Coach Bags Are Having a Moment—These Are Styles Our Editors Love
If you scan the Who What Wear office, you'll see a lineup of Coach Brooklyn bags, as everyone from Chief Content Officer Hillary Kerr to Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen use this as their go-to bag. Coach's accessories have always been known for top-notch quality and competitive price points, but in recent seasons, the brand has had a significant rebrand. It has successfully repositioned itself from an entry-level designer label with little hype to an industry favorite that can compete with other offerings in the the luxury market thanks to A+ marketing and elevated designs that align with the aesthetic of today's consumer.
The Brooklyn bag, in particular, feels very relevant for now. It was number two on the Lyst Index of Hottest Products for Q3 of 2024—no doubt influenced by Bella Hadid's consistent endorsement this year. The supermodel has been photographed with the brown suede version (which is very in line with her new Western aesthetic) and a classic black leather iteration. TikTok is also driving the hype, and the "Coach bags" category has had a staggering 65 million posts at the time of publishing, which has helped drive success for the Lana and Brooklyn.
"This suede hobo has become my entire personality," said Eggertsen. "At first, I was nervous to carry such a big bag, but now, I fear I can never go back. Beyond the convenience of how much it carries, I love how easy it is to style. It instantly adds warmth and texture to any outfit and looks so, so expensive." When it comes to colorways, the Who What Wear team is all about the chestnut-hued Cedar, which is almost impossible to get your hands on. "It's a future heirloom. It's so simple and stylish and well-made and can fit your laptop. I should know—I fit my laptop and another handbag in it," added Kerr.
Coach has a vast offering, but we've narrowed down the most popular bags from the brand below, including all the details you need to know about the design, construction, and what each style is best for.
The Most Popular Coach Bags at a Glance
- The Editor Favorite: Coach, Brooklyn Bag, $295
- The Sellout: Coach, Empire Carryall Bag, $650
- Best '00s Bag: Coach, Hamptons Bag, $295
- Best Shoulder Bag: Coach, Tabby Shoulder Bag, $450
- Best Office Bag: Coach, Lana Shoulder Bag, $495
- Best Messenger Bag: Coach, Tabby Messenger Bag, $595
- Best Classic Tote: Coachtopia, Ergo Bag, $250
- Best Crossbody Bag: Coach, Bandit Crossbody Bag, $350
- Best '90s Silhouette: Coach, Swing Zip Bag, $395
What Is Coming for 2025
Who What Wear's Eliza Huber with the XL coin purse that is launching in 2025.
As for 2025, the Coach hype isn't going to lose momentum, as our editors are patiently waiting for the oversize clutch bags to launch as part of the spring/summer 2025 collection. With the Glovetanned Leather Kisslock Frame Bag, Creative Director Stuart Vevers took a classic coin purse with a gold clasp fastening and then modernized it with jumbo, almost cartoonish proportions. "We've taken very archetypal pieces and made them unique to the wearer with the proportions, with the styling, and with very playful embellishments that call into question the idea of traditional 'luxury,'" he said in a press release. "I think what's more valuable today is something that's personal." In general, the bags had a more playful energy, with styles in the shape of teddy bears and hearts.
Confirmation that the Kisslock Frame Bag is destined for cult status came when Sarah Jessica Parker was spotted with a burgundy iteration while filming the third season of And Just Like That…. If it's good enough for Carrie...
The Most Popular Coach Bags That Who What Wear Editors Love
The Editor Favorite: The Brooklyn Bag
Let's start with the real success story of 2024: the Brooklyn bag. The name is a deliberate reference to the distinctly New York aesthetic that Coach was aiming to tap into with this design.
The facts: This shoulder bag is available in three sizes—23, 28, and 39—and the latter jumbo style is the preferred style of Hillary Kerr. Crafted from natural grain leather, it features an easy magnetic snap closure, a snap pocket to store essentials so you don't have to rummage, and a comfortable wide shoulder strap. The largest style is $495, which is a huge selling point for this bag. In a world where luxury bags are in the realms of $4000, with the Brooklyn, you can have a beautifully made It bag for under $500.
