Chanel chat thread

[AprillaCourt]

As some of us really enjoyed talking about Chanel on my white bag thread I thought I'd start a Chanel chat thread here 🙂

I'm a lover of all things Chanel - the history of the brand, the life of Gabrielle Chanel herself, & of course the products. It would be great to have like minded others to share our knowledge & wares with 🙂

@highfidelity
@Snowite
@schmalex

I'm nametagging you as (I think) you said you'd like a chat thread/were very much involved in my white bag thread!

If anyone hasn't seen it, Justine Picardie's book on the life & work of Gabrielle Chanel is fantastic. This is a good link to learn a little bit more: www.chanel.com/gb/fashion/news/2011/03/la-vie-de-mademoiselle-une-biographie-par-justine-picardie.html

All welcome 🙂

Hello all. I’m a very lucky owner of a Chanel classic and jacket. I was lucky to
have found the jacket on eBay 15 years ago and bought it for 130. A dry cleaner was having a clear out. It’s an original with handwritten label. I’m in two minds about selling it as I never wore it although it fits perfectly. Any suggestions on where I can get the best price? I’ve had an offer for 1100 from, but I think it’s worth more.

Is that yours, is it a 10 or equivalent & are you selling? 😉 😀

I saw a stunning navy Chanel suit on eBay years ago, evidently genuine & definitively 1980s. Didn't go for it & have regretted it ever since 🤦🏼‍♀️

@AprillaCourt it is a 10 (or a 9 because I had it relined) and unfortunately the only chanel jacket that currently fits me so anyone wanting it will have to prise it out of my cold dead hands haha.

Your threads have definitely made me reconsider recycling some of my collection to justify a 2.55 though....this was something I looked into just before covid times with limited success and zero action. My lifestyle has changed somewhat (more rural) and I am fully committed to key pieces so some items simply get no wear and it seems a shame to hoard them, particularly my eye catches "other things" 😉

I'm interested in who you have contacted before @Magnoliainbloom and any other recommendations.

@VooVooV absolutely love your bag. My most expensive luxury bag purchase is going to be the Chanel Boy. How do you find the size of the small? How many items can you fit? Do you find the chain comfortable? Do you have a purchasing history or were you able to purchase as a walk in?
Sorry for all the questions but I will have to fly to London so a quick one stop trip 😄

Hi @Isabelle70 l’ll be taking the bag out tomorrow. So I’ll report back in terms of comfort of the strap (I’ll be out all day) and I haven’t yet figured out what I can fit in it. I’ll let you know.
I didn’t have a purchasing history. I had a few bags I was interested in. But when I saw the Boy, that was it! ❤️

I’ve had an unexpected windfall and am heading to London next month with intention to buy my first Chanel in a long, long time! A WOC would be perfect for my needs these days.

Can I just go into the Bond st boutique, or should I make an appointment?

Any idea on the stock they hold? I’m only there for a few days, so would like instant gratification, of course!

Last time I went there, many years ago, it was heaving with tourists and wasn’t a great experience.

Hi @Isabelle70 - I’m back from my day out with The Boy!
The strap was really comfortable. I think it helps that it has the leather section.
I managed to fit in it a make-up bag that contained essential medication and a powder compact. iPhone (13 mini). Hand sanitiser. And a set of really chunky keys (I can definitely take out less chunky keys going forwards!)
I was pleasantly surprised how much I got it in. It wasn’t overstuffed.
The small size is perfect for me. I was deliberating between small and medium. But I felt medium was too big for my frame. And the small is just so damn cute!
Hope this helps!

@VooVooV thank you so much for your update and I hope you had a great day out :) I like to travel light these days so the small would most likely be a good size for me too.
I might have to start planning a birthday trip to London!

Thank you @Isabelle70 I did!
Happy planning, and keep us posted 👍🏻

I am so glad you posted this, I have got my eye on the most lovely pair of trainers that I am going to treat myself to. I have never had Chanel footwear before but heard they come up small. I will try them on and pray they fit me otherwise I will just suffer the blisters anyway!

I haven't read the thread so it's likely been mentioned already, but for anybody who might like to go the V&A have just released the next batch of tickets to the Chanel exhibition which opens in September.

I waited about an hour this morning in the queue but it ought to have calmed down at least a little bit 😀

https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/gabrielle-chanel-fashion-manifesto

Just home from Mauritius with a stopover in Dubai airport. Loved having a browse in the boutiques there! (I saw 2 of them). Bought a short classic necklace. DH is putting it away for a present so can’t post a pic. 😕
But has anyone seen the new M’Art collection? I need this clutch in my life. But can I justify another black bag….?!!!

I also managed to get tickets to this. Was in the queue for 1.5 hours despite clicking the button within a second of it becoming available! Really excited.

That is stunning 😍

My friend and I both queued. She got to the "front" After four hours and it wouldn't accept her details. I was on my work PC and joined at lunchtime. Reached my "turn" at 7pm!!!

We ended up doing a membership with a plus one. So we can go again and again and again... 😊

@CharlotteStreetW1
If I become a member can I just rock up any day or do I still have to book?

I might have to get tickets for the Chanel exhibition for my December birthday trip. How many hours would you schedule for the exhibition?

Yes, you don't have to book. Just turn up. It doubled the cost pf course but even just one extra trip and it's paid for itself. Fortunately we're not too far away.

Thank you @CharlotteStreetW1
I don't live in the UK so trying to organise a date to visit the V&A is difficult.

I am off to London for a quick weekend trip in September and as I am not in the EU I can purchase and mail a bag home VAT free 😊 Selfridges have confirmed that this is possible and I will just have to pay the duty at home which will be at the most 2% depending on the country of origin recorded on the shipping forms.
What do we think my chances are of purchasing the Boy?
I was going to wait and purchase it as a retirement gift, but why do that when the price will have gone up and I can get so much more wear in the forthcoming years..::

@VooVooV I went to London and purchased my Boy bag 😃 I went for the medium as it suited all the items I like to carry. I did look at the small too and yes that is flipping cute.
Just need DHL to hurry up and deliver...

Great update @Isabelle70
Hope you had a lovely shopping experience! Post pics when your Boy arrives.

A few months in and I’m very pleased with my small one. I do manage to fit a surprising amount in. And I love the look.
I do find myself looking at NPN though, for bag two…. 🤣

@VooVooV my Boy has arrived! I wasn't sure what to expect at Chanel in Selfridges as have only even been in LV. The SA was lovely, I managed to get cramp in my leg just as she brought the bags out so had to do some stretching and walking before I could take a look 😂 I had the small caviar, medium caviar and medium calfskin to choose from. I discounted the small as too small and the calfskin as too delicate. I want a bag that I can use and not constantly worry about. Love the grain of the leather and it's certainly more me. The first outing will be a trip to work and the insurance broker to get her covered. Fingers crossed this is not a slippery slope.....

Do you use a liner in yours?

@Isabelle70 - Beautiful!
Oh yes, the first thing I did once I got mine home was call my insurers…
No, I don’t use a liner. It’s small enough I don’t think one is needed.
Enjoy your lovely bag 😍

Just came across this thread and love it!

I’ve a black WOC with gold hardware. Really loving small crossbody bags right now.

I saw this bag on Instagram a while ago - unable to find it on the Chanel website. Does anyone know what it’s called?