Thanks for your info on buying an investment purse. My birthday is at the end of the month so will definitely buy before Februaryjust have to decide between retail and pre-owned! I have others but it really is my favorite.. I have a mini and recently bought myself the maxi in tan but my classic is still my favorite. At 62 my husband bought me the larger then life black caviar. I guess I (justly so), figured I had a classic black one so wanted something light and a little more fun. I LOVE it, dont get me wrong. Also, their price increase was Oct 2018 so the prices will be flat probably until later this year. Thanks so much for giving your honest opinion of size, leather type etc. And Im intimidated by the storeswill Barneys think Im gross bc Im going in with a Madewell purse to shop and obviously dont know how this works? It's mostly accurate, but Inventory changes quickly and perhaps it showed for C/S but it had not yet updated and it was sold. 2. It always crashes and doesnt get fixed for what seems far too long for this day in age. I recently turned 35 and have been wanting to treat myself to a Chanel bag, but have been hesitant to pull the trigger. Your blog is my 100% favorite. Also that fall sounds scary glad you (and the bag!) I am really happy I have this information. So it shows up as available when actually it isnt at all. I have bought from LXR & Co. a gorgeous like new Chanel folding wallet with one small mark on the bottom that is hardly noticeable. Worst still while waiting, there will be a price increase soon. The reality check is very fairwe cant drive or live inside a Chanel bag but its definitely pretty. I kid you not, between middle of December and mid January this year, I went to four separate boutiques and chatted with the SAs there and they put me down on the waitlist. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Since its first post in 2010, it has aimed to be a daily source of inspiration for the modern woman. On the other hand, an all black Chanel BOY is a personal dream of mine. Have you had any experience with Tradesy or heard from people whove used them? 1. I love it!!!! XOXO. I think we all have this natural tendency to compare. Hi Grace I really hope you reply to my post! I just came across your post and want someone elses opinion who has a love for Chanel. also, after reading your info. i dont know about the lambskin anymore. I knew I was going to treat myself to something special (I was originally thinking jewelry) with the credit. The data polls after the stores shut to a centralised database and refreshes overnight. But it gets dirty so easily and needs to be professionally cleaned so I find myself not using it very often. I also love the Boy bag. They are gorgeous. Okay a bunch of things! I loved this post because I havent purchased a luxury bag yet but I definitely want to now that Im into my career and these tips are so helpful! I am not a Chanel girl so thought maybe I would chime in on two other examples? Started as a hobby with 2 small kids at home and became more of a business while I was pregnant with #3. Im a crazy person! xo, Thank you so much for this post. I love it.i have other Chanel bags but this is my first brand new one. Its timeless and elegant. Im on the hunt for a boy bag now. And amazing that theyre still in such great shape! Which area are you located in? There isnt a ton of extra room but I love the size its neither too big nor too small and encourages me to regularly clean out my bag! I love these tips! Depends on the size. Such a great post, lady! Personllay i bough a lady dior and channel WOC, all of them is GHW, I feel that the black leather and GHW is the counterpart of another. With Covid, getting an appointment to shop is dang near impossible. I finally bit the bullet and sold it and decided Id buy myself something else (was originally thinking Id get the gold nail bracelet) but then I saw the bag. The best way to get one would be to talk to any SA thats helping you and letting them know youre interested in the bag and would like to put your name and info down for one when they get one in. Well said. Looking forward to more helpful articles like this on your site. Are you scared to use them IRL bc they are so expensive? JavaScript is disabled. I buy them because they make me happy and the hell with what others think!! Thats why I choose to shop with them vs. other sites I trust a bit less. I have a black like shoulder strap/ tote and I was wondering if I could sell it. These are all great tips! Thank you! I have experienced this during the first 2-3 weeks of a new collection launch. We were joking around (completely joking, LOL) that Chanel is a better investment than most stocks! Im enjoying reading these posts.good advice! This latest update includes design optimisations as well as minor bug fixes. Anyway with the classic piece, good that is evergreen. Edit: Just saw your post on your recent shopping trip! Love the post! This is totally subjective. I love your review! You can never go wrong with Chanel bags I always find myself constantly grabbing my Chanels on a daily basis. I called every