My Friend Is Looking for Her Next Investment Piece—I Sent Her This Editor-Favorite Bag

If you're going to invest in a new fashion item, you want to be sure it'll stand the test of time. Personally, I leave pieces in my cart for weeks while researching materials, reading reviews, and stalking social media to see them in action—but that's my job. Some of my friends don't have this same luxury, so they rely on me to tell them what's worth their money.

Recently, my friend asked me to create a short list of bags she could add to her rotation, with the caveat that she could only buy one. I took the assignment seriously. She's a New York girl like me, so she needed something functional, able to take a little wear and tear, and cool enough to match her Lower East Side–girl wardrobe.

My first thought was the Coach Tabby Bag. It comes in a variety of sizes and finishes, including quilted leather and suede, denim, embroidery, and more. I'm particularly drawn to the Soft Tabby Shoulder Bag in Signature Jacquard ($395). To give my friend a real sense of what it looked like, I did what any good fashion editor friend would do: I brought it with me around the city. The verdict? It's a must-have. Coming in at just under $400, it's the kind of piece that feels worth every penny.

The first look I paired it with was an ultra-casual fit for a day of running around looking at apartments, stopping at my favorite cafes, and walking my dog. It was such a fun way to dress up track pants, a white tee, and ballet flats. It held everything I needed (dog treats included), and I loved having the option to throw on the crossbody strap—a necessity when you're dealing with a 90-pound dog like mine.

Of course, I had to take the bag to the office with me. While I did carry an extra tote for my laptop, it handled the heavy lifting for all my everyday work essentials. Once I walked into the office, I instantly got compliments from coworkers, which is always a sign of a worthy investment piece. I leaned into the brown leather details with a brown bomber jacket and matching socks, then added a blue sweater and white jeans to make the whole look pop. At lunch, I tossed my wallet and sunnies into the bag and had a little outside moment at the park. While this whole exercise was technically meant to help a friend, I have a feeling I'm about to get a Tabby for myself, too.

Shop the Tabby Bag