Coquette

What's In My Bag: Coach Mini Borough in White Edgepaint Leather

Summer days are in full swing and I've been carrying my Coach Mini Borough in Edgepaint Leather ($378 at Coach.com) pretty much non-stop for a month now. Truth be told, I was very nervous to carry a white bag but I really loved the clean look of one. I have had the Coach Classic Leather Shoulder purse in a cream color for 3 years and it looked pretty clean, despite my constant wear all summer. Coach leather is one of the most durable to me since they are also pretreated so I figured why not take a leap with a white Mini Borough? I'm so glad I did because this bag has exceeded all my expectations. Not only is it comfortable to wear on the shoulder or crossbody, I love the classic look and style it brings to both casual and dressed up outfits. The white looks so fresh with the navy trim and leather zipper pulls paired with the gold hardware. I find myself carrying it by the handles too whether by hand or the crook of my arm. This bag just makes me melt. If you are looking for the perfect summer mini bag, the Coach Mini Borough will take you happily through summer!

A week and a half ago, I spent a wonderful lunch and afternoon shopping with Savvy in San Francisco at the Marin Country Mart and that's where I spilled my contents on the warm grass for the picture above. I went very minimalist this day since I was kid-free carrying only these must-have items in my Mini Borough.

- Chanel Card Case Wallet
- Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Rose Petale
- My favorite Clarins Lip Balm Crayons (post here)
- Louis Vuitton Damier Azur 4 key case (my house FOB and key)
- Car Key
(Not pictured my iPhone and sunglasses)

Mini bags are the rage now but this mini doesn't skimp on space or organizational compartments. In fact, I can usually carry a lot if I really need to.

The bag is divided into 3 zippered compartments:

1) The first zippered compartment in the front of the bag is the largest. It has the longest zipper mouth opening too. If need be, I can fit my long wallet (7.75") or even an iPad mini! No joke. (My iPad mini has the standard Apple magnetic covers.) I usually place my smaller items in here such as my mints, car keys, etc. There is a small built in leather card holder that has 2 pockets so can carry your license and credit cards. I took a photo with my cards inside so you can see what it looks like. I usually like to place my receipts in here while shopping. One cute little detail is that the classic Coach leather tag hangs inside in this compartment from a gold D ring. It's such a beautiful touch!

2) The middle zippered compartment is small (as is the length of the zipper) and I use this as my makeup bag section to hold my beauty essentials.

3) The last zippered compartment is where I carry my important things. It has a long pocket and a cellphone pocket. I usually put my LV key holder in the long pocket and my iPhone 5S fits perfectly in the cellphone pocket. My small wallet also fits great in this section.

It's definitely not annoying to have 3 zippers and compartments. Since I know where everything is, I always open up the right compartment I need and never have to dig around my bag to find things. I also love that if I need to pack this bag up with my long wallet or iPad, I can! It's rare for a mini bag to have room to carry so much.

I avoid wearing it with really dark denim and new denim. But I do wear it with my denim jackets and recently noticed there was a tiny bit of denim color transferred on the handles. Nervously I used my trusty Kiwi leather cleaner and the denim color literally wiped right off in one stroke! Coach also sells their own leather cleaner and I also hear that magic eraser does wonders too. The zippers are smooth for me and I haven't had any problems with the hardware. In fact, overall this bag gets an A+ in quality. I can't say the same for a lot of designer bags that cost closer to the $2,000 range. Again, another reason to love the Mini Borough so much more!

Coach Mini Borough in Edgepaint Leather White/Navy with gold hardware ($378 at Coach.com)
Also comes in Warm Grey/Blue Oxford with silver hardware

Related Coquette Links:

Preview the new Coach Borough Bags
Coach Borough Bag Spotted on Jessica Alba

Coach Mini Borough bag was provided by Coach for this review.