week to see if they had the bag I wanted in stock till someone offered to take my name and number. Thats where I sell my things! Its relegated to special occasions (and never with jeans because the dye rubs off, no matter how careful you are.) Loved this post thanks for sharing and thanks to the reader for reaching out with the question. Great story Grace.. Im not sure it would really warrant a whole post! Its actually the mens one which is a little bit less dainty than the womens one. I am still in a Madewell phase of life (could be forever tbh) but I will appreciate your pics of your lovely purses all the more. Miki x. Im 47 and it will be my first time to buy. Yay congratulations!!!! XO. I have bought a Chanel bag in Europe and claimed back the VAT. If its a gift from someone that is different. Thanks for the tip of Caviar over Lambskin. When I compare pictures of both I cant seem to tell the difference. Buy the bags. You mention TheRealReal a few times and Ive been on their website. LearnMore, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese. Does the chain dig into your shoulder? I think the maxi and jumbo are too big to be worn as cross body. They are investment pieces and great to carry no matter what you are wearing. I see some creases on side of bag. If you cant spend your own money how you want, whats the point? Then I see that youve written a post about it. I am 38 and having my first child in mid may. I expected more from Chanel with the app to be honest. Im looking to buy my first Chanel bag - a classic double flap medium black caviar (new and in store) but every time I go, they are out of stock. Thanks! Hi Gina, I am in Chicago and am looking to purchase my first Chanel classic flap soon (Im debating between black caviar or beige caviar & classic/medium or large/jumbo size), and I am looking for a kind, knowledgeable person to work with at the store. Good luck. I got the classic flap in black caviar and cannot wait to slowly build a collection! Maybe I should have gone for classic but I feel everyone has classic so my purchase is more special and unique for me. But yeah, if you take proper care of your nice bags, they will increase in value over time. Im fortunate that I can buy these bags whenever I want. This (from about 2 years ago) is one of my all time most popular blog posts so I wanted to give it a little refresher and bump it up! Love bracelets are definitely a classic investment I dont think theyll ever go out of style. Once its in stock and youre up next on the list, theyll charger your card and ship it to you. I just bought my first luxury bag (a LV never full) on a trip to Paris and couldnt be happier about it. I think that the classic flap bag is the most timeless of all. Im a lawyer that dresses up for work and and honestly every time I put it on I just feel great! I love this post! But this one was a mistake. Did the NM offer to check other locations etc? I guess theyre investment bags for a reason! I really trust The RealReal (their authentication process is comprehensive!!) We will have a link trade contract among us. But because mine is lambskin the care i need to give it is a bit more tedious and thats the down side. The person called me within a week after that and held the bag till the weekend when I could come in and get it. every time I look at it it brings me a little smile thinking about our vacation! This is my newest addition to the fam and quite possibly my favorite next to the classic black flap. I always wonder how a channel bag would turn out after years. It has never been used. I know colors will rub, I can avoid or get it reconditioned later. Im sure being armed with this information, youll be ready for anything! I also love that first picture/the entire outfit with the green dress and the black accessories and that black watch especially! Such a perfect moment for me to stumble upon this post as Im deeply contemplating on getting my first luxury bag too. This depends on your style, your income, spending money etc. As for Chanel, luckily, my sister lets me borrow hersbut Im eyeing a Chanel wallet! My lambskin mini was not my smartest purchase, as its gotten quite dirty and the leather shows more scratches. Right? It is very helpful! So disappointing. i feel the hardware is not going to stand the test of time. Do you think it is a good investment? Also, I am glad to know the caviar vs lambskin difference is so real. It will show up in the inventory until someone has paid for it. And your honesty. I dont own a Chanel but have always wanted one. Hi! Its such a special moment and any good sales person would be excited to be a part of that! We have our 20th wedding anniversary coming up and my husband wants to buy it for me(money is tight but he really wants to gift it to me). Thanks so much for this post Grace! A wallet, because I still cant justify to myself paying a lot for a bag. Or just get them cleaned as necessary? Thanks so much! My 31 year old daughter has a Channel for 2 years. I wrote her back immediately as I had a lot of thoughts here but was inspired to write a little post about this. I love the tan