Splurge on 1 x Grandma Chanel or 2-3 less ‘vanilla’ bags? Thoughts?

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S

Shula

Member
Mar 16, 2017
33
20
#1
Hi everyone,
It’s my first time posting but loving all the threads especially the one about bags you don’t ‘get’. I was looking to see if there’s a thread for bags you do ‘get’ but couldn't see one as I am in a dilemma.

For my upcoming special birthday my DH is offering to buy me a classic flap Chanel medium (thinking black lamb skin with silver hardware) and I’ve been dreaming about this bag for a long time. However, I’m nervous about forking out over £4K for one bag if it’s generally considered a granny type bag, even though I’ve seen it one plenty of younger women and model types on social media.

I have a Chanel WOC (black caviar with SHW) and do love it.

So my dilemma is this - should I go for it, or should I get 2-3 less expensive, (but still high end), bags such as the Dior Saddle, a second LV (I have a medium NF Damier), Fendi baguette, YSL cross body etc. I would be interested to hear what you lovely ladies think and why
 
#3
From a pragmatic standpoint, I would never spend more than $1000 on a bag, but that's strictly personal choice (which you're not asking for anyway, hahaha).

That said, I think if you'll always pine for this, then do that instead of getting a few items, otherwise you will forever be chasing this dream. This is especially important if you don't plan on getting any other bags in the new future. Think of it from the standpoint of what kind of total do you want to spend on handbags rather than the quantity. Getting 2 or 3 bags you don't love will end up being more costly. If you think 2 or 3 items will equally be loved and used, then obviously that is a viable option.
 
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#5
I presume you are fairly young so you want something on trend for your age group. And, that is totally fine!

The Chanel classic flap is just that - classic. Which essentially means timeless. And, I don’t see how it’s “grandma” given that it IS all over Instagram and on young stars (and regular girl’s) arms. My DD is 25 and the bags she steals most from my closet are my C classic flaps. I had to almost hunt her down to get my red one back. :lol: And, this is despite the fact that she herself owns Fendi, Gucci, etc.

My advice to you, however, is to get the bag you can’t stand not to own and WEAR. If the C flap will be a closet dwelling museum piece only pulled out a couple times a year, it would be an incredible waste of money. Get what you know you will use regularly so you have both the happy and function of the bag in your daily life.
 
#7
Check out the Chanel forum. If you have pined for a while get the Chanel. The cheaper bags will not fill the void. Like me you will have spent on them (for me it was mulberry, Anya Hindmarch and Miu Miu) and then the Chanel later. So you will be more out of pocket. The prices of these bags also increase frequently so if you want it you shd get it sooner rather than later. I bought jumbo in 2014 and it cost just under £3.5k, same bag is now close to £5k. I generally wish I had started buying earlier. Good luck deciding.
 
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#8
Yes you’re totally right, I know myself and would still be lusting after this bag if I don’t get it. Plus it’s a case of now or never - it’s already a huge splurge and the way the price keeps increasing it will soon become unviable (if it isn’t really already ha ha).

I do intend to use it even though I’m planning on the lamb. I saw both the caviar and lamb recently and the caviar felt really plastic and not the luxury feel you’d hope for at this price. My WOC is caviar and I love it but for the flap I think the lamb. Sorry not trying to start a discussion on this as I know there’s already plenty of threads on this subject.

I guess having read the bags we don't get thread I was worried about the grandma aspect which many posters had mentioned and whilst I am still relatively young I deffo don’t want to make myself appear older LOL.
 
#10
I recently sold all of my low- and mid-tier designer bags and have converted to all (what I consider anyways) top-tier designer bags (Chanel, Hermes, Delvaux, etc.) with the exception of keeping my ultimate workhouse bag (LV Neverfull MM that I bought for around $700 over 9 years ago). As long as you have bags that are versatile and fit your needs, I'm now a firm believer in quality over quantity. Once I got my holy grail dream bag, I never reached for any of my other more 'trendy' and less 'classic' bags anyways so I found it easy to part with them!

And for what it's worth, I'm at the tail end of my 20's and love my medium CF and don't find it too granny for me!
 
#11
I have a second-hand Chanel GST that I love. I keep reading that Chanel’s quality has gotten worst and the prices are going up. If you dream about the style and can afford for it to have the life cycle of a normal bag, then I say go for it.

I understand that our bags are expensive but I never understand the posts that are shocked by wear and tear. They’re leather, not diamonds.

But if all you’re going to do is save the bag for special occasions only, then I would get two nice designer bags you won’t be hung up about.

I wouldn’t worry about the style ever going out of style or being a grandma-bag.
 
#13
I think the reason why you may think some people would consider the Classic Flap a “grandma bag” is because in the past, only older women could afford it. It’s a pricey purse and the prices for Chanel go up every year (sometimes twice a year)... I have the M/L CF and I’m nowhere near my grandma’s age. Lol. And as you have said, these days this bag is all over social media and carried by younger women, so I wouldn’t worry about that part. If you can afford it, go for it! It won’t get cheaper with time.
 
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#14
Have you tried the Chanel flap bag on? I ask because so many people think it’s a holy grail bag but when they try it on they realize they like it on other people but not themselves

I love my Chanel flap bag but I know it’s not everyone. But keep in mind that prices continue to rise almost every year
 
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