Valentine's Day Gifts at Coach

Coach can help you celebrate Valentine's day with it's signature Vermillion color. I'd be happy to take either the Mini Borough Bag in Retro Glove Tan Leather ($378) or the new Bleeker Mini Riley Carryall ($258). The bags are just the right pop of color to have now with your dark winter clothes and will give you a head start into the warm weather we can look forward to this spring. I also love the new blush colors that are available now in most of the bag and wallet styles. Even if you don't have a Valentine, aren't you worth it to treat yourself? Coach has always been one of my go-to places for gifts because of the variety they have and their prices don't hurt your wallet either!

Here are more great Vday gifts at Coach:

The Large Clutchable in Bar Stripe Leather ($498)

Madison Felicia Crossbody in Two Tone Python Embossed Leather ($218)

Bleecker Mini Skinny in Painted Dot Coated Canvas ($38)

Heart Locket Bangle ($128)

Poppy Freesia Blossom ($65)

Half Inch Hinged Leather Turnlock Bangle ($118)

Pave Stud Rose Gold Earrings ($48)

Waverly iPhone 5 Case in Multi Heart ($38)

Coach Borough Bag: Spotted on Jessica Alba

(Photos: Zimbio)

Jessica Alba looks happy sporting her Coach Borough Bag in Pebbled Leather ($548 at Coach) while filming her upcoming movie, "How to Make Love Like an Englishman". She's wearing it in the perfect fall color Oxblood and from the looks of the stills, this bag works perfectly dressed up or casual for the weekend.

The Borough Bag in Pebbled Leather ($548 in Black, Oxblood, Alpine Moss)
13 3/4" (L) x 9" (H) x 5 1/2" (W)

It's no surprise this new Coach Borough bag has become so popular among trend-setting celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker and Lea Michele (see my previous post with lots of Borough eye candy). This durable bag continues the trend for subtlety in design among handbags. What I also love? That this sophisticated tote is completely affordable. (Get this bag on your holiday wish list now!) This is the perfect sized bag for everyday, not to big to carry around for fun weekend times, yet roomy enough for the office.

The Borough Bag also comes in polish calfskin ($598) in the regular size in black or teal.

The Large Borough Bag in Polished Calfskin ($898 in Black, Oxblood)
16 1/4" (L) x 11 1/2" (H) x 6 1/2" (W)

If you carry more to work such as a laptop and files, then you can go big with the Large Borough Bag where you can fit so much more. The long strap that's attached to the bag is perfect for when you need to carry the bag over your shoulders.

The large size also comes in pebbled leather ($798 in Black or Alpine Moss).

The Mini Borough Bag in Pebbled Leather ($378 in Black, Oxblood, Alpine Moss)
9 3/4" (L) x 7" (H) x 3" (W)

The Mini Borough is the perfect little crossbody bag which I am coveting in Oxblood for the holidays. The bag features three zippers and plenty of compartments inside for you to hold your essentials. The long strap is a great way to go hands free! You can also get it in polished calfskin ($398 in Black).

Shop The Borough Bag collection at Coach.com.

Related:
Preview the New Coach Borough Bags

Phillip Lim for Target Mini Satchel Giveaway Winners!

First off, thank you to everyone who entered my Phillip Lim for Target Mini Satchel giveaway. I read all the comments, especially for those of you who woke up early to stand in line and couldn't snag a bag. I wish I could give everyone a bag, but I only have two to give out. So without further ado, the two winners are Betz from N. Potomac, MD (black) and Angie from San Diego, CA (gold) for each winning their own mini satchel!

More giveaways to come on Coquette! xo

Preview the New Coach Borough Bags

(Photos: Courtesy of Coach)

The new Coach Borough Bags bring to mind a Parisian style and refinement to the likes of Saint Laurent or Celine. This new collection will launch on October 16th at Coach stores and online at Coach.com. Models Karlie Kloss and Liu Wen, featured in the Coach fall ad campaign, have also been wearing their bags on their off duty days.