Chanel. xoxoxo. The best way to get one is go directly to the store. Im so glad to hear that thanks Meghan! It really is so amazing to be able to slowly save for something special like this! If the SA reserves an item then theyre meant to register it on the system as Reserved but they dont always do this and may just be holding an item anyway for a client. I am in my end of 40s only am thinking of it now after taking care of all the mortgages and really glad that i am now ready to pamper myself after many years of working and am still working. Buying an investment bag isnt for everyone, but its such a personal decision. I love this post! I really love The RealReal. Depending on where Im going I dont carry them as often as the Chanels because I like to have my hands free and you must carry a Birkin in your hand or on your forearm. The caviar leather would have been so much better for a long term investment. Fingers crossed let see mine if i got one. I was so nervous to spend all the money but its turned out to be so worth it. They really do get so excited to help you. Its for my 30th birthday this February and right now its still pretty much a toss-up between a Speedy 30 or a small BOY. Im 50 and finally ready to indulge. Grace. And I appreciate your thoughts on the Love bracelet! It sounds like Europe might be the better idea after having read through the comments! I would add some advice that the reader with the original question should head to Chanel ASAP because they usually implement their annual price increase on Feb 1st. Though I mix navy and black quite a bit.). Thank you for giving us all the pros and cons. They dont make minis anymore. I also think life is to short, why dont i purchase it soon to enjoy it earlier. Thank you Ashley!!! I was going back and forth between lambskin or caviar. Congrats on getting a Birkin! Love your blog. Hi, These are super pretty though, and maybe someday , Thanks Shelley! The latest seasons mini flap bag with top handle is a must purchase and suits your style perfectly! Glad to know about The Real Real! I suspect that people who buy the fake bags buy them to impress others whereas those who buy the authentic bags from Chanel and Herms buy them for the sheer joy of owning such beautifully crafted bags. I have a few fakes and I want the real thing now. the mini rectangular lambskin is available to me in champagne hardware, but i hesitate to get it. XO. Thanks! Kudos to you for this truly honest and well written post!! What is your experience with buying luxury handbags second hand? The developer, CHANEL, indicated that the apps privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. My parents gave me a navy caviar wallet for my college graduation and at first I was thrown a little by the caviar. Want to buy a Chanel bag. I like both! Try calling the 1 800 number and having the SA check for you where its in stock. (Oh and personally I would choose black over navy but if you wear more brown than black Id say navy! https://glassofglam.com. Yeah I thought about waiting until my next paris conference trip but it might not be for a while due to Covid travel restrictions.sigh. Second, another reader commented that Chanel has their annual price increase coming up 2/1 so do it soon! I would like to sell it. but they dont always share. It retails in Dubai for over 7000usd. I have a jumbo in Black and Tan and the small one in black lamb skin which I only use in the evening. I know TheRealReal authenticates everything, but Ive had a hard time trying to find the age of items on there! When I got mine, I was working with an SA I just met and he actually called another store and had it shipped (but in my experience thats rare cause stores like to hold on to bags especially classics instead of shipping them out). Crazy to think that the retail price has doubled on the past ten years! Now Im thinking maybe Ill get a chanel bag for 35! are okay!!! They usually do a price increase in January or the first week of February. a) I was v. v. emotionally distraught over two boys (a story for another day); b) The dollar was extremely strong so I got a great price. I loved reading this post as a fellow handbag enthusiast! I had a great sales person (actually bounced to a couple Chanel boutiques before I found a lovely person I was excited to work with and who was happy to help me with my selection). Thank you for sharing! Maybe give The RealReal a try! Very helpful info. Tres chic. Also love the whole outfit in the tan cavier pic. I suggest you buy it yourself. If not, which bag would? Thank you so much Kara. I also have two 35cm Birkin Bags. I have a question. If any readers are in Chicago and looking to invest in some pieces, go see my girl Winnie at the Chanel on Michigan Ave. She is the most welcoming and honest luxury brand rep. Actually she has talked me out of purchasing a light colored bag for the reasons Grace mentioned above! Winnie sounds wonderful! Also, Im curious to know how much can fit your black classic flap? I take everywhere I go. I've had this happen, boutique A checked for and item and said boutique B had it. Maybe this is just