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Original poster

Chanel chat thread

275 replies

AprillaCourt · 19/04/2023 17:06

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 🙂

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Original poster
AprillaCourt · 21/04/2023 10:19

notanicepersonapparently · 21/04/2023 08:16

I also had,many years ago, No5 Bath oil which was gorgeous. It separated into about three subtly different layers in the bottle so it looked so pretty.
On my wish list are two tone heeled pumps, but I think they had the grosgrain ribbon on the toe last I looked which put me off as it didn’t seem practical. And of course I ‘need’ a classic tweed jacket to wear casually with a pair of jeans, when I have somewhere particularly lovely to go.
Now that I’ve been on this thread I realise that a smaller bag for the evening would probably be just what I need and I will start saving up now. I hope someone will be along to recommend something.

I also need a Chanel tweed jacket. Food, water, shelter, Chanel tweed jacket. Not necessarily in that order 😀

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mrsfennel · 21/04/2023 10:21

Can someone tell me if it is possible to walk in to a store and buy a medium caviar leather classic flap in black with gold hardware?

Or is it like Hermes and I would need to build a relationship with a SA? thanks

Bluebellwood129 · 21/04/2023 10:21

@AprillaCourt The beautiful packaging can be admired daily on your dressing table - a perfect excuse to purchase even if you don't wear make up often.

Original poster
AprillaCourt · 21/04/2023 10:30

mrsfennel · 21/04/2023 10:21

Can someone tell me if it is possible to walk in to a store and buy a medium caviar leather classic flap in black with gold hardware?

Or is it like Hermes and I would need to build a relationship with a SA? thanks

Hi @mrsfennel 👋🏻

My SA at Manchester Selfridges says they always keep a medium black 2.55 & a medium black Classic in stock, when they sell one another is sent through to them. I understand they always have the gold hardware in & almost always the silver. Others may have different experiences, but that's what they told me again on Tues.

When I bought my 2.55 (medium, black, aged calfskin) they had 2 in stock for me to choose between. It's the seasonal bags they get very low stock of & once they're gone that's it.

Good luck & enjoy your purchase (& feel free to report back on this thread!) 🙂

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Original poster
AprillaCourt · 21/04/2023 10:32

Bluebellwood129 · 21/04/2023 10:21

@AprillaCourt The beautiful packaging can be admired daily on your dressing table - a perfect excuse to purchase even if you don't wear make up often.

Sold to the haggard 47 year old 😉

Though I did stupidly leave a bottle of No 5 out in direct sunlight once & the shade & scent faded 🤦🏼‍♀️ so anything else I would shelter & shade!

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mrsfennel · 21/04/2023 10:32

Thank you @AprillaCourt thats really helpful. I think the caviar leather is better for me than the lambskin.

Im assuming it is much more hardwearing?

BeaLola · 21/04/2023 10:38

I loved the Les Beiges tinted moisturiser and am sad they have discontinued it

Bluebellwood129 · 21/04/2023 10:39

@AprillaCourt an equally haggard (but young at heart) 51 year old here! 😊

Original poster
AprillaCourt · 21/04/2023 10:46

mrsfennel · 21/04/2023 10:32

Thank you @AprillaCourt thats really helpful. I think the caviar leather is better for me than the lambskin.

Im assuming it is much more hardwearing?

I believe it is much more hard wearing, the lambskin is very soft & puffy (for want of a more glamorous word!) & shows up marks more easily. I have a caviar purse & it's tough. The aged calfskin is fabulous too, as the name suggests it looks aged already. My aged calfskin 2.55 looks no different to the day I bought it two years ago.

@MummyJ12 & @WowIlikereallyhateyou & @Ireolu & others will I'm sure be able to offer more advice too 🙂

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Original poster
AprillaCourt · 21/04/2023 10:47

Bluebellwood129 · 21/04/2023 10:39

@AprillaCourt an equally haggard (but young at heart) 51 year old here! 😊

@Bluebellwood129 👵🏼 👋🏻 😀

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mrsfennel · 21/04/2023 11:00

@AprillaCourt Thank you, I plan on using it regularly. Ive stopped saving all my decent stuff for special occasions, as I dont really go 'out out' much anymore!

Original poster
AprillaCourt · 21/04/2023 11:08

mrsfennel · 21/04/2023 11:00

@AprillaCourt Thank you, I plan on using it regularly. Ive stopped saving all my decent stuff for special occasions, as I dont really go 'out out' much anymore!

I use mine when I'm out - a day at the coast, a day shopping etc - as I wfh & so any trip out of my home office is classed as an occasion these days 😀

I'm almost at the stage of classing a walk into my garden as a mini-break 😆

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mrsfennel · 21/04/2023 11:15

@AprillaCourt Ha ha! Yes I love that, walk in the garden is totally a mini-break!

MummyJ12 · 21/04/2023 11:59

mrsfennel · 21/04/2023 10:32

Thank you @AprillaCourt thats really helpful. I think the caviar leather is better for me than the lambskin.

Im assuming it is much more hardwearing?

