The Cerf Tote Club!

[antheakate]

Thank you antheakate! I am a chanel newbie so any info is greatly appreciated. When you say grained only comes in SHW, my SA is holding this bag for me in GHW until I stop by the boutique on Tue. It appears to have a grainier leather. Does the GHW mean this is the classic version and not the seasonal one? I can't wait to see it in person and def weigh it to make sure that I can use it as my work horse bag.

View attachment 2517566

My apologies, my SA said only SHW but the bag pictured is definitely the seasonal one with the grainier texture. I didn't see any GHW exec totes today, only silver, maybe they are newer with the GHW

Sorry for the essay haha! I just wanted to make sure I didn't leave any info out lol
Put your items inside it when you go see it, it is very heavy, fine for work bag just bringing it to and from, not for carrying for shopping or errands! Let me know how you go! It does look beautiful in real life though

 

[JCMB]

Hello Antheakate,
Thank u so much for all your info.
I'm so confused right now though, i'm in Europe and i have been told at 3 boutiques that the classic executive had been discontinued. So i don't really have a choice. Do you still have the reference for the seasonal one? Maybe that will clear things up. Thanks in advance.

 

[Powder Puff]

I owned a GST and also recenlty purchased the new Executive seasonal 'grained calfskin' and I MUST tell you that the executive is considerably heavier than the GST. It is so heavy that I do not use it as an everyday bag, plus the only comfortable option due to the weight would be shoulder carry, however this is awkward as the straps are not quite long enough for it to be comfortable.
I strongly urge you to reconsider the GST if you are worried about the weight.

Regards the different leather, the grained calfskin (nubuck like leather) will not be as durable, after using my bag for only 1 week and only carrying my wallet, phone, keys and make up pouch, it was already sagging drastically.
It looks beautiful but for me it is no where near as practical as a day bag as my GST. If only using for work or travel then its probably okay but not everyday! Don't make the expensive mistake I did! $4,240 AUD later and I could have used that money a lot more wisely.


In Australia they are much more readily available. Like mentioned above I own the new seasonal grained calfskin and I will tell you now, after using it for a week the shape is no where near as structured as the one with classic calfskin that my mother owns.
If you are worried about it losing shape please reconsider the classic one, not grained calfskin! I feel like I was slightly 'tricked' by my SA who is the store manager, the bag definitely does not hold its shape and it is crazy heavy!!!



I can tell you after visiting the Chadstone boutique in Melbourne Australia, they have two regular size cerf totes with the classic calfskin, they are part of the classic, permanent collection, it just depends on whether they have them in stock as they are not as readily available as other classic line items.

The seasonal bag is also larger, much more practical as a work bag, the classic is slightly smaller in all dimensions (even strap length) as I compared them today after purchasing my seasonal grained calfskin roughly a month ago.

Just to clarify, the seasonal is the grained calfskin with ONLY SHW and the classic normal calfskin is with either.

Hope this helps and happy Chanel shopping!

You are so right! The seasonal one is so heavy! I've been eyeing this bag because I love the design and after checking it out and trying it on in several boutiques, could never pull the trigger!
Finally I managed to get the classic one which is smaller in size and so much lighter than the seasonal one with the grainy leather! It's cheaper at Euro 1790 compared to the seasonal one which costs Euro 2200. The classic one is lighter than GST while the seasonal one is heavier than the GST. HTH

 

[Powder Puff]

Oh and I forgot to add that the classic cerf looks like the one posted by princessofthehouse, and the one you posted looks more like the seasonal one.

 

[JCMB]

You are so right! The seasonal one is so heavy! I've been eyeing this bag because I love the design and after checking it out and trying it on in several boutiques, could never pull the trigger!

Finally I managed to get the classic one which is smaller in size and so much lighter than the seasonal one with the grainy leather! It's cheaper at Euro 1790 compared to the seasonal one which costs Euro 2200. The classic one is lighter than GST while the seasonal one is heavier than the GST. HTH

Hello powderpuff,

Are you also in Europe? May i ask where you found the classic one? Because i keep getting told that it is discontinued. However after reading about the seasonal one, i'm starting to get serious doubts about this bag. I'm a real tote girl, but if i'm not getting the executive, i don't really have an alternative as i'm not a GST fan. I like that the executive is understated chique.

