. Good for us!
I bought the medium Coach Candace in cognac a month or so ago, and it’s beautiful. Like you I had been totally turned off by Coach and their tacky logo bags for a long time, but the Legacy line is great. Even though the bags are expensive, they’re well-made classics that you can carry for years and years.
I, too, wish I had kept my old Coach bags, but they were a victim of my lifelong purge obsessiveness. I’ve learned a bit to hold on to some things, but you are definitely tempting me to check out Coach again. I was disgusted with their cheesy products for years. Glad to see they seem to be returning to their senses. Solid and functional isn’t stodgy, it’s a hallmark of a company that knows tweaking is better than losing one’s soul.
That is a gorgeous bag. I could see wearing it this season. Thanks for reviewing it.
My very first “good” bag in college, was a Coach duffel in cognac. I still remember the thrill of buying it and the good care I took of it – saddle soap, etc. I too wish I had kept it. That black cherry is a beautiful color.
My first “good” bag right after college was a Coach flap shoulder bag in British tan. In those days, Coach was still made in New York and they would guarantee everything on the bag for life, including the leather bindings. And they’d repair for free — I had several bags repaired over the years. Those were the days. I still have my original flap bag, and a few others I picked up in thrift/consignment stores over the years.
The Candace bag is very like the Celine bag that everyone is drooling over now. Very classic, clean lines, no embellishment — strict, just like I like it. Though they’re probably made in China now, aren’t they?
Made in China? Oh no.
Count me as another fan! I had one of those turnbuckle-flap bags back in the day, sadly I gave it away. I do still have a plain black bucket bag, which I haven’t used lately because it’s a little smaller than I like nowadays…but I’m keeping it. I also have a briefcase/tote I used for years, in the beautiful cognac leather.
I hated the logoey phase Coach went through, and complained to the store clerks on more than one occasion. But last year, my daughter spied a beautiful dark green bag in the store window. I went in to check it out; it had minimal logos and a bit of dark green crocodile trim. Gorgeous! I bought it and told them how happy I was that they were producing logo- free bags. The clerk told me he was getting a lot of similar comments.
Btw, once you buy a bag, they have you on a list and will occasionally send you 25% off Preferred Customer coupons, which they will honor even if slightly expired (I happen to know)!
—Jill Ann
I love the whole Legacy collection. The one I have on my wishlist is the Stewardess bag. The description says it was introduced in 1977. It’s a shoulder bag, not too big or too small.
I’m so glad they are offering an alternative to logos. Just before the Legacy line was introduced, I went to a department store looking for a wristlet. I asked the lady at the Coach counter if I could look at something that wasn’t covered in logos, and she told me they didn’t have anything without logos on it!
Bravo for Coach, I still have my Coach bag from the early 1980’s a true classic!
I still have my first Coach bag bought in 1974-the clutch- and have had and gotten rid of a dozen or so over the years, all of the Cashin type. Am delighted they are bringing back the Legacy bags! However, the originals, with the belting leather, could be very heavy. Coach claims to be using a similar but lighter weight leather; could anyone comment about this?
Very nice indeed. Agree that they were far too “over logo-ed” before but this line looks great. Particularly like the legacy duffel. Lovely. x
I still have my first Coach basic bag…still beautiful and useful at nearly 35 years old (I paid $55 for it, which put me way into hock in my early college-student budget). I’m very pleased that they re-started the Legacy line – like many here, I simply cannot stand the logos-and-bling bags, but the younger women in my office like to carry them.
I couldn’t agree with you more. I love those custom tassels they are doing. Looking at Coach coverage recently I felt, for the first time in decades, the ping of desire:).
I hate to go against the general consensus, but I have quite a few nice Coach bags purchased in the last few years. If you were to visit one of the stores a few years ago, and go to the back of the store (past all the blingy logo bags in the front) there have always been some simpler, quality leather bags. I have about 3 that I rotate and consistently am asked where to buy them. Unfortunately, Coach would make a bag for a few months and discontinue it — I would love to get some of my bags in different colors but no longer possible.
We have Coach now over too, but since I have finally reached the point when I only have 3-4 bags, I´m really not excited even of the ones shown.
I actually purchased 2 ‘vintage’ coach bags lst winter on ebay. Beautiful saddle leather. Would never carry the ‘tacky’ canvas logo style. I am glad to see they are going back to the classic leather. A beautiful handbag is something at will be passed down.
A few of them are very gorgeous, but agreed the worth… what can I say? Then again, I tried on the a good number amazing instructor stacked heel a little months back – the fleece like fat, a delightful blue, the style was striking, the fit was stress-free… and it was not offensively priced.