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Updated: Apr 15, 2021 72 Comments · by

Coffee Break: Tabby Leather Shoulder Bag

Coffee Break

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Some friends were bemoaning the recent sudden closure of the flagship Coach store in New York City, and wondering if the brand is going under — so I thought it might be interesting to take a look and see what they're offering now and start a discussion.

Do you have feelings about the Coach brand — and are those feelings negative or positive? For example, I think everyone thinks of the logo-crazy bags that were popular a few years ago when they think of Coach — but they also have been doing really great, simple leather purses for a long time, and a lot of their more expensive purses are lovely — but I wonder if the big C (like on the pictured bag) is a plus or a minus?

(I'm trying to remember which is the huge best-seller of theirs that I've always wondered should be a Hall of Fame — I think it's the Edie, which may be getting phased out or updated with the Dalton.)

In any event, this simple shoulder bag caught my eye at Nordstrom, where it's 40% off — I like the little details like the front pocket, the magnetic closures, and the metal feet. The bag was $495, but is now marked to $297; it's available in both black and “saddle.” Tabby Leather Shoulder Bag

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Sales of note for 9.30.24

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Comments

  1. Anon

    For those who work in business development, what does that mean? What do you like/not like about your job (substantively or otherwise)? How do responsibilities differ across companies, industries, etc. as far as you know? And what kind of background do people usually have in these roles? I’m a mid-level corporate lawyer in a HCOL city but am finding myself not enjoying being a lawyer. I’m starting to explore my options (including entirely switching practice areas) to see if there i something I would enjoy more.

    If helpful, my spouse and I are debt-free, so while we don’t need the income of biglaw, it’s pretty nice to have to save for a downpayment. I don’t really like marking up agreements (I find it overly tedious and uninteresting, but, hey, maybe it’s the types of agreements I’m doing–none of them are commercial agreements).

    • Anonymous

      If you’ve been in BigLaw as a lawyer, are you going to like planning events like golf outings for corporate associates? The lawyers I’ve seen take non-lawyer roles tend to do HR or attorney development or recruiting. Not listing to people fight over who gets the box for the Nets game. YMMV though.

      I do see a lot of people go to Banks To Big To Fail as compliance staff (JD preferred, and there are some T14 people doing that and seem happy with it).

    • Anon

      I don’t really think of “business development” as a career, at least as far as US law firms go. Many large law firms have marketing people, but I don’t really view that the same way as the kind of business development a lawyer does. Marketing is a huge field with many different sub-specialties (writing, PR, graphic design, etc.) and most people who work in marketing at law firms have marketing backgrounds with no legal training.

      • Anon

        Ah, oops! I meant business development outside of law firms–such as at banks, consumer retail companies, technology companies, etc. Totally agree biz development at a firm is not really a career. :)

      • Anonymous

        In my neck of the finance woods, BD is a sales position. High travel, negotiating, entertaining clients.

        • CountC

          +1 where I am – we do R&D and manufacture products. None of the BD positions are held by people with law degrees and, honestly, I haven’t been all that impressed with the ones I have encountered.

      • Anonymous

        Yes, but at least in my industry the roles of
        VP sales and VP bus Dev are different. Sales sells. BD is doing things like exploring new channel partnerships, possibly working on M&A activity, working with the product team to tire kick new offering opportunities, networking with key industry players. If is not corporate strategy , but. Ore like strategic sales.

        From a comp standpoint, VP sales is traditional base + commission. VP BD is more base + bonus like other non sales BD roles.

        • @ 3:46pm Anon

          Tangent – do you also have a VP of Corp Dev working on M&A activity? how is the VP of BD role different than VP of Corp Dev (beyond the additional responsibilities you listed)? is a separate corporate development function only in place at really large companies? thanks, have been extremely curious about this!

          • Anonymous

            Yes, they are separate. Usually there is an entire m&a team (a couple people). BD may or may not dotted line into that team. Probably not.

            IME there’s only one senior BD person, usually reports to head of sales and with no direct reports.

            Sometimes it’s another term for high paid strategic account exec but that’s less common.

        • BB

          +1 as someone who is currently hiring for a Biz Dev person. I’ve found it can mean either 1) a wining and dining high level sales person, usually selling to partners or 2) someone who is more focused on building partnerships, especially ones where you are not selling to the partner but are instead building a co-selling or co-product development relationship. You need experience for both…and honestly, I’m not sure I would hire an ex-lawyer for either unless I were in the legal industry.