Hi 👋
I completely agree with @AprillaCourt. If I were to choose just one Chanel bag it would absolutely be calfskin either grained (caviar) or aged (as in the 2.55 and my easy flap). Calfskin is much more hard wearing and keeps its shape more (caviar in particular). It is much harder nowadays to get a really good black caviar. Some of them can be dull and matt but there are a few amazing examples of black caviar and you wouldn’t know until close up that it’s not lambskin so ask to see as many bags as they have in stock so you can see for yourself. One of my biggest regrets is when Sally was manager in one of the London boutiques, she found me the perfect example of a medium black caviar with gold hardware. I passed it up and opted for lambskin. Against her advice! I really should have listened because as she said, I wouldn’t get as much use out the lambskin. It gives me anxiety every time I take it out. It looks beautiful and I really wanted a lambskin bag for my collection but it sits on the shelf in my dressing room as an ornament really. I’ve never not listened to advice from a SA since!
Happy shopping and enjoy whatever you choose 😊x

mrsfennel · 21/04/2023 13:03

@MummyJ12 yes thats exactly how I would be with a lambskin, and whilst my Louis Vuitton speedy gets better with age and I chuck it around and travel with it, I know a Chanel needs to be looked after more.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 21/04/2023 15:42

mrsfennel · 21/04/2023 10:32

Thank you @AprillaCourt thats really helpful. I think the caviar leather is better for me than the lambskin.

Im assuming it is much more hardwearing?

Caviar is most hardwearing, so i chose to have my 2.55 ‘s in calf skin because i love its soft and special feel, but my day bags ie gst are in caviar, which is hardwearing.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 21/04/2023 15:44
  • correction lambskin 2.55’s!
Ireolu · 21/04/2023 17:27

BoysBagsShoes · 20/04/2023 21:51

Oh my, I have found my people! Love, love, love this thread! I am currently toying with my first Chanel purchase, considering a black WOC as it’s practical and love a crossbody. Then thinking of a pre-loved medium double flap. I need the ‘Chanel experience’ for my first purchase but not sure I can justify the price😬 any advice/recommendations would be welcome!

I always say to people not sure to buy now if they can afford it as price will only go up.
Npn is a reputable reseller and I think she has a few CFs on sale at the moment. If you decide to go pre loved obviously authenticate. Not sure who is recommended at present.
Try on the woc in store as a lot of people don't like it after buying and it's still quite expensive. The usual gripes are that standard one's chain is long on it and it doesn't fit much. Enjoy shopping!

Ireolu · 21/04/2023 17:31

Neverhappyalwayshopeful · 21/04/2023 06:28

I echo this! I have the 12A red and it's such a gorgeous true red! I love your chevron mini. 😍

Show quote history

Pls post a pic of your 12A red. My mini is 15B I think. Not a legendary red but I was very happy to part with cash for it. Also got it at T3 so was discounted. £1400 ish so a proper bargain compared to now.

LadyEloise1 · 21/04/2023 18:58

Why would a bag be dearer with a reseller than a brand new one from a Hermes shop ?

MummyJ12 · 21/04/2023 19:54

LadyEloise1 · 21/04/2023 18:58

Why would a bag be dearer with a reseller than a brand new one from a Hermes shop ?

In the case of the Hermes quota bags (the Birkin, Kelly and Constance for example) they only make so many and boutiques do not stock many if any unlike Chanel and other high end designers. The quest for such bags is legendary and some wait many years. People are told there’s no waiting list (there is!) a lot of people don’t get the choice of leather and colour as if you’re offered one you buy it! It’s only when you’ve been loyal to the brand and have built up a relationship with an SA that you have a chance of purchasing. So the resale price is always higher because they often cannot be bought new. Especially if you have a specific size, leather and colour in mind. For example the etoupe, black and red are especially hard to come by. I have a rouge casaque which only comes in Epsom leather and it’s a holy grail bag so it would resell for so much more than I bought it for. It’s a supply and demand thing really.

Aworldofmyown · 21/04/2023 20:39

I am very lucky to have a couple of Chanel bags (and shoes) my favourite and current everyday one is a Gabrielle Drawstring crossbody bag in grey.

Justfivemoreminutesplease · 22/04/2023 09:08

Does anyone own a tweed jacket? I’ve always felt as if one should be in my wardrobe 😂 I’ve previously gone to buy similar styles jackets but stopped and thought that I might as well just get the real Chanel that I really want!
Vestiaire never seem to have any that I like - and I think like most things it would be the whole experience of just buying it!

Original poster
AprillaCourt · 22/04/2023 10:02

Justfivemoreminutesplease · 22/04/2023 09:08

Does anyone own a tweed jacket? I’ve always felt as if one should be in my wardrobe 😂 I’ve previously gone to buy similar styles jackets but stopped and thought that I might as well just get the real Chanel that I really want!
Vestiaire never seem to have any that I like - and I think like most things it would be the whole experience of just buying it!

I feel exactly the same @Justfivemoreminutesplease I have a notion that one day I'll swan into the Rue Cambon & buy one. Perhaps at the point of retirement!

A couple of years ago I saw a very 1980s Chanel suit on eBay. I didn't go for it & have always regretted it. It was a definitive early Lagerfeld design, like something Diana would have worn. I'd love to own something like that

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Aworldofmyown · 22/04/2023 10:08

I was given a Chanel black tweed jacket, I'm ashamed to say I've never worn it! I just don't know how to wear it.