Stylish with Substance

The holiday season is approaching, and so for each full week of December - and the first week of 2007 - I will do a different countdown of bags.

We kick things off with bags for bargain, budget bags might just be what's on givers minds this week. (And don't forget our whole series on Gifts the week of giving thanks!)

#4: Gap Foiled suede satchel

This bag is made of genuine suede, but moreover, it has a metallic flower print patterned on that suede. The shape is simple, although a little Spy-esque, so really what won me was the unique and luxe technique for the material. This bag is on sale, too, for $49.99! Great for a surprisingly large bag at 16" wide.

Suede is oh so soft but difficult to keep nice, both which make it a rare luxury. Embossed-logo leather is also a rare luxury (Guccissima, anyone?). So when you put the two together, well I fall in love.

Coach has a new Beaded Tote in Suede Signature at 14" x 11" for $358, and I wonder ... only one style of bag?!

Luckily for the care-scared or just for more Siggy-embossed, there are still Leather Signature "Hamptons" bags and accessories, like the wristlet.

Indulge!

Anyone who puts down Coach should check this bag---and its price---out.

Coach's Chelsea Op Art Satchel has a body of brown suede with rectangular strips of metallic leathers and such. The Coach signature-styled corner stitching even gets a boost of the different style, with multi layers of 90° angles to match on the opposite end.

The body even has a new design, this particular satchel shape is unique to Coach, being---of course---rectangular. To match the newer Chelsea line elements, there's a turnlock closure on the top of the bag: gorgeous, especially in this new satchel shape. To top it off, design-wise, there are round rings and buckles.

Sounds like perfection at 13 ¼" length. But are you ready for the kicker points? Those accessory strips are: suede, dusted suede, metallic calfskin, patent leather, & "lightweight" leather. Add a silk/satin lining and what have we got?

Are you ready?

Another rare expensive designer COACH price of $798!

Well, it is divine!

Want something similar at a more cost-effective pricepoint? There's a matching wristlet for only $198 and several other satchels in this shape of different materials, including basic pebbled leather and Optic Signature, both at $358.

I love Isabella Fiore, the design team is the most colorful and fun, and styles true shapeliness into their bags. The detail on this "Gathered Tote" (or ruched hobo, I'd say) is exquisite. Luscious suede trimmed in scalloped leather. Golden hardware includes square buckle on top flap that contrasts with the round double rings on shoulder strap. If all that weren't enough, there's a zipper line along each side. In green or pink at $365 for a surprisingly roomy, stunning bag.

50 square feet of Heaven - or just plain, the Coach store - allowed me to examine the bags more fully for this post, which discusses my personal favorites and runners-up for my new fall bag. (I should hire my own choir for trips to COACH.)

It's been more hard work that was both agonizing and exhilarating. Mostly agonizing - I want, want, want. Enough complaining, and on to the list.

Soho Suede Demi Flap

In a lot of these fall bags is the new strap style of double-intermittent rings. De-lic-ious. They compliment the flap strap buckle very well, but mostly, I love a little extra design intricacy. Designers should design!

Some of these bags also have a new inner pocket set-up. There's the standard security-zip, one slightly larger multi-function pocket, and the back lining has one really large pocket. Yumness!

The positives: Brown looks gorgeous against my coloring (dark haired/winter). The pink version looks rich. The price tag is a very nice $198. It's perfectly sized at roughly 10 x 5 x 2.

The negatives: Suede is likely to get worn, and this bag is almost entirely made of the natural leather. The top is a little rigid-looking. (And I'm not really going to count lack of signature, nope, nope, nope. I have one signature bag, so it's fine. I'm all for grown-up, sophisticated, merely-about-quality designer. Yes.)

Mini Signature Demi Flap

Here is an example of the poor photographers this season for the Coach catalogue. I edited this image drastically to show you a color more similar to the one in the store. I love this purple. It matches one of my favorite cardigans. It's a great, dark fall color.

It's in mini signature, which I'm feeling for its more subtle qualities. I'm growing. (My current bag is in [large] Signature, so a difference would be nice.)

It has the nice size, the nice pockets, and the nice price, but the suede is on the bottom. This worries me. The bottom is the part of the bag that needs the most protecting. It's what touches dirty "cash wrap" counters in stores. Granted, the full-suede bags still have it there (and suede is big for fall 2005 Coach).

