Coach Brooklyn 39 Bag Review
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The Coach resurgence is real. I finally caved in and bought my first Coach bag in over 15 years!
I was looking for a larger tote-style bag that didnāt have such an office look. Something that looked chic, that can fit many things inside including a laptop, and go with my New York City style.
The bag that did it was the minimal sleek Coach Brooklyn 39 Shoulder Bag, made of 100% natural grain leather.
I bought this large hobo bag online without trying it in person, so Iām going to go over my honest review of this bag including:
- Pros & Cons of this style
- Size comparison
- Quality, is it worth it?
- What to wear with the Brooklyn 39 Bag
What I Like about the Coach Brooklyn Bag
Firstly, I was drawn to the minimalistic style. While this is a trendy bag going into 2025, I feel that it has a timeless look that can be worn for years and years to come.
The leather is a buttery soft, almost silky-like leather that looks very high-end.
I also liked how this style was large enough to fit plenty inside without sacrificing style. Some tote bags have an āoffice lookā that wouldnāt translate to the weekend. This style can be worn in both a professional way and casually.Ā
ProsĀ
- 100% natural grain leather with white stitching
- The large arm opening makes this style easy to wear with jackets
- Has a wider shoulder strap that distributes weight easily on your shoulder
- Very large capacity to hold things inside
- Sleek minimal style that goes with everything with a small discrete logo
- Versatile- can be a work, gym, and weekend hybrid bag
- Comes in a few colors
- Packs flat in a suitcase great as a travel bag to your destination.
First Impressions of the Bag
Here were my first impressions of the Coach Brooklyn 39 Bag. I was really pleased with this style, and it was everything that I expected.
Things I Dislike about the Brooklyn Bag
Donāt get me wrong, I love my new bag, but there are always some cons or things I want to point out that should be on your radar.Ā
This style does not have a zipper. That is one of the biggest cons that I find in this bag, especially if you want to set this bag down, because of its longer shape it does kinda flop down on the floor and your items may spill out.
Instead of a zipper, youāll just find a magnetic closure.
There are also limited compartments. Just one large opening with a side pocket. Not so great for inside organization, but it allows you to use every square inch of this bag.
Because the leather is smooth, any scratch might show through more than tougher grain leather. So I would be cautious when using this style.
Cons:
- No Zipper, just a magnetic closure
- Limited compartments. One large opening with one side pocket.
- Leather can scratch
Size Comparison
There are three sizes of the Brooklyn bag: the shoulder 23, 28, and the 39.
The biggest deciding factor for me was what size to get. I was in between the 28 and the 39 but ultimately went with the larger size.
I wanted a chic tote bag that was large enough to fit my entire day inside like a laptop, notebook, snacks, water bottle, and papers with extra room for any purchases from my errands on my way home.
As you know, in New York, you have to pay for shopping bags, and Iād rather stick my bottle of Cabernet in my purse vs. pay for a tiny āreusableā bag from the store.
You could use this as a work bag and still stick in an extra change of clothes if you want to hit the gym on your commute.
I can see that this is a city girl’s favorite because it looks chic and timeless- yet itās so functional for those who have to carry their entire lives with them when they leave the door.Ā
The Brooklyn 28, the medium size just wasnāt big enough for the purposes I wanted this bag for.
But if you donāt need to fit so much inside, this is still a very chic option that can be used as a work bag and a weekend tote.
P.S. You can manage to fit a laptop in the Brooklyn 28 bag, but the laptop will stick out at the top a little bit.
Now just remember that the 39 vs the 28 size difference is quite substantial, and if you are petite the Brooklyn 39 might look large on you. I am 5ā10 and I think the Brooklyn 39 looks proportional.
Quality & Price Point
The Brooklyn 39 shoulder bag retails for $495 and comparing the price to the quality I think this bag is worth it.
You can find a few contemporary brands with 100% leather around this price point, but for a trending style, I think itās priced fairly.
Because of its versatility, I believe youāll get your cost per wear especially if you are using this as an everyday work/ school tote bag.
After owning and using my bag for a few months now, I do see some visible wear, but that is to be expected especially if you use it often. However, the bag is in great condition, kept its shape, and still has that new look.
I also love that I can wear this on the weekend, and if I need to pop into a store, I donāt need to use a plastic shopping bag. I can simply put my weekly groceries and essentials in this tote bag without having to carry another bag (which always ruins the look).
How to Style the Brooklyn Bag
One of the reasons why I got this bag is because it can be styled with nearly every look- which makes the price worth it in my opinion.
You can wear this year-round, and because of the larger arm opening you can wear this with coats in the winter.
Where to buy
If you want to touch and feel and see what size youād like- Iād check out a Coach Store.
However, I went in with my gut and purchased this style online before trying it out.
Believe it or not, I bought my Coach Bag on Amazon.
Through Amazon, it came in two days wrapped nicely with padding so there would be no damage in transport. It did not come in a Coach Box but simply a plastic coach bag.
Watch my unboxing here:
Overall, I love the style and versatility of this bag. You can fit everything and the kitchen sink inside.
And if you were looking for a sleek leather tote that can be worn to work and on the weekends. I recommend this style.
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