Chanel RTW ~ Reveals, Chit-chat & Info thread

[Brooklynite]

My boutique was sold out (or temporarily sold out) of many pieces in my size from cruise. I tried on a handful of things and only fell in love with this jacket. It smells like it could have been a return because there’s a light perfume smell to it. Anyway, now that it’s home and reality has set in, I’m not even sure how to style it? I’ve never had a cropped jacket like this—I’m guessing whatever I wear on the bottom has to be high waisted. No one wants to see my stretched out midriff.
Any suggestions on how to style? AND does it look ok on me? Be honest!

Yes, with this jacket you will need a dress or high waisted pants/jeans, at least 10" in rise. Many 9" "high waisted" styles won't do.
why I passed on this and the lesage (there are other technical reasons too). too limiting.
also fwiw...we Asians have longer waist, so the fit/proportion might be very different with others. Alternatively you can take a size up and have the shoulders altered down, but with this collection, the shoulders are already quite generous...

 

[fice16]

Yes, I experienced this and told to order directly from another boutique to get the pieces before it’s sold out!!!

And so when I ask for a semi popular item down the track I’m told I have more than one SA and should stick to one SA and have been already allocated to other customers. But they sent me to a different SA in the first place!

Also agree with the above comment about preorders. My store won’t take payment until it arrived but they ask me to assist with their orders whilst it happens before the season commenced but the pieces I assist with happens to “disappear” or gone to another VIP when it arrived. So pretty frustrated and I don’t want to do their “work” for them anymore.

Also agree with another comment above that I literally have 5 minutes to put down my card sometimes virtually to secure a piece and if it doesn’t happen right away it’s gone. I don’t have issue with first come first serve but it seems the policy keeps changing and sometimes there are waitlisted sometimes it’s first come first serve.

I was told by other senior staff from other brands that Chanel is giving stock to the concierge services who then sells them at a higher price for the hot pieces, to lift prices and exclusivity and it’s taken them by surprise how their game have been so successful.

So this is what I've been told by my SA about current collection-- no boutique transfers until 22nd (or was it the 23rd?). Even then, it sometimes takes managers and management involved to get another boutique to "let go" of their inventory. Sometimes stores will purposely put pieces on hold so it shows up as unavailable. It's a dog eat dog world even between boutiques!

Thanks for sharing your recent experiences. It does seem like the Chanel boutiques are now competing for RTW inventories among themselves, and less willing to let go of inventories. To me, the Chanel RTW transfer is going the the "Hermes way" about non-leather-goods transfer; the items cannot be transferred between boutiques until "certain dates" have passed.
This will make the journey of acquiring sought-after Chanel RTW pieces more difficult going forward..

 

[Sakura198427]

Hello ladies! I'm eyeing this vintage Chanel jacket (short coat?) from 06P collection. Does anyone own it and can comment on the fit? Is it boxy/loose, or more fitted? Thank you so much in advance for your help!

 

[gracekelly]

That is a recent change in transfer policy because my Metier jacket was found in my size at Chanel Beverly Hills and transferred to the Nordstrom Chanel near me in LA. I saw the paperwork, so I know this for a fact. I really wonder what is going on as the NM personal shopper had told me that she could get whatever i wanted from the boutique or BG and have it sent to me.

 

[jenlee8751]

Thanks for sharing your recent experiences. It does seem like the Chanel boutiques are now competing for RTW inventories among themselves, and less willing to let go of inventories. To me, the Chanel RTW transfer is going the the "Hermes way" about non-leather-goods transfer; the items cannot be transferred between boutiques until "certain dates" have passed.
This will make the journey of acquiring sought-after Chanel RTW pieces more difficult going forward..

Weighing in here. The whole reason for paying ultra premium prices for luxury goods is more for the EXPERIENCE than anything. It’s buying a beautiful item BUT also being made to feel luxurious and valued is why we keep coming back. Otherwise we could just go to a custom tailor to commission a piece. We all know, and have talked about it on here, that the quality of Chanel has declined significantly over the last several years- and prices have only increased. Now we’re having to stress and argue over even getting the opportunity to see a piece in person?

If the quality has diminished and the luxury experience has vanished, what are we actually paying for? To be dismissed by SAs and put in a queue?

Coco would shut the whole thing down if she could see what this has become.

 

[Deneuveness]

@jennyy - The jacket looks gorgeous on you! I love it with jeans and a Breton shirt.

 

[fice16]

Weighing in here. The whole reason for paying ultra premium prices for luxury goods is more for the EXPERIENCE than anything. It’s buying a beautiful item BUT also being made to feel luxurious and valued is why we keep coming back. Otherwise we could just go to a custom tailor to commission a piece. We all know, and have talked about it on here, that the quality of Chanel has declined significantly over the last several years- and prices have only increased. Now we’re having to stress and argue over even getting the opportunity to see a piece in person?

If the quality has diminished and the luxury experience has vanished, what are we actually paying for? To be dismissed by SAs and put in a queue?

Coco would shut the whole thing down if she could see what this has become.