The Marobox Borough bags feature rich smooth polished leather and subtle logo placement in a classic top handle box bag with long strap. Since using my Coach Madison Sadie these past months, I love the multiple ways you can carry a bag either with the handles or over the shoulder. With the Borough bags, you can also carry them crossbody. The bags also come in a pebbled leather version if you like texture to your bags and want something more worry-free in terms of scratches. This new Coach collection will surely be a classic. I'm majorly impressed!

Update 11/5/13: The Coach Borough bags have launched and I have updated this post with direct links.
See my new post on the Borough bags.

Marobox Borough Bags (3 sizes: Large $898, Medium $598, Small $398)
Colors: Black, Teal (only in Medium)

Pebbled Borough Bag (3 sizes: Large $798, Medium $548, Small $378)
Colors: Oxblood, Alpine Moss, and Black

Leopard Marobox Borough with hair calf ($1,198)

Alpine Moss Borough bag as seen on @coachblkrwomen.

(Photo: UK Dailymail)

(Photo: Zimbio)

Sarah Jessica Parker walking her daughters to school with a Borough bag in Alpine Moss.

(Photo: Zimbio)

Lea Michele with a large pebbled borough.

(Photos: Zimbio)

Jessica Alba with a Coach Borough bag in pebbled leather/Oxblood.

Related:
Coach New York Stories: Q&A with Models Karlie Kloss and Liu Wen

Coach New York Stories: Q&A with Models Karlie Kloss and Liu Wen

Coach just launched their Fall/Winter 2013 campaign with their theme "Coach New York Stories". The theme features models Karlie Kloss and Liu Wen in a refreshing personal take on each model's life in the Big Apple. (For the world of Coach men, there's model Will Chalker.)

I'm particularly excited to see the rise of Chinese model Liu Wen in a top American campaign (She's also one of the Estee Lauder gals.) To see an Asian model with such natural beauty in a big campaign such as this, is a wonderful reflection of our diverse culture in the U.S. Not many big fashion brands do this, so thanks Coach!

Follow #CoachNewYorkStories to find out more.

Watch the videos below for a Friday + weekend treat:

Q&A with Karlie Kloss

1. What do you love the most about New York?
One of the greatest things about living here is that you never know what the day holds…or where it will take you.

2. What is your favorite place in New York?
The West Village is home to all of my favorite things. It feels like this little town in the heart of this huge city. There are so many great things to love. It is incredible how many people come together here, yet we all share the same backyard.

3. How does it feel to be part of Coach’s Fall/Winter 2013 ad campaign?
Growing up in St. Louis, everyone knew the name Coach – the iconic New York brand. And now that I call New York my home, I have a special connection to this brand that I grew up with. It’s so wonderful to be part of all of this.

4. How would you describe your style?
It’s the little things that can mean the most. This is my style – things that are simple, timeless, genuine.

5. What is your favorite bag from the Fall/Winter 2013 collection?
During the day, I love to carry the Borough Bag, while the Urbane Crossbody Bag has been my go-to for evenings out in the city.

6. What is your favorite lifestyle piece from the Fall/Winter 2013 collection?
The cape is going to be the perfect fall accessory for me - instant drama and foolproof warmth.

Shop Karlie's Lookbook on Coach.com.

1. What do you think makes New York so iconic?
When I was growing up, New York was the one place I always wanted to discover. I would watch the King Kong movie and imagine myself standing at the top of the Empire State Building overseeing this great city. Since then, I became a model and started traveling to New York on a regular basis; I discovered the city was everything and more!

2. What is your favorite place in New York?
The best part about the city is all the contrasts. Each of its many neighborhoods and boroughs have great personality: uptown, downtown, the upper east side, the upper west side, Chelsea, the West Village, the city, the beach…I can’t possibly choose one favorite place because the city in its entirety is what I enjoy.

3. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I have found so many great places in New York. There’s my favorite tea shop on the Lower East Side. I also love that there is a museum for everything – my favorite ones to visit are the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. And there is nowhere else like Coney Island – it is like being in a fairytale.

