Caution!!!! Long response.
I would imagine that I am also in this category. I started my love affair with Chanel in the late 70s. I got my first as a gift from my aunt in LA and remember many family members thinking it was so expensive paying hundreds of dollars for one bag. I coveted that bag since I thought it was precious, a gift from an aunt I truly adored and admired. It was a medium with sparkly gold hardware.
Fast forward to the late 80s and 90s. I used my Chanel bag sparingly back then for special occasions since I was in undergraduate and graduate school traveling throughout the US in dorms and apartments.
I always stated that I loved Chanel when it was not a trendy, marketable, or fashionable. I have never been defined by others.
I bought a black lamb mini for 435.00 in 90s, shoes that cost around 200.00, and a lamb backpack that I still love for around 400.00. I bought things as time permits. I became very busy starting a business/practice and family obligations. I bought small/medium camera bags with the glorious tassels and a tote bag with the gold balls on them and attached little purse in the 90s for under $1000.00.
Then the next decade approached (2005/6/7) and I purchased GSTs for around 1,600, a WOC for 650.00, medium caviar wonderful dark beige for under 1,400, jumbos (patent, caviar and lamb) for around 1,695.00 I was also buying shoes and I noticed the marked increase in shoes in my mind. I paid over double for my shoes in 2005/6/7 for about 410.00 and 435.00.
I continued to buy Chanel until 2012. I have amassed a collection that I am comfortable with. I bought caviar maxis for 2795.00 in 2009, re-issue and jumbos for 2350 in 2008. And later my Crayola collection of colors in 2010C collection of beautiful reds, bleu roi and patents ranging from 2795, to around 3125.00 My large 227 lamb reissue in 2010/11 was around 3,700. I have a host of wallets, CC holders in all leather fabrications that varied form 300.00 to 1100.00
GSTs in 2007/8/9 ranged form around 1600 to 1800to 2140.00. My 13 classic (caviar, patent, and lamb) WOC collection ranged from (650.00, 1295.00, 1395.00, 1495.00) to my last and current favorite 2012C patent aqua green 1775.00.
I stopped purchasing in 2012 because of price and fulfillment with my collection. I have given the Cambon collection to one of the girls amongst a few others. I have not sold many (2 to friends) and rotate them according. One day I can wear a 30 year old to one that is a few years old (love the Chain Arounds).
I would not say I have graduated from Chanel to others. I have recently made some Hermes purchases. I have bought a 35 Indigo Bleu (Navy) Birkin GHW, a black 25cm SO Kelly, and am awaiting a special order 30cm Rouge Garance (Red) GHW exterior and Blue Paon (Teal) chevre mysore interior. I have also bought a host of SLGs in bright colors as my purse collection is a little more conservative ( my faves Red and Navy) Dark Beige/Camel/Caramel, and Black in all leather fabrications.
I would also like to comment that I notice all luxury brands have been going through various marketing and branding transitions. There have been various comments about the quality of various leathers, less than favorable customer service from SAs, less availability, craftsmanship discrepancies, and drastic or increases in prices in all brands including Chanel and Hermes. No one is immune. Good marketing, rebranding for a select target population--who knows.
Sorry for such a long response but I have been spending the last 2 months going through my closets and donating several hundred pieces of "must have" clothes that were gently used or never worn to various charities including Dress for Success amongst others. Life is ever changing and I no longer shop as much as I used to.
Please note the I am also estimated some previous purchase prices as I did not keep all receipts.