BUYING YOUR FIRST CHANEL BAG? READ THIS!

By no means am I a luxury bag expert, but I have certainly been in the shoes of one who longs to be an owner.

Here’s my breakdown of things you should know before committing to your first big girl purchase!

1: Type of bag?

Chanel’s bag type ranges from Wallet on Chain (WOC), Classic Flaps, Boy, Tote, and that’s excluding their seasonal releases such as the Kelly as of late. Know what you want and consider them in terms of their functionality, price, and durability.

If you are someone that carries a lot of items (ie. lip balm, tissue, wallet, makeup), then a bigger bag would yield higher utility. Smaller bags are cute and trendy, but be prepared to hold everything in your hands LOL.

If you can omit items such as your wallet and just live with your phone, then bags like the WOC would be alright for you.

2: Material?

Lambskin, Caviar or Calfskin? In my humble opinion, investing in a caviar bag would be the wisest option. It is sturdy, less prone to scratches/accidental fingernail marks, and overall leaves you less anxious when bringing your baby out. With lambskin (speaking from experience), you will have to be VERY careful. Even double crossing it (last pic) WILL cause a dent on the underflap. I would not have paid 6k for a lambskin woc if I could turn back time. The amount of time and effort spent babying the bag exceeds the overall utility.

3: Color?

All of my Chanel bags are black. I refuse to venture out to other colors mainly because I feel like black pieces are the most versatile. Easy to dress up, and can also be used as a casual bag. Black Chanel pieces tend to fetch higher resale values on the second hand market as well. In the same vein, such pieces retain their value well too, making them a worthy investment (assuming you have plans to sell them off in the future).

4: Hardware?

Gold hardware vs Silver hardware - I would think that the suitability of the hardware hinges on your skin tone. I’ve tried both the GHW and SHW pieces on and found that Gold seems to accentuate the piece when worn. Best if you can head down to the boutique to try them on physically. What you see on the catalogues may not look good when worn and vice versa!

5: Price?

Of course, in view of the constant increase in prices and deteriorating quality, Chanel bags have faced significant backlash for the unjustifiable price tag. That being said, to each its own. If you can afford it and it makes you happy (ie. a celebration for a work success, promotion, or milestone), then what naysayers have to say shouldn’t be of relevance. But of course, if you are looking for a quality piece that can potentially last you a lifetime without wear and tear, perhaps reconsider your purchase.

Ultimately, these are just my opinions and it shouldn’t deter you from the piece you’ve originally set eyes on. Just be sure to consider points 1-4 a couple of times in avoidance of an impulse purchase (at least that’s what I practice).

#Postin3 #Chanel #WeeklyChallenge