Coach

I think I might be taking crazy pills, but I find myself totally enamored of the Coach Sequins Spotlight Bag that some of Little Jenny Humphrey’s high school minions were sporting on last night’s new episode of Gossip Girl.

They had the bag, which is part of Coach’s teenage-focused Poppy line, in three different colors, and I loved each more than the last. But for a fall/winter season where so many things are black and silver, wouldn’t red be a great addition to so many outfits?

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I’m going to blame the dark and overcast yet oddly clear weather of late here in New York for my recent fascination with any bag that is bright, shiny, sparkly, or happy. This Coach Kira Bag absolutely fits the bill. All right, it’s green, which is not the most common color to make bright, but it works. Some people will accuse it, I’m sure, of being overly preppy, but I’m confident that with the right styling it doesn’t have to be that way at all. That’s not to say that you can wear with your goth ‘fit, though; if you do, please let me know how that works out.

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Oh, Coach. We love you because we can depend on you to turn out marvelously simple yet sophisticated bags year after year, season after season. And this Coach Parker Slim Tote is a prime example of that ingenious design.

See, I’m a what I like to call a “Coach Purist,” meaning that I adore the original Coach bags made of heavy leather in base colors, accented only by metal zippers and matching turnlock closures. They were practical, but oh-so-stylish when they achieved the soft, worn look. And this bag recalls those original Coach designs, but with a decidedly modern twist.

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By now, the Coach Evie Tote has become the symbol for Coach’s recessionista-friendly Poppy line, but why? It’s a fact that I have often questioned. With its bright smear of red combined with scribbled silver, the bag is so bright as to seem garish rather than cheery. And though that sentiment remains, I’m much more partial to the other colors that the Evie is available in- baby pink, lilac, and black. While the red is just plain freakish, each of the other colors has it’s own feel that is not at all like the red (thank goodness).

While I’m a purple fan, it’s the pink that I think would have been the best choice for the “face” of the line- it’s happy and light, with touches of summery colors like turquoise and mellow yellow. The purple, like the pink, would be best suited to a middle-schooled tween- I’m not sure a grown woman could pull this off. That’s where the black comes in. Sure, it’s fun and young, but the black combined with the metallic silver and gold writing lends a bit of sophistication. Case in point: my mom loved the red, but I refused to let her buy it. Now I’ll kindly point her towards the black version. Buy through Nordstrom for $198.

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I’ve been critical and uncomplimentary of Coach’s new “Poppy” line recently, and I stand behind those criticisms – the line as a whole is not particularly high-end-looking or luxe, in my estimation. But the Coach Large Spotlight bag is a perfect example of one of my favorite old tropes: even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

I’m surprised to be saying this, but this bag is a sleek, functional, reasonably priced tote that’s perfect for warm weather. It also seems vaguely sailor-y to me, although that’s probably just the combination of white and yellow. The white leather in particular looks smooth and perfect, and the accents and trim are just enough color to give it a summery feel. It manages to be young-looking without simultaneously being cheap-looking, and that’s a problem that most of the other bags in this line have. Thankfully, this tote manages to escape from it unscathed. Buy through Nordstrom for $368.

All right, I admit it. I am an overzealous fan of the crossbody bag. I literally use one around the clock, unless if I’ve got my laptop with me. I can’t help it if I like to have my hands free! The Coach Bonnie Mini Crossbody is a great semi-alternative to the normal cross-body bag. I say “semi-alternative” because while it is, at heart, a cross-body, it is more and less than that. More, because it’s also a convertible bag- remove the straps and you’ve got a cute little leather box clutch. Less, because though it does have a boxy shape, it’s smaller than a run-of-the-mill crossbody bag and the thin strap gives it a touch of delicacy.

The delicacy is grounded, though, compensated for by the tough metal turnlock closure and boxy shape. Not to mention the wonderful summery color blend of non-neon lime and light seafoam, or magenta and coral if pink is more your calling. Ah, balance. Isn’t it great when a bag finds it? Buy through Nordstrom for $98.

I’m of two minds about the Coach Poppy patent Starlet Satchel. At first glance, I like that Coach did something with it that makes makes it not scream “Hello, I’m a Coach bag!” I’m not sure exactly what is making it look different to me, perhaps it’s the bold combination of color and finish, but it looks like the brand’s designers stepped out of their normal (and maybe a bit bland) design parameters.

But then, the longer I look at it, the more it seems like the bag might not look all that high-end. I’m all for pink and patent and ridiculous things, but the combination of the two in a bag with that much surface area might not work. Plus, when you combine it with all the straps and zippers and placards and hang tags, the bag seems unfocused, and perhaps worse, even less luxurious than on first inspection. If you’re a fan of the brand, I’d stick with their regular leather offerings and away from what we see here. Buy through Nordstrom for $348.

Oh, Coach. This bag reminds me so much of my second “designer” bag, which was of course Coach. So many people talk about how a Coach was their “starter” bag, or how Coach introduced them to the world of designer bags. It is bags like the Coach Bonnie Small-Framed Purse that remind us why we always keep Coach close to our hearts. It’s so many things in such an adorable package.

First of all, it has the practicality, functionality, and great leather that are the hallmarks of Coach handbags, not to mention the signature turnlock closure. Second of all, it’s accessible. It’s a great going out bag for the girl next door who wants to stay casual and not be bogged down by something with beading or sequins. The framed closure top adds a hint of glam- a throwback to the little pouches carried by partygoers in the 20’s, big enough for just the necessities: lipstick, compact mirror, and a bit of money. While this Coach still has that aura, the modernity in the punchy pink or the futuristic gold leather colors (the metallic gold is my leather of choice) ensure that it’ll be just as perfect carrying your cell phone and car keys. See? Practical can look good. Buy through Nordstrom for $258.

There are several things that I like quite a bit about the Coach Bonnie Leather Large Tote. In the interest of positivity, and because I’m in a good mood and slept in today, we’ll start with those.

First, the color combination. Brilliant. I wish more brands that are hell-bent on doing bicolor bags would do it this well. The crispness of the large white section plays beautifully off of the deep, almost-navy blue accents. These colors were made to go together and they’re great for the onset of warm weather that most of America is currently experiencing. They also use silver hardware, instead of gold or distressed bronze, which was a great choice. The other options would have made the color combination look a bit too sailor-y for my taste, but the silver is understated enough that this doesn’t cross over into theme-bag territory.

Now, for the thing about it I really don’t like: the odd little coin purse stuck haphazardly to the outside. I’m not opposed to things like that on the outside in my bag, if done in an artful or interesting way, but this one just looks like a complete afterthought and breaks up one of the bag’s clean, straight lines. I would be 100% happier with the end result of this purse if it had been entirely left off. Buy through Nordstrom for $648.

Coach handbags, oh how I have a special place in my heart for them. For both Megs and I, our first designer handbags were Coach handbags. Now, as my taste and knowledge of designer handbags has evolved, there have definitely been times when I find myself on the fence looking at Coach bags. The Coach Amanda Satin Mini Satchel is one that I think I would place on the “liking” side of the fence. It is classic, sophisticated and has an ever so slight hint of edge to it. Now, this purse comes in several colors, but I am featuring the “grass” color because, well, it is different. I think I would opt for the double handles as the means to tote the bag around, so luckily the shoulder strap is removable. I don’t always know how I feel about satin bags because to be honest, they can just snag so easily. Yet, here, I like the polysatin with leather trim – the combination works. What do you think – is Coach able to compete with some of your favorite designers? Buy through Nordstrom for $268.