Carry on: Why Coach’s Brooklyn and Tabby are the best bags for summer travel

Packing for a holiday often begins with this question: how many handbags should you bring? One for the flight, one for sightseeing, one for dinner – and suddenly, half your luggage allowance has gone to accessories alone.

That is where Coach’s Brooklyn comes in. Elegant, minimalist and roomy without looking like you are lugging half your life around, the Brooklyn gives you the space of a carryall without looking like a travel tote. It works for the airport just as it does for a beach escape, a city break or a quick weekend getaway that takes you straight from sightseeing to dinner.

What makes the Coach Brooklyn a good summer travel bag 

Sporting a hobo silhouette, comfortable wide shoulder strap and streamlined shape, the Brooklyn comes in different sizes, which means you can choose according to how much you actually carry, or how honest you are willing to be about overpacking. Here are our top picks for summer 2026:

Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 28, $550

Crafted in natural grain leather or suede, the Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 28 works well with denim shorts and a crisp shirt for sightseeing, or with a linen dress when your afternoon plans turn into an early dinner. 

Its interior has room for the usual holiday suspects – your phone, iPad, passport, sunglasses, a cardholder and other small extras – with the addition of a magnetic snap closure and a snap pocket that come in handy when you need to get to your essentials quickly.

Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 28 with wooden beading, $950

Coach also offers the Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 28 with wooden beading. Its bright bohemian pattern is hand-woven, adding a craft-led touch to the Brooklyn’s clean shape. 

Carry it to dress up a maxidress for dinner by the water, then again the morning after to stow away your swimwear. And when need be, its removable zip pouch can be carried on its own as a clutch. 

Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 34, $695

Need a little more room? The Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 34 – best paired with a breezy shirt dress for outdoor lunch reservations – has a roomy interior that can take on the things that pile up during a holiday day out without tipping into luggage territory. 

Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 39, $850

Then there is the Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 39, which fits a 15-inch laptop for holidays where you need to stay connected, and a scarf or knit you can throw over your shoulders on the plane. 

How to style the Coach Tabby for summer 

While the Brooklyn does the heavy holiday lifting, the Tabby is the bag to pack for plans that call for a little more polish. Reworked from a 1970s design, the Tabby is finished with Coach’s Signature hardware and comes in two travel-friendly sizes: the roomier Tabby 26 and the petite Tabby 20. 

Each features two detachable straps, making it a versatile travel bag to pack when you want a refined style with more than one way to wear it. Style it crossbody for sightseeing, sling it over your shoulder when heading out for dinner, or carry it by hand when the night calls for something dressier. One bag, fewer packing regrets. 

Tabby Shoulder Bag 26, $795

Crafted in natural grain leather with a soft, textured feel, the compact 26 features an exterior zip pocket for easy access to essentials, such as your phone, cardholder, keys and other daily must-haves. Perfect for whether you’re exploring the city in a sundress or light layers, or heading to dinner with a colourful blazer and a satin skirt. 

Meanwhile, the Tabby 20 is for days when you want to travel extra light, without losing the polish of a structured bag. Smaller than the 26, it suits late-night bites, rooftop drinks or holiday plans where all you need are the basics. 

Tabby Shoulder Bag 20 in renegerative cotton denim, $650

For something more casual-cool, there is a version crafted with refined leather and specially treated denim for a love-worn look that works with almost everything – like that favourite pair of jeans you wear to dress down a formal outfit. 

The Coach Brooklyn and Tabby come in their best summer colours yet 

Summer holidays are also a good time to loosen your grip on your favourite classic black bag. 

This season, Coach’s Tabby shades easily make the case: Dark Fuchsia perks up white shirts, denim and black dresses; Light Citron has the freshness you want for linen, swimwear and breezy separates; Amber Brown keeps things grounded if all you’ve packed are soft summer knits and sandals.

A white Tabby can even be just as surprisingly versatile, cutting through warm-weather outfits with a clean, crisp finish that works from daytime linens to dinner dresses.

Tabby Shoulder Bag 26 with quilting, $995

The Brooklyn in Maple Brown is the safer summer holiday colour if you still prefer a darker bag. Consider it a more polished take on chocolate brown: rich enough to elevate casual outfits like head-to-toe denim, but still neutral enough for walks in the park or when you’re relaxing at a beach club.

Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 28, $550

The Brooklyn and Tabby work better together than apart 

A summer holiday rarely stays neatly within one dress code, as an airport outfit can become a lunch one, just as a day bag can end up at a dinner. 

With the Brooklyn bringing space and the Tabby bringing polish, Coach makes a strong case for packing smarter without losing the fun of getting dressed.

Shop these Coach bags and more online or in-store at Coach boutiques islandwide.