      • Anon

        This. It’s fundamentally sales. There are some jobs where you’re just selling. And there are many jobs that require other skill sets in addition to building a book of business. For example, I’m 100% commission, responsible for building a book, but it’s highly specialized in finance. I “do” BD, but it’s 2 bullets of a 10 bullet job description.

        Successfully closed deals beget more deals in my business, so cold calling and that end of the BD spectrum only existed in my very early days. Now, not so much (and thank god because that was absolutely, 100% horrendous).

    • cbackson

      Are you talking about M&A corporate development type roles? (Identifying takeover targets, working on the deal, etc)

  2. Anon

    My first close friend from law school just made partner. We haven’t been in close touch in the past few years, but I’d love to send a gift. Are there any traditional gifts for marking this occasion?

  3. fdas

    I like the brand because I’ve had good experiences with it. (My coach bags have worn like iron compared to some other brands.) That said, aesthetically, one appeal has always been limited branding on the leather bags. For me, the visible “C” would be a negative.

    • Anonymous

      Their stuff has lasted forever, but some leathers can read casual (weekend bags) to me. Also disfavor the noticeable C.

      Sadly, I wouldn’t buy now b/c it has been so “my first bag” that I think it reads young/unpolished. But kids in my ‘hood have Le Pliages and I find them grownup-apprpriate even still.

    • Anonymous

      Same. I love my plain leather Coach purses. They wear well and I think are classic looking. Definitely prefer without any big logo.

    • LaurenB

      I have a cute Coach bag that is pebbled leather in orange and does have the gold Coach logo, and I get compliments on it all the time, though I think it’s mostly for the color as the shape is just average. I think Coach occupies a territory kind of like Kate Spade — it’s “nice enough” but it’s not true designer. (I have a lot of Kate Spade as well for everyday, so I’m not being snotty here.) I do not like any of the fabric “C” bags, at all, and I think they are more downscale looking.

      • LaurenB

        I am old enough to remember, though, when all of us twentysomething working women had Coach Station Bags, and when you got promoted, your parents / your spouse treated you or you treated yourself to a Coach briefcase. That was the sign that you were on the rise! These are the classic Coach bags, with nothing other than the hangtag, that wore amazingly.

        • Pep

          I still have my Coach briefcase that my XH bought me back in the 90s when I landed a new “big” job. It’s gorgeous, but weighs a ton. I have a Station Bag somewhere, too – plus a bunch of other vintage styles.

          • Anonymous

            I don’t know what the brand did to fall so far, but yeah it’s been down there since late 90s/early 00s and hasn’t come back up. It’s a shame bc I think it’s making much better plain leather bags than it used to or many other brands do, but the branding is stuck trashed. Sad they did that.

      • Never too many shoes...

        I completely agree – the more “basic” Coach lines are nice mall brands. Some of the really expensive lines are very nice and tend to have much less obvious branding with good quality leather and solid hardware. I can tolerate logos more than some people but that one C closure on this bag does not offend at all.

    • Ellen

      I have ALWAYS been a BIG fan of Coach bags. They have ALWAYS been VERY sturdy, and my cobbler on LI polishes my Coach bags and puts mink oil on them every summer. I also think Coach is the perfect complement to my Fry Boots, which are also of the same high quality leather. When I was in college, all the cute women wore their Fry boots and they either had Coach bags or Aigner bags, which also are still around but quite expensive. I think all women should by these brands b/c they have nothing to do with men who do not respect us women for our brains, but just look at us for s-x. FOOEY on that. I have never heard a bad word about either Coach, Fry, or Aigner. YAY!!!!

    • Anonymous

      Agree. And the drop length on the strap looks like it wouldn’t be long enough wearing a thick coat.

  4. Nelly Yuki

    Any recommendations for a similar sized bag to this one with a full-zip closure and in gray?

  5. Jeans

    What newer jean styles can you ladies recommend for a small pear, size 2-4, heavy bottom and thighs? I feel like the cropped wider jeans make me look more bottom-heavy than I would like. I’m loving the bootcuts but would like to add another silhouette. Any curve-friendly recommendations to try?

    • Anon

      Same body type. I have had luck with the Madewell straight leg jeans– they are high-waisted and the inseam ends at my ankle. Still not 100% sure how to style with boots though.

  6. Anonymous

    I am in work hell and need suggestions. I am absolutely buried in projects and have been since last month. I could have billed and would have loved to bill an extra 40 hours on a project last month but didn’t have time to dedicate to it other than 8 hours. I’m a senior associate, I have two junior associates I can delegate to but it takes a ton of time to review their work. The partners in my group basically say “this is what life is like” but I’ve practiced 6 years and this is the first really awful, sustained spot. What can I do? I’m sleep deprived and feel like I’m going to start missing stuff.