4. How does it feel to be part of Coach’s Fall/Winter 2013 ad campaign?
I am so excited to be working with Coach, an iconic American brand that offers not only amazing leather products but also great style! Coach embodies the effortless New York City style that I have come to love and adopt.

5. How would you describe your style?
I like to think of it as a little feminine with a touch of tomboy.

6. What is your favorite bag from the Fall/Winter 2013 collection?
I am currently obsessing over the Mini Borough Bag in Oxblood. I’ve been wearing it all over New York.

7. What is your favorite lifestyle piece from the Fall/Winter 2013 collection?
The Leather Tunic is a great staple for any wardrobe.

Shop Liu's Lookbook on Coach.com.

Note: Q&A and photos courtesy of Coach.

Phillip Lim for Target Mini Satchel Giveaway!

Hello my lovelies! I spent the bulk of last Saturday night online trying to shop for the Phillip Lim for Target collection. Thanks to Twitter and the #philliplimfortarget hashtag, I didn't feel alone and actually had a few laughs. That's what social media is all about right?

I decided to share the love and add a couple more of the highly coveted mini satchels into my cart as a giveaway for you gals. Why? Because I I know how the bags in this collection sold out so fast and a lot of you were disappointed you couldn't snag one, even after waking up early and waiting in line on the launch day at Target. These bags are not only super cute, the quality so far is great for something that's not real leather.

Bag Details:
Shell Material: Polyurethane
Liner Material: Cotton
Closure Style: Zip Closure
Compartment details: Interior zip pocket
Handle Type: Shoulder Strap
Dimensions: 7.5 " H x 4.5 " W x 7.38 " D
Care and Cleaning: Wipe Clean

So without further ado, I present you the Phillip Lim for Target Mini Satchel Giveaway! I am giving away two mini-satchels, one in black and one in gold.

How to Enter:


1. Leave a comment to this post below telling me why you want to win the Phillip Lim for Target Mini Satchel and what color is your first choice.

Make sure you enter in your email address (won't be published). All entries must be in by October 7, 2013 at midnight PST. This giveaway is open to the U.S. only.

**Extra Optional Entries:


1. Follow @coquette on Twitter (Please leave your twitter handle in the comment to this post.)

2. Tweet about this contest. Click here to tweet automatically or copy and paste the following:

I just entered to win a #philliplimfortarget mini satchel from @coquette. Enter here:http://bit.ly/16r3oUu #giveaway

3. Like Coquette on Facebook.

4. Follow @coquettenatalie on Instagram. (Please leave your handle in the comment as well.)

5. Regram or take a screenshot of this giveaway photo in my Instagram and share it with your followers, making sure to include the hashtag: #coquettegiveaway so I can easily find your extra entry.

That's up to 5 extra entries you can get!

Details:
The giveaway ends on October 7, 2013 at midnight PST and is only open to U.S residents. I will choose the two winners from two random numbers picked from random.org. Winners will receive notification by email by October 8, 2013. Should both winners have the same color chosen, whoever responds back to me first will get their first color choice.

Good luck!

10/7/13: This giveaway is now closed! Thanks to everyone who entered! The winners will be announced soon.

10/9/13: Congrats to the winners! Posted here.

Disclaimer: This giveaway is not affiliated with Phillip Lim or Target. I paid personally for the bags.

What's In My Bag: Coach Madison Sadie Flap Satchel

I've been carrying around my Coach Madison Sadie Flap Satchel ($498 at Coach) for the past month and can't express how much I love this bag. It's the perfect mid-size bag and you can wear it over your shoulder with the long strap, carry it with your hand with the handle, or stylishly on the crook of your arm. I have it in the camel color with the light gold hardware.

The new light gold turn lock is gorgeous and subtle, along with the gold-trimmed coach tag that hangs from the handle. This bag is a stunner! I first wore this bag out to an Estee Lauder Beauty Lab event that took place in SF at the end of July. I had quite a few women come up to me at the event to compliment me on my bag and to ask me where it was from. In fact, I get a lot of looks when I take this bag out. It's a classic.

