How to Choose a Luxury Bag

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Choosing a luxury bag is a big deal—and even more so when it's your first. And not just for the financial investment—it's also a milestone moment when you're marking a significant occasion in your life. At Coach, we've been committed to crafting high-quality, beautiful things you can be yourself in since 1941, which is long enough to know that when chosen well, your bag is a choice that will prove its worth the investment for years—even lifetimes—to come.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before purchasing your first luxury bag.

What’s my reason for buying it?

Thinking about what the bag's purpose will serve will help you narrow down the additional considerations that follow. Functional Reasons: Are you looking for a super-versatile bag—like one with a top-handle and also a detachable strap, or one with expandable gussets—that can be worn in a variety of ways for different occasions? Are you looking for a bag roomy enough to hold books for the classroom or your laptop when working remotely?

Emotional Reasons: Do you have a once-in-a-lifetime event requiring a special level of formality and design? Is this a bag you've been contemplating for a long time, or simply a splurge to celebrate a milestone occasion in your life?

The answers to the above and questions like them will help inform which bag you ultimately go with.

What is the quality of materials and craftsmanship?

This one is super important: not all bags are created equal, even if they're comprised of many of the same types of materials. Leathers, and other fabrications like coated canvas, are sourced from, treated, and put together into what will be the final bag in a vastly different range of ways, which can all impact the level of quality. At Coach, we're passionate about craftsmanship education for this very reason. We like to highlight things like precise attention to detail, sustainability efforts, how a bag was made, and different warranties for this very reason; you'll always find a breadth of knowledge on digital product pages or on hangtags in stores, and if you ever have questions, you can contact us.

How easy will it be to care for?

We know, it can be the less fun element to think about—it feels like we all already do enough cleaning, doesn't it? The good news is that if you take even a short amount of time considering this question up front, you can end up saving yourself a ton of time and effort later on. And, the other good news is that there are plenty of options to consider depending on what level of ease you're looking to put into caring for your bag. A luxury bag made from suede will require needing to be more mindful of factoring wet weather into the equation before wear, whereas a patent leather or crossgrain leather bag will fare better in the rain. All luxury bags should be regularly cleaned; one that is constructed simply from leather or coated canvas will take less time to wipe down than one featuring embellishments like crystals or embroidery that require more attention to detail and gentleness.

Is it timeless or trend-driven?

Depending on your level of investment or budget, you'll want to consider how much a bag leans toward timelessness vs. being trendy. Trends can be fleeting; even if the style of the moment extends into a longer period than your average trend, it still won't guarantee the same wearability of a classic bag. How much does this matter to your personal style (or your wallet)? If you're on the fence, going with an iconic silhouette in a neutral tone will be your best bet.

How often will I use it (and therefore increase the value of cost per wear)?

While it's hard to know with certainty before purchase how often you'll wear a bag, it's a good idea to think about. For example, if you'll only be using it for a special event or in scenarios you only foresee happening a few times, you may not want to be spending a sizable amount of money. Alternatively, if you can see a bag as your new go-to for daily wear to the office, to the classroom, to daytime socializing or whenever you go out for the night, then it's safe to say that you'll be getting much more value for your up-front cost. Think of it in terms of cost per wear: if you divide the bag's price tag by how many times you use it, then each time you wear it, that monetary amount decreases. This means that a luxury bag you spend more on at time of purchase can end up having a lower cost per wear than a significantly cheaper bag you only use for a handful of occasions.

What’s my longer-term plan?

Will you eventually be looking to resell your bag, or are you planning on keeping it as a forever favorite? If you know you'll likely want to get your return on investment later on by selling it, you may want to choose a tried-and-true classic or a bag that has recently earned the title of iconic (like our Tabby shoulder bag); this will ensure that its value remains steady or even increases. If you plan to keep your bag long-term, then you have more room to play around with different styles.