 

[katmb]

I'm waiting for my black cerf also, as i have been on the waiting list since week before christmas. My SA told me that the new one holds its shape beter than the older one, just like you have been told, so that's a big plus!

I saw the new leather ones yesterday. Yes, the leather is sturdier feeling, but it also feels cheaper to me. There was one in a coral pink color I loved for Summer, but couldn't bring myself to buy it because I felt the leather was a significant step down in quality from the 14c black I bought a few months ago (they had one of these in the boutique, so I could directly compare the two).

However after reading about the seasonal one, i'm starting to get serious doubts about this bag. I'm a real tote girl, but if i'm not getting the executive, i don't really have an alternative as i'm not a GST fan. I like that the executive is understated chique.

FWIW, I love my seasonal Cerf. I have been using it regularly for business trips, and it doesn't seem excessively heavy to me. Most recently I was using a LV Neverfull, and as lightweight as that was when empty, once I put things in it the narrow hard straps dug into my shoulders painfully by the end of the day. The wider, softer strap of the Executive makes it comfortable even when I fill it with file folders, iPad, Kindle and magazines for a trip, plus all my regular purse contents.

 

[JCMB]

Hai Katmb,
Thanks so much for your input.
I called 2 boutiques again today and the only one that is available around here is the seasonal one. So when my black with GHW arrives, i will go and check it out and then i will decide what to do. Hope i'll like it. Thanks again.
Btw can you post a picture of your bag? TIA

 

[katmb]

Hai Katmb,
Thanks so much for your input.
I called 2 boutiques again today and the only one that is available around here is the seasonal one. So when my black with GHW arrives, i will go and check it out and then i will decide what to do. Hope i'll like it. Thanks again.
Btw can you post a picture of your bag? TIA

I'll post a pic when I get home tonight. Another thing that was important to me was that the seasonal version is slightly taller than the regular. This allows the tab strap to be snapped shut over file folders. You can't do this with the regular size without having the strap rubbing against the folders (in the US at least; A4 files aren't as wide as US files, so the regular size may work fine with them). The height difference might also be relevant if you want to carry a laptop.

 

[JCMB]

I'll post a pic when I get home tonight. Another thing that was important to me was that the seasonal version is slightly taller than the regular. This allows the tab strap to be snapped shut over file folders. You can't do this with the regular size without having the strap rubbing against the folders (in the US at least; A4 files aren't as wide as US files, so the regular size may work fine with them). The height difference might also be relevant if you want to carry a laptop.

Thanks for the tip, i have a an 11 inch MacBook, so that isn't going to be a problem.
Looking forward to your pictures😊

 

[Vdub78]

I'll post a pic when I get home tonight. Another thing that was important to me was that the seasonal version is slightly taller than the regular. This allows the tab strap to be snapped shut over file folders. You can't do this with the regular size without having the strap rubbing against the folders (in the US at least; A4 files aren't as wide as US files, so the regular size may work fine with them). The height difference might also be relevant if you want to carry a laptop.

Hi Katmb, I am also confused as to what to get. I had my heart set on a cerf but I am worried now about this new grained leather and its ability (or lack thereof) to withstand daily use since I am planning to use it as my work bag. I am stopping by the boutique tomorrow to try it on, see it in person and determine if the weight and leather quality are true deterrents.

I wonder if anyone who owns the grained leather can chime in and share how you feel about the leather quality? That is probably what I would be most concerned with at this point. I am pretty much used to carrying loads of stuff to work and between that and lugging around stuff for the kids on weekends, I think I may have become immune to the weight! lol!

 

[katmb]

Thanks for the tip, i have a an 11 inch MacBook, so that isn't going to be a problem.
Looking forward to your pictures😊

Here are some pics. Any light spots are reflections from the flash, not loss of color in the leather. I also realized I wrote earlier that this was a 14C seasonal, but it is in fact 13B seasonal, black with SHW. You can see it is softening a bit at the base, particularly on the front. I don't use a base shaper, but I do stuff it full when not using it, being sure to get the stuffing all the way in the corners.