the beginning or my only Chanel investment, but exciting either way! The lighter bags are so beautiful and I love how the gold hardware looks against the cream lambskin but just dont do it, and if you must, get the caviar its way more resilient. I do love a little bag though, and think maybe the wallet on chain will be next! I was a little reticent about the RealReal but recently bought my second investment bag on the site, a black Celine luggage tote, it is in spectacular condition, exactly as portrayed and a very good discount from retail. Adding to this: Any suggestions? I can attest to lambskin showing signs of year much more thoughIll definitely be getting caviar leather when I eventually invest in my own Chanel! I love the app when it works but its few and far between. Love that it became a tradition) For the next 2.5 years I will continue to save for the bag while debating navy to match the wallet or black to go with everything?! I heart Chanel ! I am 52 and have just secured my first Chanel (pre loved but authenticated) . Love the maxi tan, Ive never seen it before! Being nice goes a long way. I couldnt agree more with the idea that you should enjoy the luxury. Im kinda nervous, but yet very excited. I know Ill benefit from your post when I make my next purchase. Hi. The wallets are a great investment too, so I am excited to see which one you end up with! Im hunting for a specific bag and Chanel.com person said it shows a NM has it in stock. I hope you can answer me. Is that so?? I will wear it when walking my new grandson. Its funny because I came across an old post with your pink Chanel the other day and thought that it had been a long time since Id seen that on the blog. I love The RealReal because they have the best assortment (from what Ive seen) and they do a good job listing out every single flaw and detail. Oh I cant wait to finally get myself one one day! This was a fantastic post; thank you so much for your help. Did you have to give them a product number or were they able just to search based on a description? The Givenchy at first I didnt wear very much at all only on special occasions, now I will wear it for a week or two, then put it away for a bit and repeat the cycle it makes it still feel special and will hopefully increase its life it is so sturdy that it looks brand new after a few years. I was planning on getting a beige one next but now that Ive read your post, maybe I wont. So now Im buying clothes to accommodate my new bag . Julie. I have my moms Jumbo and its so special to me. The best!! I inherited my mothers vintage Chanel which was flawless but I wanted to invest in my own. Maybe when my kids leave home and I have extra spending money, because right now we are saving for their university education and spending money on all the sports. Love this entire blog! The app has not been updated to coincide with the new Metiers dArt collection so we can browse the products and often times (VERY OFTEN) the videos do not load! Copyright 2022 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. YAYYYYYYYY please please send me a pic when you get it!!!! Im dying for one and always thought they were a classic investment. Im on a search for advice about an investment. Such an informative post, especially about the in-store aspect of shopping. As for secondhand vs. retail I actually prefer to shop secondhand for my luxury bags whenever possible (I cant do it for shoes, but wearing someoene elses shoes grosses me out a little). I am trying to decide between Chanel Deauville bag vs LV neverfill bag and I dont know which one will keep the value for me. And how crazy is it the way the prices increase!? Half the joy and experience is gone if someone else picks it up for you. Agree on Real Real, I have only bought clothes on their site but have worked with them through my job and was impressed with their very qualified authentication staff. Although I have other purses ( LV, Prada) I regret not buying Chanel sooner but then I have kids and mortgage. And as for consignment vs. new, it was purely a money thing because I sold my love bracelet, I had a little credit (a big credit, haha) to do some shopping. I still love it and it makes me think of Paris every time I use it. It took about 2 months, and that was pre-covid. I think so Ive always referred to it as the classic black 2.55! Try Paris if you can, Im not kidding.. they had stock this week and with the VAT back you get some pretty decent savings. I find Chanel flaps in the various sizes and styles seem to work with just about every type of outfit. Thanks for chiming in, B!!! Great read! I have been on the hunt for a square faced watch, I looked through the post but couldnt find that item tagged-do you mind sharing details on that watch? Id hold out for the caviar it holds up so much better! Well everyone not anymore. Excellent article. Do it BEFORE you have a kid! Thank you so much for the great post! I own a few nice purses (Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci) but still found this very helpful am me insightful in thinking about my next purchase! I bought it in the airport