memory lane

I have an affection for the nostalgic-evoking,
whether it be the abstract or the tangible.

Yesterday, my husband & I went on an antiquing excursion but really just a day of wandering together. The drive, listening to the radio, meandering around spaces overflowing with treasures of the past all evoke warm thoughts of our times “just married” to chasing after young ones to still enjoying each other’s company after so many years. 

Continuing with my walk down memory lane, I was carrying a Coach Stewardess Bag which I remember as the first style of Coach bag I found thrifting back in the day. This is the smaller version with less hardware to reduce weight & an ID holder window under its flap for credentials. Some have a strap with the UA embossed logo stamp that were for United Airlines Stewardesses. This classic beauty sweetly reminds me of where I began with my handbag thrifting adventures.

vintage Coach Stewardess Bag, 11 x 8 x 4.25.

give & receive

The first time I saw a Taft Bag in real life, I was actually taken aback by it. I had seen a woman carrying it in a grocery store & complimented her in passing. She stopped to say thank you & that it had belonged to her mother. Although I can’t say for sure, I felt there was happiness & melancholy in her statement. She also said with a warm smile that she had another of her mom’s bags that she should take out & carry. I was moved by what a small exchange seemed to evoke & remember it whenever I think of the Taft. Even now, my heart feels a gentle squeeze. 

Coach Taft Bag, style #9980, 13 x 10 x 4.

updating a classic

The Willis is an iconic Coach bag. I‘m always drawn to them in photos & in real life, in addition to enjoying those in my collection. Recently, I’ve been thrilled to pair them with novelty straps. The pairing brings some fabulous updates to this classic. It offers a fresh look, shorter strap length & more comfortable carry. I was excited to finally get photos of a combo to share today.

Coach Willis Bag, style #9927. Coach Outlet embossed novelty style #F31539.

come what May

With May comes flowers, flowy dresses, a feeling of carefreeness
& yo-yo weather to boot. Today had a bit of it all.

I was out & about in a vintage style maxi dress that feels straight out of the 1970s. After having ran through several handbag options in my head, I decided to just roll with it & continue carrying the Coach Convertible Clutch that I have been for the past few days. These bags are great for me when I want to carry something that’s compact yet has a nice capacity. This one is 24 years old and the leather on it is just so smooth & supple. I love that I can switch the leather strap out with a novelty or chain one like this boutique Dinky Chain Strap.
I’m a fan of this bag style, check out my burgundy one I posted here.

As for today’s weather, it began crisp, warmed up, rained a quick minute as I was snapping photos & is currently the loviest of Spring evenings.

vintage Coach Convertible Clutch in British Tan, Style #9635, 11 x 7 x 2.5. Coach Dinky Strap in light gold, Style #58847, 48” long.

lost in time

 

Some handbag styles feel especially vintage, evoking the simplicity of days long gone by. The Coach Crescent Bag is one of those bags for me. Today, I threw it on with a flowy dress with sandals & felt a bit like I was lost in another time. And much like the carefree days of childhood, after some earlier things didn’t go as planned, I simply let those little disappointments go & enjoyed the brightness of the day!

This lovely New York City bag has a body-hugging profile like that of the Pony Express Pouch at a more accessible price point & availability. It is among my favorite vintage Coach styles.

Coach Crescent Bag, Style #9235, 10 x 10 x 3.

feels like Spring

Sunshine, temps in the 60s + a cool, crisp breeze...
feels like Spring!

And there’s nothing quite like a casual pair of sandals, the soft billowing of a tea length dress & a perfectly matched handbag on such a lovely day. 

The Coach Dinky’s size makes it cute & carefree; its style makes it easy & versatile. Nicely suited when you’re carrying the essentials. With numerous Dinky versions & the option to personalize, there are plenty of reasons to have more than one in the collection. Check out Coach to see what’s currently available. 

My BOTD: Coach Dinky in Peony, Style #37296, 9” x 5” x 2”.

Also wearing: (previous seasons’ purchases) Express dress & Frye sandals.

ruffles + polka dots

I have loved ruffles & polka dots, well, forever.
I remember wearing them as a child & am still thrilled finding them today. They have the versatility to be sweet & playful or feminine & sophisticated. 

