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There is one thing to be aware of regarding Coach. Coach has two separate quality lines: one for full price stores, and another for Coach's Outlet Mall Stores. They are not the same.
There is one thing to be aware of regarding Coach. Coach has two separate quality lines: one for full price stores, and another for Coach's Outlet Mall Stores. They are not the same.
Some outlet bags are quite nice. Some are not. Kate Spade and Michael Kors also have outlet only bags.
Kate Spade outlet bags have crappier lining. Michael Kors have different details.
Fossil makes a good bag. So does Brighton but you can only find Brighton in their own stores and probably online. T.J. Maxx had some designer bags the last time I was there. Also, like was said most stores are having after holiday sales. However I have bought two designer bags from T.J. Maxx in the past and the handles start deteriorating. Try Macy's, Dillards, etc. I have bought quite a few Liz Claiborne purses from JC Penney's and they have lasted quite a few years.
It depends on how rough you are with your bags and if you use the same one all year. I have 5 different ones that I rotate depending on the season and what I'm wearing.
There is one thing to be aware of regarding Coach. Coach has two separate quality lines: one for full price stores, and another for Coach's Outlet Mall Stores. They are not the same.
I have heard this from other people. What are the specific differences between the outlet Coach bags and the full price Coach bags? are the full priced ones heavier, better hardware, or what? I have a salmon Kristin satchel and that thing is built like a tank. It's the only Coach I own though, so I don't know the difference.
I have heard this from other people. What are the specific differences between the outlet Coach bags and the full price Coach bags? are the full priced ones heavier, better hardware, or what? I have a salmon Kristin satchel and that thing is built like a tank. It's the only Coach I own though, so I don't know the difference.
Different grade of leather. There are also very different styles. Especially now. Coach also has different levels of bags in the outlet. The Kristins originated in the store and then returned as an outlet exclusive. These are one of the nicer outlet bags. There are others that are more basic.
At the beginning there was little difference between outlet and full price bags. Now there's more. Wallets have a lower bar of construction - even for ones that are the same. Outlet bags have fewer details. Maybe for one type of bag in similar shapes, the full price version will have a thicker piece of hardware on the straps to enable them to lie flat when using a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap on the outlet bag may be thinner or use two pieces of leather stitched together versus one long strip. Or the main line version might have a padded strap or one of those wider shoulder pieces.
I have heard this from other people. What are the specific differences between the outlet Coach bags and the full price Coach bags? are the full priced ones heavier, better hardware, or what? I have a salmon Kristin satchel and that thing is built like a tank. It's the only Coach I own though, so I don't know the difference.
There is nothing wrong with a Coach MFF bag (Made For Factory outlet, rather than made for boutique). They are very nice and typically very durable.
But there are differences. Are they worth the extra $$$? That's up to you. Of course no one wants to pay Boutique prices for a MFF outlet product by mistake.
Among other things, differences include leather quality, stitching quality & detail, etc.
Look for leather. I have a $100 rule about purses, and I've never had trouble finding them. The brand I have more of is SAK and Fossil. Their purses are leather and fabric, and they have a nice feel, and compartments inside. I would never buy a purse without being able to touch it.
Yes, FOSSIL is my favorite. I have a Fossil leather saddle bag crossbody that is my go to bag. It's amazing, yet simple. Many have commented on it. I damaged the closure and had it resewn, just like new. Now it just needs a cleaning. I intend to keep this bag forever! It cost about $150.00, but that was half price at Ross, two years ago or so. If I ever found another I would buy it again, even at the original price.
Fossil makes a good bag. So does Brighton but you can only find Brighton in their own stores and probably online. T.J. Maxx had some designer bags the last time I was there. Also, like was said most stores are having after holiday sales. However I have bought two designer bags from T.J. Maxx in the past and the handles start deteriorating. Try Macy's, Dillards, etc. I have bought quite a few Liz Claiborne purses from JC Penney's and they have lasted quite a few years.
It depends on how rough you are with your bags and if you use the same one all year. I have 5 different ones that I rotate depending on the season and what I'm wearing.
I am very choosy when I look at bags at TJ Max. Most of what I see are imitation leather, and some seem odd. I do run across a few nice bags there. My advice is to look carefully, examining straps and hardware, even on supposedly high end name bags. Once I found a high end bag with a broken zipper there.
If you have a local Dillards, you can often find goo bags on sale. I found a Fossil at half price last summer at a Dillards I was visiting while on a trip.
Like everything, you should know what you want and need. You can do online research and then buy in person, or you can do on the ground looking and buy online. Our bags have to function well for us; we need to learn what works for us, and how pleasing it should be to our eye. After a few years, we just know it when we see it.
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