Joy Gryson

Coach's Reed Krakoff announced today that he's stepping down from the role of creative director to focus on his namesake luxury label. While Krakoff's contract with the brand doesn't end until the summer of 2014, he'll be working on an advisory basis until then. Which means that Coach's search for a new creative director is most certainly under way. Krakoff's partnership with Coach's retiring CEO Lew Frankfort lasted a remarkable 16 years, and launched the leather-goods label into a new financial stratosphere. In 1996, when Krakoff came on board, sales were $500 million. In 2012, they reached almost $4.8 billion. Frankfort's successor, Victor Luis, is already in place. (And a longtime member of the Coach team.) Whomever is brought on to replace Krakoff will have to be able to handle the tremendous financial pressure being a public company brings, but also help to expand Coach's brand beyond handbags. Clothing, in particular, is an area where there is tremendous opportunity for growth, both abroad in and the US. But who will it be? We're sure Coach will search internally first, and that the search may end there. But it's fun to consider outsiders. Here are our semi-educated suggestions for whom Coach should appoint as its next creative director. What do you think?

Handbag designer Joy Gryson makes seriously covetable Italian leather bags for everyone from Target shoppers (she did a collaboration line there in 2008) to those willing to spend thousands on a backpack. Between her namesake line, the trendier lower-priced Olivia Harris line, and the newly-launched evening bag line, Capsule, the woman is definitely someone who deserves a vacation. Recently, Joy and her husband and business partner, Pete, took some much-needed R&R to St. Barth's for their 10 year wedding anniversary (are they not a painfully adorable couple??). Check out the snaps they took of the tropical island. Jealous? I know I am.

Joy Gryson, who rose through the world of accessories at Marc Jacobs before starting her own eponymous line, is launching yet another collection. Thi