The Coach Bleecker line c.2007 plays along similar lines of contrast with supple leather, cheery tattersall lining & bold hardware. While the leather is soft under hand, the impressive snap hook & buckle could easily be brandished for protection. 

This is a roomy bucket style bag. I use it with one of my felt inserts from Amazon to keep my belongings corralled & organized.

My BOTD: Coach Bleecker Large Duffle, Style #11423, ~15” x 16” x 6”.

Wearing: Old Navy dress.

casual lady

While I enjoy all types of bag silhouettes, recently, I’ve been especially drawn to top handle bags in the ladylike style. Some are sophisticated & proper while others have softer lines & are more relaxed. I really like the juxtaposition of the latter...
a casual lady of sorts.

I’ve already shared some examples of top handle styles here & here on the blog. This is another... Meet Crosby. In beautiful glove tanned leather, it is structured with a laidback feel. Crosby can be dressed up with a scarf-wrapped handle or a novelty strap in place of its shoulder/crossbody strap. Its size is impressive & similar to that of Hermès Kelly 32.

My BOTD: Coach Crosby Bag, Style #9905, 12.5” x 9” x 4.5”.

‘tis the season

Living in an area with four seasons, I look forward to the changes that occur as one ends & another begins. It is quite amazing when the sun reappears alongside cool breezes, birds return chirping, flowers begin blooming...
The sights, smells & feel of Spring remind me of childhood. I adore it beyond words. Yesterday was a beautiful example.

With Spring within grasp, I carried another Tea Rose bag. They encompass this time of year for me — sweet, whimsical, carefree. This Coach Saddle 23 is a convenient crossbody with a great silhouette. It perfectly holds my daily essentials.

My BOTD: Coach Saddle 23 with Tea Rose, Style #38195, 9” x 7.75” x 3”.

Additional outfit items: Old Navy Ruffle-Trim Top + Mid-Rise Distressed Rockstar Jeans.

nostalgic

My first Coach bag was a surprise gift from my husband. It was a Signature Demi. I loved it. Even now, I smile whenever I think of it.

Almost a decade & a half later, I see this Coach Parker bag with its bits of signature canvas & I fall for it. With modern details—multicolor leather, rivets, snakeskin, chain strap & tea rose turnlock—it’s  nostalgic & edgy at the same time.

The Parker’s structure & divided interior keeps my items well organized. The chain strap allows for instant change from a shoulder bag to a crossbody.

My collection has come a ways since that Demi. I do still own (& cherish) it. I think the Parker is one of those bags that seems to bring it all full circle.

My BOTD: Coach Parker with Rivets & Snakeskin Detail, Style #29416, 10.25“ x 7“ x 4“.

Still currently available at COACH.

I’m also wearing another absolute favorite brand of mine... UGGS. These are the Zea Wedge boots that I’ve had for several years now. They are comfortable, waterproof & keep my feet cozy in cold weather.
I spend much of the winter in UGGs!

spring dreamin’

There’s another cold spell happening outside here but the lovely Coach Tea Rose Rogue 25 is helping to remind me that Spring WILL come... eventually!

This bag, from Coach’s 1941 line, has luxe materials & details. The 25 is my favorite size of the Rogue bags. It easily holds my daily essentials with room to spare. Two sets of handles offer several options for carrying. Removable straps also give the option to switch up the look with a novelty strap.

I love pairing this whimsical piece with jeans & a tee.

My BOTD: Coach 1941 Rogue 25 Tea Rose in Heather Grey: Style #58840, 9.75” x 7.5” x 5.5”.

COACH currently has similar styles available!

living up to the hype

The Pony Express... not just because it’s a collectible vintage style made long ago in New York City, not just because it’s constructed of beautiful glove-tanned leather & has a super cute name... I love this bag.

The Pony Express Pouch is convenient, allowing me to carry a decent amount within its body-hugging profile. And, with a shorter strap, it sits comfortably at a higher spot on me when worn crossbody.

I think this one is a lovely example of a bag that shows it has lived. Its worn-in leather has developed a warm patina that comes from a life outside of a closet & carried more than just on occasion. I imagine a vintage bag’s life prior to me & find it particularly sweet thinking we’re more like a part of their story.

