Help! I bought my first Chanel & feel like I made a mistake on the hardware color :(

SHW or GHW

  • SHW

    Votes: 160 54.8%

  • GHW

    Votes: 132 45.2%
  • Total voters
    292

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#33
imaddictedtoshopping said:
I went to the boutique a few days ago and bought my first Chanel bag! I got the double flap jump in caviar with silver hardware. I knew I wanted the caviar before I got there because it's more carefree, but the hardware was the toughest decision I've ever had to make on a purchase. I'm not even being dramatic. I've read many posts of people saying to choose the color of the jewelry they wear. Although I wear two gold necklaces + two gold Cartier bracelets everyday that don't come off, I do mix metals very often. I have some white gold jewelry as well as silver that I throw in to complete my edgy look when I go out. I'm a casual person and wear sneakers most of the time. Clothing wise, I'm always in leggings with an oversized graphic tee. When I was in the boutique, the gold looked extremely yellow & dressy, so I thought silver would be better for an everyday bag. However, all I see is photos of people with gold hardware, so I feel like I made a mistake. I'm worried the silver hardware makes the bag less classic. Another worry I had was that the gold hardware would chip overtime. I have another 10 days to decide if I want to exchange since they have a 14 day policy. Please help, I'd love your opinion! Xo

I’ve attached a few photos of myself & my style so you have a better idea of my vibe:
Click to expand...

aw I feel your pain as I’ve been in the same boat. My first flap was black lamb with gold hardware (think I bought it about 15 years ago). I went off it after a few years and a lot of use, as I felt the gold was too brassy and yellow, and that it clashed with outfits. I also felt it looked a bit too vintagey, which wasn’t my style, so I sold it. After that I always bought silver hardware and was so happy with it. Silver hardware was really on trend at the time, and really rock chic. I recently bought a M/L flap with silver hardware after I sold my jumbo, and then I started noticing that all the flaps on Instagram had gold hardware, hardly ever silver, and I started really regretting my choice. The silver kind of looked dull against the black and didn’t stand out. People were wearing the flaps with gold hardware with really edgy outfits and they just looked amazing. I was going to exchange for gold but my SA talked me out of it as she thought the gold made the bag look too old ladyish and didn’t suit my style or wardrobe colours. My husband felt the same. Even now I am still having some regrets and wish that I had just got the gold hardware but I do think that in a few years I might change my mind again and love the silver. I think the gold is having a moment on Instagram but things will probably change in the future and silver may become more popular again. It’s hard having these feelings over such an expensive bag! I actually prefer the light gold hardware to the gold on the classic flap. I bought the trendy cc and love the light gold hardware as it’s so much less yellowish. Good luck with your decision. Both are classic and you can’t go wrong with either. You may end up with both eventually!
 
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#34
imaddictedtoshopping said:
I went to the boutique a few days ago and bought my first Chanel bag! I got the double flap jump in caviar with silver hardware. I knew I wanted the caviar before I got there because it's more carefree, but the hardware was the toughest decision I've ever had to make on a purchase. I'm not even being dramatic. I've read many posts of people saying to choose the color of the jewelry they wear. Although I wear two gold necklaces + two gold Cartier bracelets everyday that don't come off, I do mix metals very often. I have some white gold jewelry as well as silver that I throw in to complete my edgy look when I go out. I'm a casual person and wear sneakers most of the time. Clothing wise, I'm always in leggings with an oversized graphic tee. When I was in the boutique, the gold looked extremely yellow & dressy, so I thought silver would be better for an everyday bag. However, all I see is photos of people with gold hardware, so I feel like I made a mistake. I'm worried the silver hardware makes the bag less classic. Another worry I had was that the gold hardware would chip overtime. I have another 10 days to decide if I want to exchange since they have a 14 day policy. Please help, I'd love your opinion! Xo

I’ve attached a few photos of myself & my style so you have a better idea of my vibe:
Click to expand...

I think the jumbo looks great in silver hardware. When I bought my first Chanel flap, I got the M/L black caviar with gold hardware. It was what I had always wanted, but as soon as I saw the silver, I thought that was gorgeous too and was doubting myself. It’s really hard to pick! In the end I I’ve learned that I’m really glad I got the M/L and later my mini with gold hardware because I used my smaller flaps for evening, and I prefer the gold hardware, it looks a little more dressy. BuT— my maxi and jumbo are in silver hardware.
I much prefer the silver hardware for a more causal/cool day vibe.

maybe go back to the store and look both one more time before you decide ? Good luck! Either way I’m sure you’ll look gorgeous!
 
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#35
I have two black flaps with both hardware and I wear the one with silver most often, like 95% of the time. The one with gold hardware gets very little use, so I save it for formal occasions. I don’t think you made a mistake.
 
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#36
imaddictedtoshopping said:
However, all I see is photos of people with gold hardware, so I feel like I made a mistake. I'm worried the silver hardware makes the bag less classic. Another worry I had was that the gold hardware would chip overtime. I have another 10 days to decide if I want to exchange since they have a 14 day policy. Please help, I'd love your opinion! Xo
I’ve attached a few photos of myself & my style so you have a better idea of my vibe:
Click to expand...

Just because a lot of people go for the GHW, it doesn't mean you should too. Go for what speaks to you first. If the silver caught your eye initially then stop second guessing yourself. Judging by your unique, edgy/cool style, I think the silver best suits you. :yes:

Now stop worrying and just enjoy that fabulous new bag already!
 
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#37
Oh girl, I feel your pain! I went through this exact same struggle when I bought my CF jumbo! Ultimately, there is no wrong choice, the bag looks beautiful in both options. I loved silver hardware when I looked at the bag and when I looked at pictures on Instagram but when I wore silver, it just didn’t look right on me. The gold looked better on me so that’s what I went with. I love my bag but I still have days when I wonder “what if..”

Ultimately I think you just have to go with your gut and what you think looks best on you and not worry about other people’s’ choices and opinions. Easier said than done though lol.
 
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#38
I knew I would want both gold and silver (or ruthenium) hw at some point. So I ended up with a ruthenium reissue for my first bag (jumbo-sized) and fell in love with a black lamb small flap with GHW for my second. I find the gold more classic, and it suits my small flap because it is vintage. So perhaps you will buy another classic at some point with different hardware. But don't overthink it; a classic is a classic regardless of the hardware, and I never worry about matching my bag to my jewelry. I mix metals with my jewelry anyway.
 
#39
You’ve already received many helpful comments but just to add, whichever hardware you choose, they are both beautiful bags! Since you like to mix metals, you will be able to pull off either style. Our style is constantly evolving and some year you might prefer gold and another year silver. There is just no way to know. Pick the one that you feel you will use in the moment. I find my most loved bags are not the ones that sit in my closet, but the ones I can grab and easily match/use. And even if my style changes in a few years, at least I know I got my money’s worth by using the bag a lot before my style changed.
 
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#40
I went through the same problem when I first bought my M/L classic flap. I was sure I wanted SHW, but everyone said GHW was classic, so I went with GHW on a whim. I ordered over the phone from interstate so never actually got to see it in person, so when it came I felt quite underwhelmed and immediately went to my local boutique to see if they had SHW. When I saw the SHW it was literally LOVE at first sight, and I immediately exchanged. Both are gorgeous either way, but I still find when worn casually the SHW is still dressy! :biggrin:
 
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