Coach: Expensive Leather Stuff That I Want But Won't Buy

Coach is one of those brands who market themselves based on "heritage", which I guess has some validity, since the company has been around since the '40s. That position also fits with a more recent trend in consumer behavior, according to a HighBeam Business report:

"Shoppers changed their handbag buying habits during the early 1990s. Consumer purchasing shifted toward the most basic, functional accessories. Rather than purchasing a handbag to match each outfit, which was the pattern during the first three-quarters of the twentieth century, shoppers began purchasing a single handbag versatile enough to match many outfits. This pattern reflected a more value-oriented consumer, as well as an aging population seeking comfort and casualness."

I'm too lazy to be anything but a one-purse lady, so that quote is on the money as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, about Coach: I know people who condemn the brand as stodgy, but some of the current designs appeal to me. I certainly prefer Coach's tendency toward understatement to "high end" atrocities like this $3,000+ Louis Vuitton bag:



That is monogrammed mink. Have you ever seen anything so tacky in your life? Or maybe it's over-the-top enough to be fabulous... Hmm. Well, I prefer blank leather. Although Coach does have a watercolor/floral camo print that I love:



And I quite like the mauve-and-camel handbag that I opened with. Of course, vintage selections are more appealing, simply by virtue of being old, even if they're beat up.

// $65 on Etsy //

I'm being facetious. But word on the street is that the quality of Coach merchandise has declined over the past few decades, which is a pity. More worryingly to me, their report on sustainability seems negated by this legal disclaimer about "forward-looking statements". But I'm not a lawyer. To be honest, I don't know what to think. Judging aesthetics is easier, because it's wholly subjective.

// red patent // blue plaid //

I love that shape, but even a low heel will make my feet hurt, so I'd be more likely to wear "Sherlock" or "Florence".

// left // right //

Not sure how to feel about those jackets, or this crewneck:



I definitely hate the matching bag. But this pastel coat is unequivocally beautiful:



As for purses, the product that Coach is truly famous for, I like this one:



Despite the fact that I actually own two relatively new Coach purses, I still find myself preferring the older ones, even when they're wrecked:

// $99.99 on Etsy //

This weird kisslock pocket looks like a mouth and it's great:

// Karen Small Earth Vintage //

I'll send you off with a strange tidbit from Flickr:

// The Wow Factor Cakes //