I'm Not Usually A Bag Girl, But This Luxe Crossbody Has Made Me A Convert

I’ll admit it — as a member of Gen Z, I’m chronically online, which means I’m chronically ahead of the trends. (Sorry not sorry.) If TikTok has taught me anything this season, it’s that the best-dressed Zoomers all continue to be collectively obsessed with late ‘90s nostalgia and low-key colorways. And Coach is the brand that’s taking over my feed for fall. The official ‘Cool Girl’ label of the early aughts has revived its most iconic bag for the digital age: The Times Square Tabby shoulder bag with quilting, which comes in classic neutrals, in addition to the color of the season — a moody merlot you’ll legit want to carry for decades.

Source? Experience: I tested out the Times Square Tabby myself to see if it could go the distance from vintage shopping on a Saturday morning to a rare trip into the office that next week. Prior to this experiment, I owned exactly one purse, a LeSportsac tote, but I’m calling it now: The Times Square Tabby is the the last day-to-night bag you’ll ever need. Here’s how the bag fit into my day-to-day.

Weekend Vintage Hunting

For some Saturday morning vintage shopping in Brooklyn I needed my hands free and didn’t want to feel weighed down wandering from store to store, so it seemed like an ideal time to test out the Times Square Tabby. The weather was unseasonably warm, but I couldn’t bring myself to dress like it was summer and opted for jeans — fashion’s great equalizer — with a chunky cardigan with metallic Mary Janes. I’d tossed my phone and a wallet inside, but still had plenty of room to spare for extras without hauling my go-to tote. Meanwhile, the bag’s rich burgundy tone played surprisingly well with my patterned pastel knit: Bold enough to stand out, but neutral enough to mix and match with less expected color combinations. Its shorter chain strap stayed handily on my shoulder as I sifted through the racks and was easy to toss behind me when walking between stores. Although the bag looked luxe, it didn’t feel out of place in such a casual setting. I felt a little more dressed up, sure, but — more importantly — I felt comfortably myself.

Entering My Corporate Era

Normally I WFH, so “going into the office” always feels like an event. My aesthetic skews heavily thrifted, and I don’t really own a lot of traditional workwear. (Whatever that means anymore.) Still, I wanted to feel a little more confident than I actually was — especially as somebody with no assigned desk — and I wanted to do it without sacrificing my personal style, since I was meeting a friend for drinks after work. I figured it was a prime opportunity to wear some professional-looking trousers and then added a cardigan to ward off any aggressive air conditioning. The Times Square Tabby’s rich wine tone contrasted the baby blue sweater hue in a very cool way — I wasn’t kidding when I said Gen Z loves unexpected color combos.

The Times Square Tabby is the bag you throw in your work tote when you have somewhere cooler to go later. It’s not big enough for a laptop or tablet (for that you’ll want the Brooklyn 39) but rather it’s sized for the kinds of essentials you know you’ll always need. I was able to slip the Times Square Tabby into my trusty LeSportsac for commuting on the train. And when I had to run out for lunch, it was easy to grab just the Tabby and go without bringing the entire contents of my work bag.

It’s Giving Subtle Flex

The Times Square Tabby is a bag that says “I have my life together” no matter how many times you hit snooze that morning. Its quilted texture and luxe gold logo hardware look expensive, but the nappa leather is washed for a weathered, vintage finish that gives its heritage silhouette a downtown edge that’s daytime-friendly. NGL, I was worried the bag would be a little too ~extra~ for my everyday style, but the washed leather toned down the vibes. It’s office-friendly for the days your department head is in without leaning overly corporate, and the option to swap out the casual leather crossbody strap for a chunky gold chain serves up work-to-weekend versatility.

What (Actually) Fits Inside?

Lots of pockets made it easy to stay organized: I tucked my phone and a small notebook in the two main compartments while my card case went into the zippered sleeve pocket for security, and I still had enough room left over for lip gloss and a claw clip. (Like I said, essentials.) There’s a snap pocket on the back of the bag, too, which is great for keeping your phone accessible if you need to send a quick text or snap a quick pic when you’re on the go.

Verdict: Yasss

If you want an accessible designer bag that’s ready to throw down no matter the outfit, the Times Square Tabby is a solid investment. It will add an old-money vibe to baggy jeans and a T-shirt without skewing overly fancy for a coffee run, and you can dress her up for a night out with that luxe gold chain strap. The size is right for tossing into a larger tote for commuting or travel, too, but big enough that you have room for more than just the essentials. You’ll have ample opportunity to do it all: Coach bags are synonymous with quality so, if you take the plunge, prepare for a long-term relationship that will outlast any passing trends.