The spectator saffiano leather of this bag makes it so lightweight and the neutral camel color is perfect for fall. This is my first camel color bag and I am loving how it matches everything in my wardrobe. I can't wait to wear it with blacks and grays when sweater season really starts to kick in. The Madison Sadie also comes in pink/red and blue/navy, as well as embossed lizard leather.

In addition to the Sadie's good looks, what I probably love the most about this bag is how functional the interior is. When I open it, everything has its place and I'm not digging around inside a black hole. I use the back thin compartment to hold my cellphone or keys for easy access. The front thin compartment fits my iPad Mini perfectly. I also like the open pockets that fit my sunglasses, tissues and miscellaneous items. For those of you wondering, the bag can fit a regular sized iPad with enough room to include your essentials. In fact, this bag has a nice compact look but you can honestly stuff this bag with more things should you need to. The satin lining inside the bag is an added plus since it keeps all my things in great shape.

Here's what I keep inside my Coach Madison Sadie Flap Satchel:

Contents:
Chanel long wallet
Louis Vuitton Cosmetic Pouch
Burberry lip gloss in Blush No.4
Burberry lipstick in Rosewood No. 4
Clarins Joli Rouge lipstick in Pink Magnolia
Louis Vuitton PM Agenda (used for to do lists, important notes)
iPhone 4S
iPad Mini
Chanel sunglasses
Tissues
Julia Rothman Mini-Journal
Pens (I like colorful ones as you can see.)
Louis Vuitton 4 key holder in Damier Azur (House keys)
Car key

When I am going out with my 4 year old daughter, I can also fit a small coloring book and a box of crayons.

Details:
Handle: 4 1/4" drop
Strap: 14" drop for shoulder wear
Dimensions: 13 1/2" wide X 9" high (5 1/2" depth)

Find out more details about the Coach Madison Sadie Flap Satchel at Coach.com.

Disclaimer: Bag was provided by Coach for this review.

Thursday Friday Artist Series - Get Samantha Hahn's Diamonds or Moto Canvas Bags

Spending your time this summer at the beach or by the pool? I love the whimsical canvas bags by Thursday Friday which feature popular luxury bags. My friend, illustrator Samantha Hahn (remember her shoe journal?) is now a part of Thursday Friday's Artist Series. Pick up one of the roomy Red Diamonds or Blue Moto canvas bags ($65). Each bag has an inner patch pocket so you can easily find your phone and keys. I love her signature watercolor style on these bags!

For quick trips to the grocery store or for your makeup, you may like the adorable pochette in Red Diamonds or Blue Moto ($35) which is lined in nylon and includes a D ring to clip your keys.

Read Samantha Hahn's Q&A with Thursday Friday.

Go Behind the Scenes with Luxury Brands: Goyard & Louis Vuitton

(Photos: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle)

French luxury brands Goyard and Louis Vuitton and known for their history of craftsmanship and their recognizable canvas patterns. I love getting a peek inside the studios of these two brands where you can see artisans working with their hands to create art.

Goyard

The SF Gate recently covered Goyard's painting workshop located in San Francisco in it's article Goyard Monograms - ABCs of Luxury. It's only one of three around the world where artists carefully paint and embellish bags with monograms, stripes, flowers, or custom designs.

A custom cable car design on luggage.

Louis Vuitton

(Photo: Marie Hennechart, The New York Times)

This week, Louis Vuitton opens up their exclusive doors to their atelier in Asnières, France (a suburb of Paris). The New York Times has official coverage of A Rare Look Inside the Atelier of Louis Vuitton. The article includes a plethora of photos that show the process of creating Louis Vuitton bags and luggages. Drool worthy!

(Photo: Purseblog)

Back in the U.S., Purseblog also has a preview inside the new Atelier at Louis Vuitton Soho in NY. Take a look!