The cons: The only con to this bag is the demand. The Cedar style, a Who What Wear editor favorite, is nearly impossible to track down.
The Sellout: The Empire Carryall
"When I first saw Coach's F/W 24 collection, I knew the giant Empire bag coming down the runway would be a hit," Yusra Siddiqui previously wrote in a review on Who What Wear. "To me, it felt like the Empire was for the working woman, the one who lugs around half of Apple's ecosystem and sends emails about circling back and doesn't include extra exclamation points with every single sentence. When I wore it to our office in Bryant Park, I carried that empowering feeling with me."
The facts: This was the TikTok bag of fall/winter 2024 and is designed to house all of your essentials, from a laptop to a change of clothes. Crafted from a natural grain textured leather, it has a zip-top closure, buckles at the size to expand capacity, top handles, and a detachable crossbody strap.
The cons: Firstly it's currently sold out. Secondly, the size is a consideration. "While I loved the runway essence the 48 gave me, moving forward, I think I'd size down to the 40," Siddiqui advised. "The 48 seems like it would be a great stylish swap as a travel bag, but for work, it did end up being too heavy to carry around the city."
Who What Wear's Anna LaPlaca with the Empire Carryall.
Best '00s Bag: The Hamptons Bag
Coach's Hamptons Bag was first introduced in 2003, but like many fashion moments from the 2000s, it's made its way back. The buttery-soft leather will only get better with time, so I can see this classic style in your wardrobe for years to come.
The facts: A sleek shoulder bag, this has a structured flat-front silhouette and a shoulder strap that means the bag will tuck under your arm and allow you to go hands-free. Crafted from buttery-soft glove-tanned leather, it only looks better as it ages.
The cons: Some reviews note how the clasp is slightly hard to open. One review on Coach's site noted, "l will say the clasp is a bit hard to open and close, but to be honest that's the reason I got it since I would be traveling with it and wanted something secure."
Best Shoulder Bag: The Tabby Shoulder Bag
Chichi Offor with the Coach Tabby bag.
We consider the Tabby bag the first marker of Coach's recent comeback. The new Tabby Shoulder Bag is an updated take on the archival 1970s design that was reimagined by Vevers in 2019. It has had a significant marketing push and celebrity endorsements. Jennifer Lopez, Emily Ratajkowski, and Elle Fanning have all had a Tabby moment.
The facts: The Tabby is available in both 20 and 26 sizes—both featuring two detachable straps to wear as a shoulder bag or crossbody—and is crafted from polished pebble leather. It has a structured silhouette with an outside open pocket, an inside zip pocket, an inside multifunction pocket, a secure snap closure, and the signature hardware logo at the fastening.
The cons: One of the criticisms in the reviews is that it is narrow, so it can be difficult for a large phone to fit into the bag with other belongings.
Best Office Bag: The Lana Shoulder Bag
Meet the Coach bag that has social media in a tizzy right now. Don't underestimate how much this sleek bag can fit. We've already seen videos of it fitting a laptop, iPad, makeup bag, and more. It's chic and functional, which is everything you want in an everyday handbag.
The facts: It is made from Coach's signature polished pebble leather and has a top layer of gloss that gives it a polished finish. It has lots of practical considerations, such as a center zip compartment to help you locate belongings and two open compartments to help you organize your bulkier items. The four protective feet at the base help it maintain its polish. It's a highly rated bag with 4.8 stars and a stream of positive reviews.
Best Classic Tote: The Ergo Bag
Coach is filled with classic handbags, but if you're looking to have some more fun with your wardrobe, you should take a peek at Coachtopia's selection. The Ergo bag, which has been reimagined from its '90s version, is currently the hot seller. It's available in saturated shades, funky prints, and classic neutrals. There's even a bow-adorned version that's on many wish lists right now.
The facts: Coachtopia is a sub-brand of Coach that focuses on the circular economy and craft, working to reduce the impact each product has. This bag is made from pebbled Coachtopia leather, which is crafted with at least 50% recycled leather fibers from scraps. It has an inside slip pocket, a magnetic snap closure, neat proportions, and a silhouette that will tuck under your arm.
