While team Who What Wear is forever highlighting designer drops and investment It-bags, “quiet luxury” is much more our speed than glossy logo-adorned accessories. Few label nail this understated aesthetic as masterfully as Coach, a name you’ve likely heard of but may have overlooked in the sea of statement handbags that make a splash each season. In truth, simplicity and timelessness are what this American-born brand does best, known for crafting unfussy bags that stand out in a subtler fashion. Those with an eye for clever design and tasteful colour palettes will most likely be drawn to Coach’s collections.
Crucially, these handbags are also significantly more affordable than many designer items. Where you might spend your whole life dreaming of owning a Gucci Marmont (at the time of writing this, the small size comes in at a whopping £1800), the TikTok-famous Coach Pillow Tabby is within reach at just £495. Still not cheap, but considering the quality and longevity, we’re grateful it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Coach feels like the kind of label that’s always been around, the New York fashion house stitched together its first handbag and released it to the public in 1941. Initially a team of six artisans, by the ’60s Coach had evolved to include its first lead designer, Bonnie Cashin, who applied her affinity for colour and shape to the creative process.
Six decades on, the original spirit of this authentic American company is still intact, but its understanding of modern tastes has helped it grow into a global name-to-know. Under the guidance of award-winning creative director Stuart Vevers, Coach takes its longstanding designs and lifts them with a 21st-century understanding of form and function, blending classic structures and palettes with nods to contemporary trends. For example, the current offering includes hints of wicker and crochet, two popular fabrications in 2023.
Most of the bags feature the signature ‘C’ logo—small on some, a key component on others—and touches of metal hardware. You can take your pick from dozens of models, but if you’re in the market for a high-quality creation that will stand the test of time, there are five in particular we think you should consider. Scroll on to learn more about the handbags in question, and if you happen to fall in love, we’ve linked the different variations below. Without further ado…
Next Up: These Are the 6 Quiet-Luxury Bags That Say “I’m in the Know”
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