by Alexandra Dorian

Created on: July 26, 2008

The name Coach may not evoke the legendary style or status of the houses of Chanel or Dior, but it is nonetheless a high quality purveyor of leatherwear. Coach purses and their other leather fashions are worth the money because they are a handcrafted, well-made introduction into the world of luxury goods.

I own several Coach purses. I must admit, I did not buy my first one, but it was given to me as a gift. This was not my first real "grown-up" purse, but I knew it was a special bag. The leathery curve of the handle easily tailored itself to my grip, and I loved how the buckles and zippers shined along with the brass plate announcing, "This is an authentic Coach product." There is something about carrying a piece that you know packs some credibility, and even if I was just a teenager at the time, I was going to take care with my new toy and slowly make my debut into the club of well dressed woman.

When I was growing up, I distinctly remember my mother never having a nice purse. She would always have some stylish $30 sack to pile her myriad objects into that are required to watch after three unruly children. It would inevitably get pen, stickers, ice cream and dirty hands all over it, so when a bag had passed its shelf life, she'd soon by a new one when and start all over again. For many women, carrying around a Lavin, Missioni or Hermes is just not practical because of the responsibilities in their lives. As my siblings and I got older, my mother's purses got nicer. Soon she was carrying a Coach hobo and was thankfully spared from any mishaps involving spilled juice. Now that we're grown, I'm sure a Chanel or two graces her closet. Coach purses are not absurdly unattainable, and that is a reason why they are worth their asking price. It is a small luxury a hard-working woman can afford herself when she's ready to graduate from a throw away generic that is merely around for functionality.

Coach can also teach us something about style. For those of us who are not millionaires or blessed with closets that rival the storage spaces at Vogue, the mall and magazines are a fair education in fashion. Some may visit the Louis Vuitton store and develop a lust for beautiful burnished leather, hand-fastened hardware, jaunting down 5th Avenue with a bag that retains its shape while holding a day's worth of accessories; a true definition of the word purse. This fantasy can be quickly quelled by turning over the price tag. $1,000 will most likely be better put towards the rent than a handbag. However, you finally make it to the Coach store and realize that similar luxury, albeit perhaps not as prestigious, can be yours for a third of the price. This fits much more justifiably into many people's budgets. Also, unlike these super high-end wears, Coach is available at outlets or if you scour discount designer stores, opening a new level of affordable fashion to all women.

Think of Coach as training wheels to haut-couture. You can appreciate the quality of a uniquely dyed piece, the softness of Water Buffalo leather and hand-stitched lining without maxing out the credit card. I have used the brand to do just that, and now I appreciate my Ferragamo, Kate Spade and Cavalli pieces that much more because I was taught how to look for exceptional quality. Coach maybe the high school final exam compared to the MCAT, but if you never learned how to prepare early on, you wouldn't be able to ace the real test down the road.

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