I love this! Since I’ve never owned a vintage Chanel, what is it that makes them more special than other vintage purses? I mean obviously the build quality, but what else?
I suppose, even though they have been copied by other luxury houses and highstreet brands that are better because they were the original:
Quilted bag
Chain bag
Therefore, online other quilted and/or chain bags, Chanels are more desirable, especially in the resale market. Like their tweed jackets, if you buy preloved, you can almost guarantee to sell for what you paid.
For a more objective take: Similar to owning an original Le Smoking by YSL/Rive Gauche/SLP or the equivalent dinner jacket from Akris or Zara. The LS for YSL will always be more desirable on the resale market. A new SLP LS on a woman will always command more (fashion) respect in a room full of women wearing DJs and evening suits, but a vintage LS, couture or RTW/PàP, by Saint Laurent from his heyday (mid-60s-83) will invoke the most fashion-kudos.
Vintage high-fashion among fashionistas is prized most highly, they love originals.
Even though Karl was not Chanel herself, Karl has become so synonymous with the brand, many forget it was not his brand.
Chanel - the brand, I would say is one of the only exceptions to the named-designer rule of 20C 'start-ups' as commanding prime prices/desirability unless one goes way back to the Chanel Deco period. I have a vintage lambskin bag from just before Chanel died in 1971, it was valued at
less than a mid-90s (1993 if I remember correctly) large calf quilted back pack (insurance est.). A KL for Chanel RTW/
PàP tweed jacket
more than a 1970s Chanel
Couture jacket. Whoever designed at Chanel in the 1970s after Chanel has been expunged by the history books, Chanel website, Wiki, even though as we discovered on this forum, that's when the Classic Flap was designed (which later Karl Lagerfeld took/allowed to take full credit for, the same was Chanel took credit for creating the first LBD in 1926 - all in retrospect). It has to be iconic (either classic (timeless) or evocative of the time (distinctive)). No one would give me much for my Cambon regardless of how much I love it (and enjoyed the mid-00s campaign with beautiful Vanessa Paradis) but ordinary people admire it. It was a more commercial bag at the time, non-leather lining and feels light compared to many other Chanel bags. Shopping/work bags also tend command less (unless an Hermés Birkin which is a fancy tote).
Vintage quality is amazing, but also Chanel is probably one of the biggest NAMES in fashion. Its about wanting something even more authentic in terms of fashion history than authentic new Chanel.
I personally don't mind new if it's as good as old, but iconic fashion tops all if someone's a collector (as well as a wearer).
I have been thinking as I've been writing, so I hope this makes sense.