    • Anonymous

      Been there, it’s rough. I think you need to rely on your juniors. Sit down with them, explain that it is crunchtime, and you need them to step up and take on more responsibility in the case. They may be thrilled! Their work should be improving; your edits should take less time as the matter progresses. Are you having them actually implement their own edits or are you just fixing everything yourself? If the latter, this is a surefire way to continue overworking yourself (ask me how I know). As much of a time suck it can feel at the time, sending comments back to the junior or hopping on the phone and explaining what they need to fix is the only way they will improve, develop as a lawyer, and take work off your plate. Don’t be the senior associate working all hours of the night while the juniors go home at 6pm because it’s “easier” for you to fix their work.

    • Anonymous

      You need to make the transition to managing a team. Review your task list and delegate, starting with a really small project for each junior and then working your way into giving them more complex projects as you figure out what each member of your team can do.

  7. Anon

    Any ideas for something relatively inexpensive (~$25-ish) I could send my mom for her birthday? I normally send her flowers, but can’t do that this year (long story). She is late 60s, still working, very affluent and buys herself anything she wants/needs, doesn’t really have hobbies outside of work and her grandchildren, and doesn’t have any interest in clothes/beauty/spa, so she is hard to shop for. My big gift will be a copy of the annual grandchild photobook,but looking for something smaller she could have on her actual birthday.

  8. Ann Taylor suits

    Does Ann Taylor curvy fit work if you have hips and a booty, or is the store just a lost cause for me? I do not fit in a single pre-baby suit because my body is just different. Would like to take advantage of their suit sale but also trying to be realistic.

    • anonchicago

      That’s exclusively what I wear and I’m curvy, but haven’t had kids so YMMV.

      • Anon

        Same. I have found different styles fit in different ways, so you may have to order a bunch of stuff to find what fits.

    • Anonymous

      I wear their Curvy and Loft Julie pants; nothing else on this earth except BR Logan pants works for me. Sprinter, so have had this shape even pre-kids (now just with more padding).

    • Anon

      I’m a 12/14 on bottoms, with a 22 month old at home, all hips and rear. I SUPER struggled with my last order from them. So much that I returned 100% of it and need to take a break before I try again. I don’t know why it was such a miss after being a reliable go-to, but yea. Commiseration.

    • AnonnyNon

      My waist is 33” and hips are 44”, and I have one pair of AT Curvy Dense Twill ankle pants that fits me. Every other curvy pair of theirs I have tried doesn’t work so I gave up. The Julies are a joke on me.

      BR Logans are okayish in a pinch (I have one pair that I keep because it’s wool and lined, cozy on bitter cold days). I either have to size up to fit my hips and deal with a gaping waist, or wear spanx to fit my hips (haha, yea, not happening). BUT!!! BR makes a Devon fit that I LOVE. They are all slim/skinny cut and olny in ankle length, not ideal if you need a full matching suit, but the cut is amazing for my shape. They also come in a zillion colors and fabrics.

  9. anon

    A series of these purse – https://www.coach.com/coach-kitt-messenger-crossbody/41320.html?cgid=women-handbags-crossbody-bags&dwvar_color=GDBLK or one that looked exactly like it (I feel like Coach is one of those brands that constantly that constantly comes out with new names for things they have been making 100 years) saw me through high school, college, and law school. I still have one and carry it for travel and whenever I don’t want a larger bag. It does have a logo but it’s not huge or ostentatious

  10. Anon

    Regular commenter going anon. Looking for stories of layoffs at age 50+ with positive endings. New/better jobs? Other happy outcomes? This just happened to me, not entirely unexpectedly, and looking for some positivity!

    • Same here

      So sorry you’re going through this, it stinks. I departed a longtime position in 2017 at 50+ with a separation agreement/safety net of about one year. I developed a successful freelance business in a related field in 2018, coming close to meeting my previous salary, but the looming health insurance premiums were outrageous and I lacked confidence/time/energy to keep attracting even more new clients while working FT. Meanwhile, nonstop networking, outplacement work and countless applications went nowhere, likely age-related. I dreamed up and pitched a full-time position to a freelance client, and landed there in 2019. I absolutely love my new position, which rewards creativity, values experience and pays more than my last employer. Keep at it, and learn how to frame your experience carefully. I found that other people’s LinkedIn profiles offered great examples of what to say (or not say). Good luck to you!

    • Anonymous

      You’ll get through this. I’ve been both fired and laid off. It was rough both times. BUT . . . I came out better on the other side. Better job, learned more about myself, developed new skills and had new types of jobs I’d never have seen coming. It’s OK to wobble for a bit — you’ll find your footing again.
      Signed, 55 year old about to start a new job.

    • Me to!

      Hi there, 53 year old in that position (made redundant after 25 years at the same company). I’m still coming to terms with the separation, but hope that something is about to come to fruition that will be a complete change in direction and takes me back to my original goals when I finished my MBA (only 20 years late). I’m fortunate that so long as I can cover operating costs I am flexible on salary needed, as we have no debt and a solid pension pot. It’s taken effort to get up and go, and I’m trying hard to frame this as an opportunity, but I do still feel betrayed and angry at times that I was let go, for a stupid corporate strategy. Sorry, not a fully positive story yet, but ask me again in a month or so!

  11. Gifting question

    Hi everyone –

    My ex’s bday is coming up and I need to help our daughter come up with a gift for him. I had her paint a coffee mug for him for Xmas, so I’m not sure about another “creative” gift. We’re currently in the middle of an acrimonious divorce so I want to do the right thing but I’m not particularly motivated or in love with the idea of spending $$$. Any ideas that he would actually appreciate but don’t require tremendous work on my part? I feel like I’m asking for a unicorn, but thank you for any creative ideas you all might have!!

    • SC

      How old is your daughter? Is she old enough to have an idea of what she wants to buy? Is she old enough to choose if you take her to a store?

      If not, does your ex have a hobby that has a clear “go to” gift? Or a favorite sports team? I’d phone it in, put your daughter’s name on it, and have her make a card.

    • BeenThatGuy

      I always have my son gift his father a gift card ($25) to a place he likes or something they can do together (like movies or a restaurant). It’s the same thing for Father’s Day and Christmas plus a token from the school holiday shop or whatever. He does the exact same thing for me. Zero brain power required and no one is ever offended.

    • Gifting question

      Thank you all! She’s 6, so no clear ideas, but I like the idea of a gift card to a place they can go together + a framed photo! You all are awesome :)

      • anon

        FWIW, it’s great you are supporting your daughter and teaching her gifting and generosity, but if I was getting a gift from a 6-year old, I would be completely appreciate the thought and the gesture. I would definitely not expect a gift that was particularly useful to me. Don’t put it on yourself to find a way to please your ex through this, good enough is fine!

  12. Pineapple Princess

    So I’m dismayed at the state of the US. I am liberal leaning and I live in a liberal area – always have – and to be honest I’m of a complexion and financial status that I’m ‘fine’ kind of no matter what happens. But I’m really wondering at whether I want to be here at all anymore given the values this country is espousing. I think Toronto would be a good place for me. It’s not that far from family (actually closer than I am now), and my industry has a strong presence there (but not as strong as where I currently am). Is it ridiculous to expatriate because I’m really starting to believe our system is irreparably flawed and I don’t want to be here/raise my child(ren) here? Is it difficult?

    • pugsnbourbon

      A few random thoughts on this:
      – COL in Toronto is high, particularly real estate/housing/renting.
      – wife and I looked into our options for leaving the US and yes, it is very challenging and expensive to move to Canada.
      – our system is working exactly the way it was always meant to – to keep rich white guys in power.

    • Anon

      I don’t know why you think you can just up and move to Canada. It’s not easy.

    • Jeffiner

      Canada has far-right crazies, too, and a political party where they are trying to get power. There’s racism and bigotry and xenophobia all over Europe and Asia as well. Don’t run. Keep fighting.

    • Harba

      My husband is Canadian and I am American. We live in the states. When we considered moving to Canada and ran the numbers, we figured we would have to double our income to be able to move to Canada maintain our current standard of living. One consideration.

  13. Never too many shoes...

    That is such a tough question that I think only you can answer, OP. Nationalism is very personal and so you need to weigh out leaving v. staying and hoping for (or working towards) change As a Canadian, it is hard to countenance how there are such dramatic cultural/political differences when we are so close together…but the last few years have really made it clear. If you decide to really think seriously about it, I would be happy to talk to you more about Toronto – I am from here and think it is an amazing city in which to work, live and raise children.

  14. Trish

    Coach still costs more than I want to pay for a bag. I like Fossil and Michael Kors for style and quality. I feel like MK is a bit too ubiquitous but still like the bags.

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