Best Crossbody Bag: The Bandit Crossbody
If you're looking for a bag that's a bit more sophisticated and less nostalgic, look no further than the Bandit Crossbody. It has a C pushpin closure and features a secure interior snap pocket and an adjustable shoulder strap. Black is a personal favorite, but it comes in five different colorways and even zebra print if you're feeling daring.
The facts: With a length of 9.25 inches and height of 5.75 inches, this bag has a sleek, minimal silhouette that makes it ideal for evenings. It is crafted from refined calf leather and has an adjustable strap with a 21.5-inch drop that can be worn over the shoulder or as a crossbody. It also features an outside open pocket, an inside snap pocket, an inside multifunction pocket, and a snap closure.
Best '90s Silhouette: The Swing Zip
Coach is always referencing its archives, and this bag from 1998 was just too good to leave in the past. The minimal bag is still quite spacious for its size, and its long straps make for easy wear. According to Coach sales associates on TikTok, this bag has been hard to keep in stock, so it's a buzzy buy.
"If the Empire is for work or travel and the Brooklyn is for everyday errands, then the Swing Zip is the bag to take when going out," Siddiqui wrote in a review. "The Swing Zip, however, is sleek in design but also offers enough room for real functionality. As someone who usually only invests in larger handbags that offer more use, I was impressed by this bag the most. I've been going out a lot less (stay-at-home movie nights are my calling), but wearing this bag made me feel like I could use some more nights out on the town. Based on a 1998 design, this bag reminds me of the vintage Coach bags I'd put in offers for on eBay but has been perfectly reimagined for modern day."
The facts: Crafted from glove-tanned leather, this bag has adjustable handles with a 10.5-inch drop. It also has an inside zip pocket, a handy credit card slot, a zip closure, and four protective feet at the base to ensure it still looks polished. "My phone, wallet, lip products, and keys fit perfectly snugly into the bag," Siddiqui said of the size.
FAQs
How We Chose the Most Popular Coach Bags
When compiling this list, we took into account Who What Wear reviews and editor-approved styles, customer reviews, celebrity endorsement, hype on social media, and whether an item was so in demand it's currently out of stock.
Is Coach a Luxury Brand?
This one is up for debate, as the price point is much lower than other houses in the luxury market. It's considered within the industry an entry-level or accessible luxury brand. Founded in New York in 1941, it is one of the standout shows on the New York Fashion Week schedule each season.
Who Is the Designer at Coach?
The creative director at Coach is Stuart Vevers, who joined in 2013. Since taking to the helm, he has completely transformed Coach's aesthetic and reputation, repositioning the label as an aspirational and fashion-led brand. He was a high-profile appointment, having previously been creative director of Loewe and Mulberry.
-
This Loud Bag Trend Has Fully Infiltrated European Women's Wardrobes
It makes every outfit better.
By Allyson Payer
-
New Year, New Me: 6 Trends Gen Z Is Adopting First in 2025
Here's what they're saving, loving, and buying this year.
By Ana Escalante
-
This Refined Bag Trend Is on Its Way to Dethroning Shoulder Bags
As seen on Nara Smith.
By Allyson Payer
-
Sorry to My Go-To Accessories, But I'm Replacing You With This Rich-Looking Trend
Truly the easiest outfit upgrade.
By Natalie Cantell
-
This French Brand Has the Perfect Anti-Canvas Tote—and It's Already Trending
It's time to say goodbye to that scruffy old canvas shopper.
By Emma Spedding
-
Forget Black—Celebrity It Bags All Have This One Color in Common
It's just as timeless.
By Emma Spedding
-
I Get Compliments Every Time I Wear This 20-Year-Old It Bag
Like a fine wine, it gets better with age.
By Emma Spedding
-
I've Lived in NYC and Boston—Here's Everything I Think Is Chic for Winter
Stay warm without sacrificing style.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes