Size Matters: Why I Downsized from the Brooklyn 39 to the Juliet 38
Sometimes smaller really is better (especially when it comes to Coach bags)
You know that feeling when you're torn between two perfect choices?
That was me last week, standing in Coach with the Juliet 38 in one hand and the Brooklyn 39 in the other.
Both beautiful, both practical, but only one could come home with me.
The Brooklyn 39 had me at first sight with its structured elegance and professional air.
It was the "sensible" choice – the kind of bag that says "I have my life together and probably meal prep on Sundays."
Perfect for work and stunning with a blazer, not not quite “cool-girl” with joggers and a quarter-zip (my usual at-home daily wear).
The Brooklyn is like a grown-up tote bag, and I’m nothing if not a tote bag girl at heart.
But then there was the Juliet 38.
A little smaller, a lot sassier, with curves in all the right places. Yes, I went there.
The sort of bag that transitions effortlessly from morning meetings to afternoon errands to evening drinks.
While the Brooklyn 39 was telling me to buy more pencil skirts, the Juliet 38 was whispering "let's have an adventure."
In the end, it wasn't even close.
The Juliet 38 in black had that indefinable something – that perfect mix of practical and playful that matched not just my wardrobe, but my personality.
Sometimes the heart wants what it wants, even when it comes to handbags.
The Hunt for My Perfect Bag
Let's talk about what I was actually looking for, because isn't that half the battle?
I had a very specific wishlist that probably sounds familiar to many of you:
I needed something that could handle my laptop without screaming "work bag," had to be neutral enough to go with everything (even though that red Brooklyn was seriously tempting), and – here's the kicker – needed to be smooshable enough to stuff into my backpack during travels.
Yes, you read that right.
I'm a carry-on-only kind of girl whenever possible, and my perfect bag needed to play nice with my backpack.
Why Coach?
Well, here's the thing – I wanted something elevated but not precious.
Something that could handle being stuffed under airplane seats and tossed around during commutes without making me wince.
Coach hits that sweet spot of affordable luxury where you get gorgeous, quality pieces without needing to take out a second mortgage.
(Fun fact: this is only my second venture into luxury bags after my Celine Triomphe purchase in December 2024 – but that's a story for another day if you're interested!)
The Great Bag Battle: Breaking Down the Contenders
Let's dive into these bags, shall we? Because there's nothing I love more than a good, detailed comparison.
First up: The Brooklyn 39
This bag is a head-turner with its natural grain leather – which, by the way, is the closest you'll get to that raw, untouched leather feel.
The sales associate told me it's their softest texture, and they weren't kidding.
It's the kind of leather that will age like fine wine, developing this gorgeous slouch over time.
However, and this is a big however, its structured nature with that single top handle made getting my laptop in and out feel like a game of Tetris.
In black, it felt a bit... flat? Despite its beautiful construction, it was missing that certain something that makes you go "YES, this is it!"
Plus, while it passed my smooshability test (surprisingly well, actually), its more structured design meant everyone could tell when I had my laptop stuffed inside.
Enter: The Juliet 38
Made with glovetan leather (smooth and tumbled – very different from the Brooklyn's natural grain), this bag had me at first slouch.
Here's what sealed the deal: not only could I easily slip my laptop in and out, but you couldn't even tell it was in there!
It's like the Mary Poppins bag of professional purses.
The brass hardware adds just enough sparkle without being flashy, and the ability to swap out straps?
Swoon-worthy. Plus, that perfect slouch means it can go from boardroom to brunch without missing a beat.
The Dark Horse: Lana
I'll be honest – I almost got distracted by the Lana's built-in organization (something the Juliet definitely lacks).
But while the polished pebbled leather is practically indestructible, it was giving very “I grew up riding horses and don’t smoosh leather bags into backpacks” vibes when I was looking for more "I can handle anything you throw at me, including being stuffed in a backpack."
Yes, I’m very serious about being able to stuff this into my backpack.
So yeah, it failed the smooshability test spectacularly.
Sorry, Lana, it's not you, it's my travel habits.
Behind the Brand: What Made Me Love Coach Even More
You know how sometimes you walk into a store just looking for a bag, and you walk out with a whole new appreciation for a brand?
That's exactly what happened to me at Coach.
Let me spill some tea about what I learned, because it genuinely influenced my decision.
First off, can we talk about their leather standards?
Coach only accepts 33% of the leather they're offered.
That's like being pickier than me during sale season (and trust me, that's saying something).
They source from family-owned tanneries worldwide, and – this is important – they only use leather that's a byproduct of the food industry.
No animals are killed specifically for these bags.
But here's what really got me: their commitment to sustainability isn't just marketing fluff.
One of the sales associates (who's been with the brand for 7 years and owns 30 Coach bags herself!) told me this is actually what drew her to work there.
They're walking the walk, not just talking the talk.
Oh, and have you heard about Coachtopia?
It's their Gen Z-led sub-brand that focuses on sustainability and upcycling.