My BOTD: Coach vintage Pony Express Pouch: Style #9670, 11” x 8” x 2”.

rediscovering & refashioning

In recent months, I’ve seen some great reviews of the Coach Dinky 24 so imagine my delight as I realized I already have something similar in my collection....

My BOTD: vintage Coach Convertible Clutch, Style #9635. This burgundy one was made in New York City. At 11” x 7” x 2.5”, it’s close in size & look to the Dinky 24. I’ve refashioned this classic piece with a metal chain/leather strap from a newer Coach 1941 Tea Rose Dinky giving me the option to wear it 3 ways: crossbody or as a shoulder bag with either a shorter doubled or longer single strap.

How exciting is it to rediscover an item in your own closet & simply restyle it to make it feel like something current & new again to you?!

This bag also dresses up wonderfully with a new Outlet novelty strap. Stay tuned for that future look!

winter greens

I love the color green so I was pretty excited to have come across this vintage Coach pre-creed Chunky Shoulder Bag (predecessor to the Courier Pouch). Decades old, I can hardly believe how rich its soft, time-worn leather still is.

To maintain (& with today’s forecasted rain), I applied Obenauf’s Heavy Duty LP this morning.

To add structure & organization, I use a felt insert/organizer purchased through Amazon.

My BOTD: Coach pre-creed Chunky Shoulder Bag: Style #8920, 9.5” x 9.5” x 5”.

If you like the look, Coach has introduced several modern versions of the Courier Bag in recent seasons that stay quite true to this iconic silhouette.

Coincidentally with the green theme, the spot I was in to grab this photo had a creek with the most amazing sea-glass color today. If I hadn’t seen it, I couldn’t have imagined it.

[Revised to include what I believe is the correct bag name.]

fresh & ladylike

I’ve been carrying my Coach Gramercy Top Handle bag these past several days. I love its sophistication, structure & hardworking textured leather. 

For a bit of freshness, I’ve added a Tea Rose bag charm. 

I’m seeing Coach’s Parker Top Handle bags currently available at COACH as reminiscent of this lovely style. 

My BOTD: Coach Gramercy Top Handle: Style #7002, 9.25” x 7.5” x 3.75”. 

grey day

Carrying the grey Coach Bleecker Mini Brooklyn Messenger on this beautiful snowy winter day. Deceptively small, easily holds my essentials. 

MY BOTD: Coach Bleecker Mini Brooklyn Messenger: Style 32279, 9” x 6.5” x 3.25”.

Also wearing red touchscreen leather gloves from Amazon. 

handling winter

I’m finding that my Coach Large Bennett Satchel works nicely in the fluctuating winter weather of late. It’s large enough to easily toss in my gloves & sunglasses.

To keep this smooshy, soft pebbled leather bag structured & organized, I recently purchased a felt insert from Amazon. This one’s a perfect fit & the red color brightens an otherwise dark interior.

A Coach skinny scarf dresses up the exterior. 

My BOTD: Coach Large Bennett Satchel: Style F36672, 11.25” x 7.75” x 6“.

something old, something new

The Tea Rose Novelty Strap in Peony brings a fresh look to my classic vintage Coach Manor Bag. And replacing Manor's original thin strap with a wider one makes the bag so comfortable to carry. I am really loving this pairing!

My BOTD: Coach Manor Bag: Style 9977, 9.75" x 8.5" x 4.25". 
Coach Peony Tea Rose Novelty Strap: Style 22887, 42.5” long. 

vintage sweetness

This Coach Isla Chain Crossbody with Floral Bundle Print & Bow has such a vintage sweetness to it. Comfortably fits my necessities. Outside back slip pocket perfectly holds my iPhone 7 in its case. 

Coach My BOTD: Isla Chain Crossbody: Style F28031, 8.75” x 5.5” x 3”.

What's in my bag?

• iPhone 7 & case with a cat phone ring
• Coach pleated pouch holds key fob
• Coach vintage skinny make-up kit holds a mini mechanical pencil, eye drops, lotion, nail file, bandaids, hand wipe, concealer stick, hair elastic & pins
• Coach card pouch as wallet (with added ring & chain) holds ~6 cards & bills
• mint tin with mirror (very old but I just keep refilling)
• EOS lip balm
• reading glasses
• DIY matchbook sticky note holder