Your comment is quite true. The only reason that I still buy some Chanel RTWs from time to time is because I love the designs & fabrics (even though I do not like the quality of the fabrics nowadays).
There is no argue-over about getting the opportunity to see a piece in-person. However, it does become more stressful for the SA (and maybe customer as well) in order to secure a RTW piece that is not "reserved" or "ordered" beforehand.

It is true that the quality of Chanel RTWs have declined over last few years. I was looking at the several jackets that I bought 10+ years ago; the fabric used then were much nicer, thicker & are wool-blend tweed. Now I see many new RTWs are cotton-blend tweed.

As l long as I love the design(s), I guess I am willing to occasionally go through the trouble of securing the Chanel RTWs.

 

[LoveThatThing]

My boutique was sold out (or temporarily sold out) of many pieces in my size from cruise. I tried on a handful of things and only fell in love with this jacket. It smells like it could have been a return because there’s a light perfume smell to it. Anyway, now that it’s home and reality has set in, I’m not even sure how to style it? I’ve never had a cropped jacket like this—I’m guessing whatever I wear on the bottom has to be high waisted. No one wants to see my stretched out midriff.
Any suggestions on how to style? AND does it look ok on me? Be honest!
View attachment 5250968View attachment 5250969

It looks really nice on you! I got the same jacket but took one size up, it fits great, no alterations. I was having the same issues how to style it. Like @Brooklynite suggested, I would do a high waisted wide leg pants/denim, and a simple black/white tank top
*Photos are not me, from little red book

 

[tanya^luv^purse]

I personally observed more scarcity across the board, in other brands too, not just Chanel, where fewer items are produced of each item and/or at each size. Whereas in the past my SA could easily find items, have them transferred in no time, now it seems to take longer and/or requires more negotiation with other stores. And then, when the item finally arrives, and if it happens not to fit, it's impossible to find in any other size(s) because the 1 or 2 available in each size are already sold out. What I find most upsetting is the consistent inconsistency in policies between stores (and maybe even between SAs?). Whatever it is, I can deal with, but just so long as the policy is stated transparently. Oh well, at the end of the day I remind myself that there are always more beautiful items to admire and buy down the road so a "missed" item is not the end of the world (though is certainly feels like it at )

@jennyy and @LoveThatThing you both look lovely in that jacket! agree with @hphile maybe a high collared shirt poking out of the jacket would look nice too like this (sorry photo isn't Chanel - just here for reference).

 

[dani-tobi]

Yes, with this jacket you will need a dress or high waisted pants/jeans, at least 10" in rise. Many 9" "high waisted" styles won't do.
why I passed on this and the lesage (there are other technical reasons too). too limiting.
also fwiw...we Asians have longer waist, so the fit/proportion might be very different with others. Alternatively you can take a size up and have the shoulders altered down, but with this collection, the shoulders are already quite generous...

Just curious, why did you pass on the lesage jacket? Mine is arriving tomorrow, so I’m wondering if there’s something I should be looking for ?? Thanks a bunch!!

 

[kipp]

That is a recent change in transfer policy because my Metier jacket was found in my size at Chanel Beverly Hills and transferred to the Nordstrom Chanel near me in LA. I saw the paperwork, so I know this for a fact. I really wonder what is going on as the NM personal shopper had told me that she could get whatever i wanted from the boutique or BG and have it sent to me.

Yes, I was told that this policy about no transfers from the Chanel Boutique to Nordstrom just happened very recently.

 

[Brooklynite]

Just curious, why did you pass on the lesage jacket? Mine is arriving tomorrow, so I’m wondering if there’s something I should be looking for ?? Thanks a bunch!!

A few things:
1. Shoulders need to be taken in. It's wider than normal. I hate doing this on any jackets unless I absolutely must have it.
2. It's a short jacket. Again, need real high rise pants or dresses to pair with. An inch longer would have made a difference
3. No buttons. Because the shoulders are big and back is generous, it kept slipping/draping

All can be summarized as it isn't cut for my body type. If I had wider shoulders and shorter torso it would work on me.

But the fabric is absolutely amazing.

 

[periogirl28]

Wow these shopping posts are making me feel very tired. I don’t think I would have the energy to try so hard to buy current Chanel, it’s never been my experience and so far I am quite happy with my own very small collection. Out of curiosity I asked my SA a few days ago, whether I had a bag limit or if there is such a thing in place now. She said I hardly buy Chanel bags and I mainly get RTW and shoes, no CJs either, so she has no problems getting me whatever bags I want, as long as Paris sends them and doesn’t cancel the orders. This is essentially what my London SAs say as well.

 

[dani-tobi]

A few things:
1. Shoulders need to be taken in. It's wider than normal. I hate doing this on any jackets unless I absolutely must have it.
2. It's a short jacket. Again, need real high rise pants or dresses to pair with. An inch longer would have made a difference
3. No buttons. Because the shoulders are big and back is generous, it kept slipping/draping

All can be summarized as it isn't cut for my body type. If I had wider shoulders and shorter torso it would work on me.

But the fabric is absolutely amazing.

I too worry about altering shoulders; it makes me incredibly nervous even though Chanel tailors are amazing. Thanks so much for the insight!!

 

[jastar]

Finally styled my Chanel tights. Thanks for letting me share