To buy or not to buy: a Coach purse
Cheap is my middle name. I avoid toll roads like the plague. I'm not interested in a dress that is less than 50 percent off. The exception: cheap handbags. It has to be real leather. It has to be Coach.
I've been a Coach girl ever since I traded out my college JanSport for a grown-up look. I blame my expensive taste on my mother, who carried Coach before it was a household name. She taught me that the right bag is worth every dime -- but not all designer bags are worth the investment.
Whether you splurge on Coach or a more expensive brand, you walk the fine line between being classy and showy. Here's how to balance it:
- DON'T buy trendy. Remember Coach's patchwork squares? Me too. Sooo 2006-07.
- DO opt for classic shapes and colors. A satchel or hobo is worth years of compliments.
- DON'T be a walking billboard for your brand. I don't buy Coach fabric bags, because I think it's tacky to show off a brand. Taste is about pairing cheap and expensive, so no one knows.
- DO invest in fine leather, and condition it regularly to keep the color over time.
- DON'T buy an overpriced bag at the Coach store at International Plaza or the Brandon mall.
- DO make the trek to the Coach outlet store in Ellenton for the best deals -- or wait for a sale at department stores like Dillard's, Macy's and Nordstrom.
Still not convinced?
With the economy circling the drain, I'm not buying a new bag this winter. I don't need to. My black Coach hobo looks better than ever, with a rich patina blooming on the aging leather. I'd have gone through three cheaper purses in the three years that I've owned it. Instead, I bought the one that I loved.
~ Deal Diva Letitia
(Photos: Top, this red leather hobo, $278, will keep its pop for years. Not so for the metallic Sabrina, $298, from the Op Art collection, which will look dated next season.)
Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or 
Since she was a little girl Nicole Hutcheson dreamed of dressing like a Vogue cover girl. But her reality was more JCPenney catalog. The fact only honed her better ability to find luxury for less. Always on the hunt for markdowns on designer labels, this Deal Diva’s weaknesses are good jeans and killer heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8828 or 
Colleen Jenkins learned two invaluable shopping tenets from her mom: 1. Buy quality. 2. Get it on sale. Then she added one of her own: Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! This Deal Diva’s idea of a blissful Saturday includes a trip to the Ellenton outlet mall. She loves mixing classic with trendy and cheap Target accessories with her markdown Banana Republic duds. She can be reached at (813) 226-3337 or 
A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or 
quality will always be in style
Posted by: Coach | January 17, 2009 at 03:50 PM
prada handbag http://www.shoppingonline123.com
Posted by: prada handbag | November 05, 2008 at 10:45 PM
If you really want to make a fashion statement buy a purse that will last, that is well made, regardless of the designer. Shop around. I have seen gently used Coach bags at thrift stores that peope have gotten rid of because they had to polish the bags.
Using a polishing sponge like the ones you use for shoes, this will do for buffing out scuffs and help maintain your bag.
Posted by: Urban Frugal | November 05, 2008 at 07:43 PM