Soho Demi Flap

Bordeaux! Oh, the color. It's actually a little more purple in person. It's the best mix of the two above purses. It has all the niceness, without any suede.

What I love the most about this bag is the contrast stitch detail; there are three seams along the bottom and each gets bolder pink as they wrap down. It looks fab.

These reasons make this my 1st choice. But it doesn't win the grand prize, I've saved the best for last.

In my attempt to not over-post about Coach, I was late in discovering everything their new fall line has to offer. But on a trip to the mall (amazing summer shoe sales) I happened upon fabulous new Coach's. My addiction headquarters - the Coach store - allowed me to examine many bags.

I've been hard, hard, hard at work compiling this list of notables, for weeks! Here are the top, newest bags, (at least) one from each classic Coach style section.

Hamptons Weekend

Signature Scarf Print Tote

Finally, a new color palette and new styles for Coach's luxe scarf print. The bags are soft and sophisticated. This mixture of brown and pink is lovely. Each new bag in Hamptons Weekend comes with free pom-pom and tassel decorations.

We've had a rough week at work, no doubt. Now it's Memorial Day weekend, and I've got the bag to cheer you out of a work stress slump and into party mode. This bag, Buti Mirò - Multicolor Art Print Embossed Leather Bag, screams summer fun and is just the ticket. Click to view the larger picture and enjoy your weekend, folks!

Coach recently debuted their new "Signature Tie Dye" collection of handbags (reminiscent of their Holiday Patchwork collection). Some colors/styles are not all that attractive, but I kind of favor this Demi in brass/white. It has a bit of a silvery sheen with upscale-looking shimmery white Signature jacquard fabric, also with leather, patent and suede.

On the other end of the scale are the Patchwork bags, with

"calfskin, metallic leather, suede, metallic suede, tie dye signature fabric, Signature fabric, Mini Signature fabric"

They’re a bit of monstrosities, and I can’t imagine them really being “every day” or matching much. Are they even “any day?” I will admit, though, the Coach whore in me is almost drawn to the line. I wouldn’t look down upon anyone who really likes this bag enough to sport it, I’ll say that.

If you do like the Tie Dye, I'll suggest a wallet. Just as expensive in some cases, but they carry a higher taste. It's nice in pink and it's the only item, I personally feel, which is nice in denim. (Many bags are nice in pink.)

So, no, I’m not going to tear this apart with a review, but I will say this about Coach; they know they can appeal to their biggest fans with such bags, which many are priced reasonably, and are exploiting it.

THIS is MY COACH! I've been increasingly obsessed with Coach for weeks, now. I went to the store to mostly check out another bag, and caved when I found THIS to be the perfect bag. It doesn't have outside pockets, but it has great inside pockets! (Zippered, large cell phone pocket, a larger cell phone / multifunction pocket, and a back slip pocket.)

It looks great on me, it's just about the perfect compromise of sizes.

It's made with "grass" sued detailing, which I hadn't realized about it before. Read more about it on its details page.

Aside from the pockets, the green, the large Signature khaki, what sold me was that this bag has a nice, symmetrical and flowing pattern from flap to bag. It's not perfect, because EVERY bag is different. Nothing can be as nice as the website pictures. You've got to go to the store and have the sales lady unwrap every bag they have in this item, so you can inspect them. Yes, that is exactly what I did. But it's needed, for me, to get the perfect bag if I'm IMPULSING on nearly wiping out my checking account on a purse. (Hardly impulsing, but sort of.) It looks pretty great, doesn't it? Trust me, this process is necessary, because some of the bags really don't look as nice.

And now I just want to bring it everywhere to show off - but that's not practical (school). The thing is, I'm really anal about it, I will not let this thing get dirty!

I love MY Coach bag, I am so happy. Can the obsession end? Well, the anxiety does, but I'm going to love Coach even more. I hope this bag makes me happy for a loong time. :-)

Here is an interesting Coach item I found on eBay. The Coach Signature Holiday Patchwork Wristlet. If you like a mixture of little bits of Coach, or just have trouble deciding, or like Coach JUST that much, you may like this.

I do like it, but I think it may be a bit much. This is a think-causer. I think it's the plaid that really throws me. Holiday? It does look a bit like some used wrapping paper ... too bad a REALLY nice Coach purse can't be found inside this gift.