in London in 2016. If you have any insight on this, let me know. I wish I had better advice! You cant drive it or live inside of it. (And its never too late; youve just had different spending priorities no kids, no mortgage over here!). I can vaguely remember when the large classic flap was priced around $3K back in my mid-twenties and now in my mid-thirties it is upwards of $5,700! Will definitely think about that if and when I make a second purchase. Roxanne The sales lady at Goyard in NYC was so rude to me at first that I will never buy a Goyard purse. I have no idea why. Both of your bags sound amazing. the salesperson was SO nice and I TOTALLY agree if they are not extremely extremely nice to you move on they should not be judging you! I carry my other ones every day. I have many Chanels, but save the lambskin bags for nights out or perfect weather days. I love this post, Im 27 and really just starting out in my career, so I havent purchased a luxury bag yet, but its on my list to start slowly saving for. I also purchased a pre-loved Chanel mint green surpique flap and Ive found it to be so versatile for the spring/summer and winter months (winter pastels for the win!). Thanks so much for your detailed response! I love 3 hours from my closest Chanel and have never tried any on. I love that!!!! I dont buy them to impress others. I actually giggled a little because I am 63 tomorrow and do not own a Chanel bag. Is this a smart purchase?? Are you ever too old to buy your first Chanel purse? Thanks for the great advice. Every little bit helps Im taking both as a sign! Press J to jump to the feed. Kindly also discuss with my web site =). And love that little memory thank you for sharing! The bag isnt me AT ALL though. Im wary of spending a decent amount on something only to find that its older than I wanted it to be. I know theyre really popular though. I can tell some items are old (not vintage, just old/out of style) and I dont want them, but others I have a hard time finding the age. Where would you suggest buying new Chanel bags, online? Yeah Im thinking I might need to do something like that especially as we get into Black Friday and holiday shopping. The campaign pictures for the Paris-Hamburg collection dont load and are blank screens. I buy more LV because they are a lower price point and seem to sell so much faster. wallet is next on my list I think a red one, as Im less concerned with it going with everything! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I really, really want a classic black Chanel bag. I still have the Chanel branded napkin that was served with my champagne to commemorate my first purchase. Ginny, I personllay love 2.55 Reissue look but I dont like the lock because 2 reason: 1-CC lock is truelly fine & signature; 2-Yes I couldnt agree with you more, you cant obviously tell that its Chanel, it may be a Charles & Keith . Hi Grace! Its strange because I generally wear mostly gold jewelry but tend to prefer silver hardware to gold hardware on my bags. And I LOVE it. http://www.allthatjae.com. The biggest reason there is that it can hold a book, which if you know me/read here at all, is obviously a very important priority for me. I have a vintage double flap Chanel bag that I would like to sell. I also really think a classic black flap can go with almost anything, so even though my style is a lot of jeans and sweaters/blouses with flats/booties, I think thats ok and I will feel confident investing in this. Im really considering buying my first Chanel bag. The salespeople were incredibly kind and helpful, they walked me through everything from how to store the bag to filling out official ownership paperwork. The CS inventory may show something as "in stock" and the store may have it on reserve for a customer. When I got my first one, she took my name down and preference (caviar, GHW/SHW, etc), and she put me on her waitlist. for all! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I reckon so. I totally agree with you. I have admired Chanel as a person since high school. ), but Heathrow is definitely the most cost-effective way to buy new pieces. Did CS give you a specific NM? I love your advice and defiantly your bags. They even indulged my friend and I in a photo shoot in front of the pearl installation. I own a handful of designer bags but none of my friends or my sister are into that kind of thing, but I really love comparing notes and hearing what items people love and which ones they could have done without. But I feel intimidated and uneducated. To me, a Chanel bag is worth the money. Im thinking of buying my first one for my 30th bday this year so I really appreciate your insights. Hi I really enjoyed this blog! Reluxury is definitely more affordable. I currently have a black Ruthenium Medium Boy Bag sitting in a dust bag in my drawer because I just dont want to mess it up. And love the idea of treating yourself for the big 3-0. Would love to hear your perspective on this. One of my favorite memories from my trip was when I showed my bag to French customs to get a tax refund slip, the customs agent literally said oh la la!