When shopping Chanel, head straight for resale sites like Lampoo. There, you'll find a selection of authenticated pre-loved Chanel for a fraction of the retail price.
Additional inclusions with Chanel bags like authenticity cards and care booklets can further aid in authentication.
Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel designed her first quilted jersey flap bag in 1929. The original quilted jersey bag had a rectangular twisting lock and short, all-chain straps. Her bag was carried in hand or on the arm, like most bags available to upper-class women during the era.
The leather of an authentic Chanel strap interwoven in the chain should pass through the links smoothly , displaying high-quality craftsmanship and not appearing forced.
The rectangular lock on a Chanel bag also holds significant importance in the authentication process.
The diamonds on the back of the bag should line up exactly with the stitching on the pockets. If they don’t match perfectly — it is not a genuine Chanel.
Many buyers turn to Sotheby’s not only to discover the exact Chanel bag they’re seeking but also to avoid the lengthy wait and uncertainty associated with boutique availability. While we always recommend building a relationship with a Chanel Sales Associate, Sotheby’s can save you valuable time and streamline your Chanel acquisition process.
The most prominent hardware on the bag is the iconic Chanel logo, which is two interlocking Cs. It gleams in gold or silver like the bag’s jewelry. The logo is not a flat shape but two three-dimensional letters that actually lock together on are vintage Chanel bags a good investment an authentic Chanel bag.
Weighing in on the iconography of Chanel bags, sustainability expert, fashion commentator and author of
Unfortunately, fake Chanel bag producers have managed to replicate many of the differentiating qualities of a real Chanel bag. Thus, it can be challenging to avoid the super fakes and to find a true vintage piece unless you buy an authentic bag straight from a Chanel boutique.
Coco had an affinity for horses, stable style and polo player Arthur Edward Capel – this affinity is reflected in many of her pieces.
The caretakers of the orphanage would dangle their keys from the same type of chains used as the 2.55’s shoulder straps. The same practical chains that safely held those convent keys kept Coco Chanel’s original bags safe as well.
Interior: The 2.55 bag has a double flap style. Under the top flap, there is little zipper compartment; legend has it that Chanel hid it there to have a secret spot to stash her love letters.
Although there’s been an evolution of the style throughout the years—from tweed iterations to saturated colour and heart shaping, its key characteristics have remained and the Classic Flap remains part of its core collection.