Coach vs. Chanel: Which is REALLY A Luxury Brand? | What Is Luxury Part II
Doctor Chrissie, MD
3,031 views
What actually makes something luxury?
Is it the price? The brand name? The materials and craftsmanship? Exclusivity? Or should we expect a luxury product to be significantly better made than something that costs a fraction of the price?
In this second part of my luxury series, we're going back to the basics and defining what we actually mean when we call something a luxury good. While luxury can certainly mean things like time, freedom, comfort, and financial security, this video is specifically about the material side of luxury: designer clothing, handbags, shoes, and other expensive goods.
Using TikTok creators and a closer look at luxury brands, including Chanel...and dare I say...COACH?!... we're going to explore the relationship between luxury, quality, and expense—and whether a high price automatically means you're getting a luxury product.
Because if something is expensive but the quality doesn't live up to the price…is it really luxury, or is it simply expensive?
This is Part II of this section in my continuing series exploring luxury, designer goods, shopping psychology, and what we're really paying for when we buy expensive things.
20 Comments
@elMARABIYOCHO1989 11 hours ago
I bet they are the same folks who look down on dupes while screaming that they buy real luxury items "for the quality".
@Fumi007 10 hours ago (edited)
I think luxury is about craftsmanship and quality, not name. A lot of these so-called "luxury companies" are just expensive. That's different. Also, I also have a problem with Chanel doing embossed leather because you can get real exotics for the same price. Why on earth would anybody pay that much money for leather other than the name brand?
@lizd6886 11 hours ago
1. Embossed leather is real leather that has been stamped with exotic patterns. So an embossed crocodile bag is a leather bag with crocodile pattern stamped.
2. I think there is a difference between a luxury and designer brand. A brand can be luxury and designer, or designer but not luxury. Currently, Chanel is more of a designer but not luxury, and coach is luxury, not that high on the designer chain
2. I think there is a difference between a luxury and designer brand. A brand can be luxury and designer, or designer but not luxury. Currently, Chanel is more of a designer but not luxury, and coach is luxury, not that high on the designer chain
@andreaf.6572 11 hours ago (edited)
The first lady has a right to be upset about the Chanel shoes “falling apart” after 1 wear. A $25 pair of shoes from Walmart would hold up better. I KNOW I’M BEING PETTY. I had to fast forward past her portion of the video because of the number of times she kept messing with her hair. She adjusted her hair 10x in one minute!!!! 10X!! I counted. It’s distracting and just plain annoying. Stop it!! 🙂
I have a pink leather Coach hobo bag that I have had around 15 years!! It’s one of my favorite bags of all time and the outside looks brand new. I get compliments on it all the time. I’m very hard on purses. I don’t baby them. The inside has some ink stains - but that’s totally on me!!!
I have a pink leather Coach hobo bag that I have had around 15 years!! It’s one of my favorite bags of all time and the outside looks brand new. I get compliments on it all the time. I’m very hard on purses. I don’t baby them. The inside has some ink stains - but that’s totally on me!!!
@jasminebaby3375 6 hours ago
The last time I purchased from Chanel was while I was on vacation in Madrid. I bought a pair of earrings and by the time I returned to the States, all of the rhinestones had completely fallen out.
I took the earrings, along with my receipt which was less than two weeks old to the Chanel location in San Francisco. To my disappointment, I was told I would have to pay for the repair 😢😢😢
That experience was the last time I ever purchased from Chanel.
For me, luxury is not only about the product. It’s also about the quality, service and care a brand provides after the purchase.
I took the earrings, along with my receipt which was less than two weeks old to the Chanel location in San Francisco. To my disappointment, I was told I would have to pay for the repair 😢😢😢
That experience was the last time I ever purchased from Chanel.
For me, luxury is not only about the product. It’s also about the quality, service and care a brand provides after the purchase.
@katyw7248 10 hours ago
Dior is kiling it, all their makeup is cohesive to their women's fashion. So chic and Dior is much more afforable than Chanel but excellent quality! Can we also discuss how LV which used to be more affordable is trying so hard to be this overpriced luxe brand but it is not. Seriously. Love Chanel but it is not what it was 20-30 years ago! The vintage pieces which I own from my mother are stunning and keep up way better than coach ever could. I just think spending more than $5k on a bag these days is silly stupid. We have too much happening in the world and we should buy what we love whether it's coach or Chanel. But we do not need the excess, I think too many are buying a ridiculous amount of bags which is just not looking well with the way our world is rn.
@chxslxydoncic 11 hours ago (edited)
Coach ❤ even tho it’s “affordable” I love my Birkin dupe. It has more leather than coach bag.
FYI, Luxury shoes are made for display.
FYI, Luxury shoes are made for display.
@ArttorneyNix 10 hours ago (edited)
The second girl is right… buy vintage. The older designer luxury items have really stood the test of time. My mom has a Louis Vuitton Saumur from 1991 and we replaced the strap in 2019. 2019! Then i saw a post saying that a girl just bought a Neverfull, posted the receipt and all and it’s falling apart. Ive also seen that Van Cleef bracelet post about the gold tarnishing. 😬 for $4000!
@emajjamarie 8 hours ago
Let’s be real. Luxury absolutely includes exclusivity. It’s not just about quality. Think about things like your electricity or your Wi-Fi or even an iPhone. It’s high-quality. It’s technically not a necessity, and it improves the quality of your life. But it’s not looked at as a luxury because everybody has it.
That’s also why it’s absolutely possible for luxury to mean different things to different people. I completely agree that Coach is luxury to the poor and to the lower middle class but to anyone who can comfortably spend $400 on multiple handbags, a $500 bag isn’t luxury. It’s not saying that rich people don’t buy Coach. They also have $20 bags that they got on vacation years ago. That doesn’t make that bag luxury either just because a rich person is willing to buy it.
That’s also why it’s absolutely possible for luxury to mean different things to different people. I completely agree that Coach is luxury to the poor and to the lower middle class but to anyone who can comfortably spend $400 on multiple handbags, a $500 bag isn’t luxury. It’s not saying that rich people don’t buy Coach. They also have $20 bags that they got on vacation years ago. That doesn’t make that bag luxury either just because a rich person is willing to buy it.
@yourstrulyOceano 6 hours ago
Vintage coach is where it’s at! I have a small pebbled leather shoulder bag from the 2000s and a black turn lock backpack from the 90s. The leather and hardware is gorgeous. They don’t have the big C on them. Just classic, everyday looks that I got for like $100 each on eBay
@Hudson.Saint13 8 hours ago
The main ones to have a problem with Coach are scammers. 👜 Coach has sentimental value to me.
@lspbeautea4791 8 hours ago
I’m over here with my loungefly that cost £80 that the most I’ll pay…. 😊
@sillygirlkc 10 hours ago
The only things i really remembered about Coach in the 2000s was the logo being everywhere. I have never super cared about where something is from, and never disliked Coach, i just didnt care for the logo print. I do miss a few 2000s style bags. I have 3 Coach bags now (bag is stretching it, one is a wristlet) but i like the prints that are more "me". I have a black/red strawberry print (i got a small attitude from the guy at the Coach store for asking about it since its Outlet and not regular Coach.... 🙄) and i have a Disney villain Ursula wristlet cuz shes just fabulous. I just got a vintage bucket bag that is just about perfect. Trying to make the change from big lady bags that will break my back to slightly smaller. Its tough as someone who has to be prepared for every eventuality 😂
Long story short, i would consider high end things if i had the money, if they werent boring and cheap (quality). That runway stuff looking otherworldly would go amazingly as cosplay for my Fae characters. If i had the money i would absolutely purchase some.
Long story short, i would consider high end things if i had the money, if they werent boring and cheap (quality). That runway stuff looking otherworldly would go amazingly as cosplay for my Fae characters. If i had the money i would absolutely purchase some.
@camiq1245 4 hours ago
I think the reason some modern brands are so polarising is because of their good quality.
If the quality is great, it lasts decades, is practical…why is it not luxury? The only argument at that point is lack of exclusivity and that the designs are perceived as too tacky. In essence its perceived as too common to be luxury.
Something being rare doesnt make it luxury. It however does mean its $ value may be increased because of scarcity. It can still be poor quality, or a design people see as tacky or too common.
Modern brands dont carry a status symbol. Maybe being able to spend thousands of USD on a heritage brand item is a status symbol because it demonstrates someone can afford to spend that on something regularly. It doesnt need to last long because it can be replaced or purchased, because this is not much $ to them.
If the quality is great, it lasts decades, is practical…why is it not luxury? The only argument at that point is lack of exclusivity and that the designs are perceived as too tacky. In essence its perceived as too common to be luxury.
Something being rare doesnt make it luxury. It however does mean its $ value may be increased because of scarcity. It can still be poor quality, or a design people see as tacky or too common.
Modern brands dont carry a status symbol. Maybe being able to spend thousands of USD on a heritage brand item is a status symbol because it demonstrates someone can afford to spend that on something regularly. It doesnt need to last long because it can be replaced or purchased, because this is not much $ to them.
@missmartin85 7 hours ago (edited)
❤ Great video! Many don’t understand HOUSE CODES. Coach IS NOT luxury but can feel luxurious if that’s the best you’ve experienced. I got my first Coach bag at 9 years old. I don’t want it now but I’m not judging you! Chanel sends me free stuff randomly and I still only buy what I’ll keep & love still in 15 years. It’s cheaper to buy Hermes sometimes but I don’t really love the designs. I own very little Dior. YSL is VERY reasonable too but I will be sticking with Chanel . I have 1 Coach bag for when I need to look subtle.
Edit: Luxury has little to do with quality. Luxury means it’s excessive and unnecessary by nature, but you’re willing to pay more for certain materials, structure, color, etc. Spending $400 does not mean luxury.
Edit: Luxury has little to do with quality. Luxury means it’s excessive and unnecessary by nature, but you’re willing to pay more for certain materials, structure, color, etc. Spending $400 does not mean luxury.
@suemoravec422 8 hours ago (edited)
I have more Coach retail bags then any other bag but I do not consider Coach as a luxury brand the high end luxury fashion houses do not manufacture outlet pieces at a lower price point with less expensive materials. You will never find a luxury piece at Ross or TJm Maxx. As far as I am concerned Coach retail bags offer the leather quality and hardware quality as other Fashion houses like LV or Chanel or even Bottaga, however I think of Coach as fast fashion with drops coming every month.
@bubls275 5 hours ago (edited)
Ok, so am I the only one who thinks that if you have the money to buy luxury shoes... you should probably have a good shoe cobbler... Like, I get that it should have held up longer, but this is exactly what cobblers fix. Idk, i would have taken those guys to the shop before I stepped into them for protective measures. If you are going to spend the money, know how to protect your purchase.
@seabreeze4559 36 minutes ago
I thought in America, Coach is considered a black brand, chanel is considered white? In America Hermes is considered Asian. i think. The average customer for each. It's silly. Segregation by designer brand is very American. America is race obsessed. Like tribal fashions but for race. Corporations have replaced religion so they identify as a brand it's creepy, like oh I'm a alaia girl, I'm a Burberry girl, I'm a coach or chanel girl it's pseudoreligious but also racial triangulation so who gets to flex explains the pivot to the row over Hermes, dior from chanel etc like white flight for bags but also Asians are wary not to be associated with so called ghetto fashion or escorts but oddly American ghettos were originally Jewish. Not mixed or black.
@stephaniehuthmacher4214 8 hours ago
I'd rather have my Laurel Burch cat bags than any of these "luxury" name brands. More my style, last forever, make me happy looking at the colors and patterns!!
Coach vs. Chanel: Which is REALLY A Luxury Brand? | What Is Luxury Part II
Doctor Chrissie, MD
3,031 views
What actually makes something luxury?
Is it the price? The brand name? The materials and craftsmanship? Exclusivity? Or should we expect a luxury product to be significantly better made than something that costs a fraction of the price?
In this second part of my luxury series, we're going back to the basics and defining what we actually mean when we call something a luxury good. While luxury can certainly mean things like time, freedom, comfort, and financial security, this video is specifically about the material side of luxury: designer clothing, handbags, shoes, and other expensive goods.
Using TikTok creators and a closer look at luxury brands, including Chanel...and dare I say...COACH?!... we're going to explore the relationship between luxury, quality, and expense—and whether a high price automatically means you're getting a luxury product.
Because if something is expensive but the quality doesn't live up to the price…is it really luxury, or is it simply expensive?
This is Part II of this section in my continuing series exploring luxury, designer goods, shopping psychology, and what we're really paying for when we buy expensive things.