Good morning! 

How was everyone’s weekend? Ours was jam packed and Trevor was on call so I feel like it flew by. We got out and did all the summer activities like park festivals, lunch out, and the pool which made me so happy!

I had shared another Q&A box last week and received so many questions about my Chanel bag after this Reel. I attempted to type out my answers but realized I had so much to say and not enough space so a full blog post may be the answer. I am answering the most common questions below and if you have any further inquiries just leave them in the comments! 

 

 

Why a Chanel Bag?

I have always loved a good handbag and remember falling in love with the quilted design years ago, maybe middle school? I’m sure some of that had to do with my mom’s amazing taste but they have always been a brand I loved. 

Designer bags are expensive and I promised myself a few years ago I would only invest in Chanel bags going forward because you are guaranteed on your investment. I own other designer bags that have gone in and out of style and then just collect dust in my closet but I have never stopped carrying my Chanel bags.

I have sold a few and am keeping the others just in case Zahra wants them but moving forward I felt classic Chanel bags were always going to be what I reached for most. They also hold their value which many other bags do not. I could sell any of my Chanel bags right now for more than I purchased them for which is also reassuring. 

At the end of the day, buy and invest in what you love and will use the most! 

 

 

How did you decide on size?

I had originally been stalking the Chanel Coco and Trendy in small because I love a top handle bag and feel like the Coco is a great timeless piece. When I wandered into the store, they had just received a small and medium beige classic flap with gold hardware and I was stopped in my tracks. It’s one of the top bags on my list but I was not emotionally prepared for a mind change.

I research bags for months and think about the pros & cons ad nauseum! I tried both sizes on several times, took photos, and took some time to think about it. The SA was amazing and gave me a little while to think on it without selling them! At the end of the day, size is personal preference and I preferred the way the small looked on my frame. I also wanted this classic bag to be used for daytime and evening events like weddings/etc and I felt like the small was easier to dress up and looked less casual. I can fit my phone, sunglasses, cards, lipsticks, and other essentials in it so it works great for my needs!

The classic flap comes in a Mini, Small, Medium, Jumbo and Maxi but colors vary in sizes and material.

 

Chanel Classic Flap Bag Sizes: Dimensions (cm): Dimensions (inches)

Chanel Mini Square Flap Bag: 17 x 13.5 x 8 cm: 6.6” x 5.3” x 3.1”

Chanel Mini Rectangular Flap Bag: 20 x 12 x 6 cm7.8” x 4.7” x 2.3”

Chanel Small Classic Flap Bag: 23 x 14.5 x 6 cm9” x 5.7” x 2.3”

Chanel Medium Classic Flap Bag: 25.5 x 15.5 x 6.5 cm9.9” x 6” x 2.5”

Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap Bag: 30 x 19.5 x 10 cm11.7” x 7.6” x 3.9”

Chanel Maxi Classic Flap Bag: 33 x 23 x 10 cm12.9” x 9” x 3.9”

 

 

Did you look at the Chanel 19?

I did not! It’s not my personal taste. I love their classic pieces and because of their insanely high prices haven’t ever considered their more trendy bags. 

 

 

What leather did you go with?

Caviar! Every Chanel bag I own is Caviar leather and that’s because I know myself 😉 Their bags come in Lambskin, Caviar, Patent, Calfskin, and Tweed. Lambskin/Caviar/Calfskin will generally be higher priced and considered classic while the other two are more trendy. 

Lambskin is the more shiny leather you see on Chanel bags and while I think it can look gorgeous it is much more delicate and can scratch easily. I don’t want to be scared to use my bags so I have always stuck to Caviar which is a bit more pebbled but judging from my black flap, basically indestructible which is how I like it 😉 I have seen Calfskin go either way and I think some it depends on what they use in a particular year! 

 

 

What hardware did you pick?

For the beige bag I went with classic gold hardware because I love the warm combo but my other bags are mixed. My black flap has silver hardware and I truly love both! I have seen most of the classic options they offer: Shiny, Brushed, Pale, Antique and Ruthenium and my preference is always shiny gold or silver. Again, I’m a classic lady. 

 

 

 

How much are Chanel bags right now?

I tried to find the most up to date info because honestly I feel like it changes everyday and the prices have increased astronomically from the last time I purchased a bag which was probably 5 or 6 years ago. 

 

 

 

Where did you buy yours? 

I purchased mine from the Chanel boutique in Neiman Marcus on Michigan Ave in Chicago. This is actually where I have purchased every Chanel bag I own. In general and especially now, the freestanding Chanel boutiques are bare. I stopped in the one in Miami last year and the one in Chicago this year and both were almost entirely sold out of inventory. Chanel has always been an in-demand brand but the availability of bags has drastically decreased. 8 years ago I could walk into the boutique and buy any bag I wanted. Now, you could hunt for months and never find a single piece you want to look at. 

I have found that the Neiman Marcus boutiques have a larger selection and would recommend going into a store to try things on if you are considering a bag. Even if they don’t have exactly what you want, you can test out sizes and feel different materials so when you are ready to make a decision you feel confident. 

 

 

Have you ever bought pre-owned? 

I haven’t but that is because I am obsessed with details and buying something that pricey that I can’t return or haven’t seen in person and touched is not a possibility for my anxiety 😉 I have had friends buy from Vestiaire and  Fashionphile and have great experiences though!

It’s also a great way to find a more affordable alternative! Classic Flaps are the priciest style but they have several that have the same look like my Riviera Flap or the Melody that you can find for much less. Size also determines resale price based on demand so Minis, Smalls, & Medium will be pricier than a Jumbo right now.

 

 

 

Is it worth it?

This is obviously personal! I have always loved a designer bag and shoe (hence the blog name: “lows” referred to my clothes and “luxe” referred to my bags and shoes and I was hoping to share how I mixed high/low…we’ve come a long way LOL) so for me it is. 

Price per wear is what I always consider when trying to determine if a pricier item is worth the investment and since I wear mine endlessly, I feel like it is. I also now have a daughter that I hope will one day wear my ‘vintage’ pieces and I love that for her!