When I was in college (2014-2018), all of the cool girls had Tory Burch sandals. You know the ones: giant logo in the middle of a T-strap thong. Of course, as a girl who loves trends, I wanted them too. However, the fad came and went, and I never got a pair. So imagine my surprise when—slowly but surely—I’ve seen them popping up again. I see them on my Instagram and Pinterest feeds, but I also see them walking down the streets of Chicago.
Before the T-strap sandals, there were, of course, the iconic Tory Burch ballet flats. They came in endless shades of leather with a scrunched heel and a big metal logo front and center. So now, when we think of Tory Burch, we think of the logo plastered across everything. But I’m here to tell you that the Tory Burch logo frenzy of the 2010s is decidedly not the Tory Burch you can get right now.
Over-the-top logos and simple footwear have taken a backseat to truly unique, high-fashion but wearable pieces at an accessible mid-range price point. Every single piece I’ve seen from Tory Burch this year has quite literally stopped my scroll and made me add a thing or two to my ever-growing wishlist board on Pinterest.
That’s why I had to break down exactly why I think Tory Burch is poised to make the next Coach-level revival—and why you should hop on board before it blows up.
The Tory Burch Revival, AKA the Toryssance
The overall vibe and direction of the Tory Burch brand started to change in 2020, after Tory Burch herself stepped down from her title of CEO to take a strictly creative and design-focused role as Chief Creative Officer.
Fashion insiders have been discussing this Tory Burch renaissance—AKA the “Toryssance”—for a couple of years. But now, the brand’s revival has trickled down from their seasonal shows at New York Fashion Week runways to wearable and accessible everyday pieces.
How Does a Fashion Comeback Happen?
If you’re a fan of Coach, you know that their comeback over the last five years has been unlike any other brand. They went from an outlet-focused, sleepy mall brand to a Gen-Z favorite and viral sensation with a line-up of incredibly designed bags in high-quality leathers and a stellar marketing strategy.
They cast Gen-Z celebrities like Elle Fanning, Paige Beuckers, and Lola Tung to bring their brand to an entirely new audience of consumers. What followed was something they probably didn’t anticipate: a newfound interest (and major price hike) in secondhand Y2K Coach bags. Now, Tory Burch is doing a similar thing by casting Alex Cosani in their most recent campaign.
It’s not surprising that Tory Burch is set up to be the next brand creating a revival frenzy akin to Coach’s. The fashion cycle tends to come back around every 10 or so years, so any Y2K and 2010s darling is up for grabs. The difference between Coach and Tory Burch versus similar price-range brands that haven’t quite caught up (like Michael Kors and Kate Spade), is that they are meeting consumers where they are now.
Doing something new, such as Tory Burch’s viral pierced footwear, is what brings shoppers back. Then, you can bring back old favorites with a fresh look. And only after those two things are done do people start caring about vintage, secondhand pieces.
So if you’re interested in the Tory Burch aesthetic, I’d suggest holding on to any of your 2010s pieces, and maybe picking a thing or two up on Poshmark, Depop, or eBay sooner rather than later.
Shopping Guide: What Tory Burch is Doing Now
There is definitely a lot of buzz surrounding Tory Burch’s recent runway shows, featuring slightly sporty, easy-to-wear pieces in gorgeous colors and textures. However, I am going to focus on two categories that I think are truly worth your attention: bags and shoes.
The brand’s selection of mid-range bags and unique footwear is what will take your already existing wardrobe to the next level. You can wear your favorite jeans and white tee, but add something like the Pierced Mule, Studded Ballet Flat, or cow-print Charlie Shoulder Bag to instantly make the look feel more fashionable and cool.
Tory Burch Bags
Perhaps the buzziest Tory Burch handbag style of recent years is the Lee Radziwill, which comes in endless colors and textures (and is more of a high-end bag). Popular everyday product lines include Charlie, Romy, Kira, and Fleming, which all come in a wide range of silhouettes, sizes, and materials.
Tory Burch Shoes
In addition to new styles featuring unique cut-outs, hardware, beading, and more, Tory Burch recently brought back the iconic Reva Ballet Flat I mentioned earlier. You can also still get the T-strap Miller Sandal, in fresh textures like suede and jelly.
Jessica Welsh, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor
Jessica oversees and edits all fashion and beauty content on The Everygirl. She also writes in-depth styling stories, trend reports, capsule wardrobes, and more. She was previously the Commerce Editor for The Everymom, where she oversaw all shopping content on the site and social. She has created editorial content for major brands such as Nordstrom, Old Navy, DSW, and Kohl’s.
Products included in graphics linked within article. Feature graphic images credited to: @toryburch
