Thoughts on Handbags

Women love shoes. What is the one thing they love more than shoes? Handbags. Expensive handbags preferably. I remember the rush of getting my first "status" bag. My mother bought me a Dooney and Bourke for my 8th grade graduation. I loved its textured leather and little brass duck fob. I thought it was the grandest bag ever. It was tiny too. I loved that bag for a long time then my friends dog ate it.. stupid dog. Probably why I hate Dachshunds to this day.

I have since moved on to other designers: Kate Spade, Betsy Johnson, Chloe, Mulberry, Luella, Marc Jacobs, and had sweet sweet dreams of owning a Chanel! But I have never bought a Coach bag. I have come close many times. I even bought a wristlet once only to return it the next day ultimately unsatisfied. Why is this?

Coach makes some very cute bags. I am often drawn to the Coach Counter at Macy's to look at the pretties. But I never walk away with one. I think I realized why this weekend. I was at the local Cinco De Mayo festival with my husband. As I was people watching I decided to count the number of Coach bags I saw. I counted 20 in the first half hour! And at least 5 of them were the same bucket style. Why are women so drawn to this brand? Is it because it is an affordable status bag? I don't know if it really can be considered a "Status" bag if everyone has it.

My advice to shoppers out there is if you are going to go with a Coach Bag make sure to get one that is a little different than the Status Quo for Coach Shoppers. Stay away from the Brown Monogram bags. Go for a different color. Like these:

The Color accents or the black on black monogram will set you apart from the average coach carrier. Or even better try buying one the Leather Coach Bags. I feel this is where they have some really beautiful bags. Perhaps it is because "the founder of Coach was first inspired by a baseball glove when he saw its distinctive markings and how supple it became with use," (coach.com).

The new Ergo collection and the Madeline bag from coach are particularly cute.

Of course those are Coach bags over $400. That seems to be the deal at Coach all the cute ones I like are the more $$$ ones.