Interior with files and iPad case:

 

[katmb]

Forgot to add...I weighed it and it is three pounds empty.

 

[katmb]

Hi Katmb, I am also confused as to what to get. I had my heart set on a cerf but I am worried now about this new grained leather and its ability (or lack thereof) to withstand daily use since I am planning to use it as my work bag. I am stopping by the boutique tomorrow to try it on, see it in person and determine if the weight and leather quality are true deterrents.

I wonder if anyone who owns the grained leather can chime in and share how you feel about the leather quality? That is probably what I would be most concerned with at this point. I am pretty much used to carrying loads of stuff to work and between that and lugging around stuff for the kids on weekends, I think I may have become immune to the weight! lol!

I have only had my bag a couple of months, so I can't speak to long-term wear. When I compare the Cerf leather to grained leather Hermes bags I have, they feel very similar, with the Cerf being smoother and slightly waxier. Here's the wear on a corner of a 10 year old Hermes bag which I use all the time:



Leather quality depends so much on personal preference. I want my Cerf to maintain its shape as much as possible, but not at the cost of having leather which is not thick and smooshy. I could never buy a tote in a leather like Prada Saffiano, I just don't like the feel. Other people will have the opposite reaction.

 

[antheakate]

Hello Antheakate,
Thank u so much for all your info.
I'm so confused right now though, i'm in Europe and i have been told at 3 boutiques that the classic executive had been discontinued. So i don't really have a choice. Do you still have the reference for the seasonal one? Maybe that will clear things up. Thanks in advance.

Thank you
Here is the reference: A66439Y08996
Perhaps the SA I spoke to is wrong, but they had a few of the classic in stock which they received with the new seasonal tote....who knows! they are available in Australia

You are so right! The seasonal one is so heavy! I've been eyeing this bag because I love the design and after checking it out and trying it on in several boutiques, could never pull the trigger!
Finally I managed to get the classic one which is smaller in size and so much lighter than the seasonal one with the grainy leather! It's cheaper at Euro 1790 compared to the seasonal one which costs Euro 2200. The classic one is lighter than GST while the seasonal one is heavier than the GST. HTH

Forgot to add...I weighed it and it is three pounds empty.

Yes there is a price difference too, the seasonal is $4,240 AUD the classic was roughly $3,900 AUD

 

[antheakate]

I have only had my bag a couple of months, so I can't speak to long-term wear. Leather quality depends so much on personal preference. I want my Cerf to maintain its shape as much as possible, but not at the cost of having leather which is not thick and smooshy.

I wonder if anyone who owns the grained leather can chime in and share how you feel about the leather quality?

Hello Antheakate,
Thank u so much for all your info.
Do you still have the reference for the seasonal one? Maybe that will clear things up. Thanks in advance.

You are so right! The seasonal one is so heavy!

I saw the new leather ones yesterday. Yes, the leather is sturdier feeling, but it also feels cheaper to me.
.

Please see attached photos of my Seasonal Executive Tote with the Grained Calfskin. The bag had only been used 5 times before it lost its shape.
It was already squished on one side when I bought it, I felt like the SA kinda forced me into buying it. I couldn't stand the weight of it, plus how squashed it became after only 5 times of use, with carrying the following:
- LV Empriente Wallet
- Rayban sunglasses
- Chanel key case
- lip balm
- Chanel pouch which holds tissues, panadol etc
As you can see in the photos, one side is considerably worse than the other.
Overall i was really disappointed and couldn't exchange it at the boutique as i actually got this cerf tote as an exchange after returning a faulty GST! :cry:
I am not happy with Chanel's quality recently, I decided to consign this exec tote with a local store in Toorak in Melbourne Australia.
The happy end to this story is I put the money towards a brand new Hermes Victoria II in Etoupe, which I absolutely adore!

Overall, if you are considering buying the Exec Tote please think carefully after seeing my photos! Don't make the same mistake I did.

If you are using it like 'katmb' is then it would be the perfect work bag and hers looks truly stunning and in beautiful condition compared to mine.

(apologies for the essay) :giggles: