Coach Pillow Tabby Bag Review: Is It Worth It or Just a Squishy Mistake?
I Think I’m Going Through Something…
Not in a ‘I am going to give myself a fringe’, kind of moment - side bar - I did want to but my hairdresser pointed out a fringe will not transform me into Suki Waterhouse, but in that slow-burn panic where you realise… you’re 35 and suddenly your buying the bags Gen Z are carrying to brunch with a Diet Coke and a claw clip.
First it was the Vintage Chloé Paddington, yes, the one with the oversized padlock that weighs more than a small child (by the way she is gorgeous) and now? I give you my latest attempt to rewind the clock: the Coach Pillow Tabby bag.
Why the Coach Tabby Pillow Is So Popular
There’s no denying the hype. The Coach Pillow Tabby shoulder bag is everywhere at the moment, a social media must have, TikTok-approved, and backed by that dreamy Jennifer Lopez campaign. It’s pillowy-soft, ultra-trendy, and actually affordable for a designer bag. I picked mine up from BrandAlley for £245, an absolute steal.
This is textbook Luxury for Less territory. Soft napa leather, a squishy silhouette, and a price tag under £300? For a moment, I really thought I’d nailed it.
But Here’s the Truth…
I’ve never liked Coach. And I can’t tell you why.
I love the idea of Coach. The price. The accessibility. The rebrand. (Though, I did like the denim range). Even the campaign, I mean, J.Lo in that oversized white shirt with a bright pink Tabby held over her head? No notes.
But when it comes to the bag in my own hands? Something doesn’t land. Coach doesn’t do it for me. I thought maybe I’d outgrown that feeling, but no, I didn’t like Coach when I was 15, and I don’t like it now.
Back in the day I was a DKNY monogram girl through and through. Coach always felt like the alternative everyone else loved, and I just… didn’t.
So, I opened the parcel, hoping to be pleasantly surprised.
But, I have notes.
1) The Colour looks Better with an Insta Filter than IRL
Ok, the pictures of the bag you are looking at have a filter on. This bag is advertised as ‘Ivory’. But, when I opened it… it’s definitely giving more of a dark beige. It photographs well - but IRL it is not as light as the photos. If you want a light/white bag - get the chalk, not the ivory.
Filter
No Filter
The Colour as Advertised
2) The Leather Didn’t Wow Me & I think It Will Crease Over Time
The Coach Pillow Tabby is soft, very soft, but to me, it doesn’t feel special - it feels flat. There’s something about it that just doesn’t quite have that “forever bag” energy. I wanted to love the leather, to feel that moment of, “Yes, you’re the one,” but it never came. A little too “influencer accessory of the moment” rather than a bag I’d wear 5 years from now. Also, I do not think this bag will age well, I think the leather will crease and look tired quickly when not stuffed. I also think it might tear easy… I have nothing to back that up…just a feeling. A car key scratch or a nail might ruin it.
And when you’re spending over £200 -even at a discount I don’t think you can have these concerns and dislikes.
So… Is the Coach Pillow Tabby Worth It?
For you? Maybe.
If you love that soft, squishy aesthetic and Coach is a brand you genuinely connect with, then yes the Pillow Tabby is a great entry-level designer bag. It’s stylish, it’s constructed well, heavy duty hardware, it can fit a decent amount in, well-priced, and gets you the look of a luxury cross-body or top handle bag without breaking the bank.
But for me? I think I need to be honest with myself. I’m not a Coach girl - never was. I’d rather put that £245 toward something that feels more “me.” I am a boxy structured leather gal. I’d rather save up for longer and spend more money.
Final Verdict: Send Her Back
(Note: I packed her back in all the packaging, protective wrap still on the hardware, tag still on, and tried on in my living room for exactly 10 minutes - with freshly washed hands and a clean white cotton dress)
This isn’t buyer’s remorse, it’s clarity.
Sometimes you buy a bag hoping it will magically turn you into the girl who wears it. But style doesn’t work that way. So while the Coach Tabby Pillow is beautiful, soft, and oh-so-Gen-Z, I think she’s going back in her dustbag and heading home.
The Good and the Bad:
Price Paid: £245 (from BrandAlley)
RRP: £450
Pros: Affordable, trendy, soft leather, fits a lot in with no issue, cross-body and top handle, J.Lo-approved
Cons: Not “forever” enough, logo isn’t for me, leather I am 100% will tire and crease at the front
Would I Recommend? Only if you love Coach already. I’d actually recommend getting the Coach Tabby 26 (non pillow) version in Chalk. I think the leather will last longer, its more robust as it’s ‘pebbled finish’ and I prefer the silhouette of the bag.
Love Alice Xxx