They literally take old bags and transform them into new styles. How cool is that?
Speaking of the sales team – can we appreciate how refreshingly honest they were?
When I asked about their favorites, one SA immediately pointed to the Brooklyn 28 in dark ruby (stunning, by the way), while another swore by the Juliet 25 with silver hardware (which, even though I'm a gold girl through and through, was decidedly SEXY).
There was this genuine enthusiasm that you can't fake, especially when they talked about Coach being "affordable luxury".
It's not trying to be something it's not – it's proud of being attainable and accessible while still maintaining quality.
Oh, and a fun fact for you: remember those cherry charms that went viral?
Turns out they've actually been around forever – it's not just a TikTok trend.
Coach just released a whole new collection honoring the motif right after Christmas 2024.
(Though between us, I'm probably going to grab a dupe from Amazon because $95 for a charm? Ya girl needs to draw the line somewhere!)
My Official Bag
This is my official bag, but since it wasn’t in stock initially, I had to come back later to pick it up.
I was in a rush, so I didn’t get the chance to check it in-store. Then, when I finally got it home, I noticed a small imperfection in the leather on the left-center side.
Thankfully, when I took it in, they confirmed that this is a natural part of the type of leather than Juliet is made of, and I didn’t have to worry that it was a premature scratch or anything I did to damage the leather.
While that slight imperfection is scratching my brain in the wrong way, I’ll learn to deal with it because…well, no one normal is looking close enough to notice that anyways! So, why should I let it bother me?
Life With the Juliet 38: The Good, The Great, and The "I Can Fix That"
Let's get real about what it's actually like to use this bag, because that's what really matters, right?
First, let's talk capacity, because this bag is seriously deceptive (in the best way).
My Juliet 38 swallows up my laptop, Kindle, wallet, and computer charger like they're nothing.
And here's the magic part – unlike the Brooklyn, which basically broadcasts "THERE'S A LAPTOP IN HERE" to the world, the Juliet keeps it our little secret.
The slouchy structure actually works in its favor, maintaining its elegant shape no matter what I throw in there.
Now, no relationship is perfect, and the Juliet and I have had our moments. Let me be totally honest about the things that aren't quite perfect:
There's no organizational structure inside beyond one small pocket for your phone/keys. (I'm eyeing some purse organizers on Amazon – will keep you posted!)
Image from coach.com It doesn't have feet on the bottom to protect it when you set it down. (Heard about some magnetic bag feet online that should solve this but haven’t bought any to test quite yet)
Image from coach.com Even with the lovely C detailing and brass hardware, it can feel a touch plain. But hey, that's what bag charms are for, right?
But here's why I'm still head over heels:
That perfect slouch means it works for everything from vendor meetings to grocery shopping
Image from coach.com The brass hardware adds just the right amount of luxe
It passes the ultimate travel test – it's totally smooshable for packing
Image from coach.com You can switch up the straps and add charms to change the whole vibe
One of my favorite things about this bag is how customizable it is.
While I couldn't justify the $95 Coach charms ($95 for a hunk of metal? Seriously?, I've found some great alternatives that'll give it that extra personality I'm looking for.
The gold C detail in the bottom right corner provides just enough branding without screaming "look at my designer bag!"
Final Thoughts: Why I'm Team Juliet (And Maybe You Should Be Too)
You know that feeling when you make a decision and a few weeks later you're like "Did I actually make the right choice?"
Well, I'm happy to report that the Juliet 38 and I are still going strong, and I'm more confident than ever about choosing her over the Brooklyn 39.
Here's what I've learned from this whole experience: sometimes the perfect bag isn't about finding something that ticks every single box right out of the gate.
It's about finding something with good bones that you can make perfect for you.
The Juliet 38 might not have come with built-in organization like the Lana or the structured elegance of the Brooklyn, but its versatility and potential for personalization make it the perfect canvas for creating exactly what I need.
For anyone else on the hunt for their perfect bag, here's my advice: think about how you'll actually use it, not just how you imagine using it.
Sure, we all want to be that person with the perfectly structured bag who never needs to stuff it into a backpack – but if you're like me and real life involves travel, laptop-lugging, and the occasional need to smoosh your bag into unlikely places, embrace that reality!
The right bag should work with your life, not make you work around it.
A quick note about value: as someone who's relatively new to the luxury bag game (remember, this is only my second piece!), I've found that Coach really hits that sweet spot of quality and attainability.
The Juliet 38 feels special enough to make me smile every time I reach for it, but not so precious that I'm afraid to actually use it.
And, well, isn't that exactly what we want from our bags?
Cheers,
P.S. - If you're interested in hearing about my journey beyond skincare into fashion, drop a comment below!
In the fall of 2024, I committed to learning how to style myself and to finally stop wearing the clothes my mom bought me in high school (yes, really…don’t judge).
And if you have any questions about the Juliet 38 or any of the other bags I mentioned, feel free to ask.