The Cerf Tote Club!

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#1,216
StarBrite310 said:
I do have the GST, I hate it lol, but I also have a lot of flaps so I know what you mean about the leather. Lately the classic Cerfs weren't as nice as they used to be. They looked dull and a softer black than even just from a few years ago. However, I would love to test both together and see which is heavier, but it seems the classic version is now gone :sad: Everyone says it's been discontinued…is that maybe not true? Are there still some out there? I got my seasonal one at Saks and I know they for sure didn't have the other.
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Hi again! By the way, if you are using is casually as an everyday and don't need to put much stuff in it, can you find a way in your to love the GST? :-)

I love love love the GST and it's my everyday bag that I rotate the colors (I have several of them). The cert tote is my travel bag.

I like the GST a lot more as it more classic Chanel (the quilt, CC logo), and it can be used almost everywhere.

I know some people find the cerf tote formal, but I'm the opposite. I find the cerf tote a bit boring and more like just a big tote with an open hole. Don't get me wrong... it's my work bag when I travel, but I only purchased it for that purpose (I travel a lot).

My true love for a tote is the GST. It has the center zipper which you can zip up. The side slots are open so you can just grab stuff when you need to. I actually tried to use my cerf tote casually but it annoyed me. The cerf tote has the detachable tote, but it is totally annoying... it never stays attached, so I just took it out. But then it's one big hole, so you have to use little bags like the LV Toiletry bag so your little items don't fall out or are just scattered all over the bottom. I don't carry much, but the stuff I carry is small... compact, lipstick, credit card holder... all these fit perfect in the GST center zip pocket, but in the cert tote, it's like a few pieces in a big hole. And you think you can just grab things, but the center cross-magentic strap is a pain to open and close.

Anyway, something to think about. I would not use the cerf tote as an everyday bag as I find it annoying. That's just me.

So.... this is just my two cents I wanted to share with you in my uses for the two bags... the pros and cons that I find.

Good luck!
 
#1,217
willeyi said:
Hi again! By the way, if you are using is casually as an everyday and don't need to put much stuff in it, can you find a way in your to love the GST? :-)

I love love love the GST and it's my everyday bag that I rotate the colors (I have several of them). The cert tote is my travel bag.

I like the GST a lot more as it more classic Chanel (the quilt, CC logo), and it can be used almost everywhere.

I know some people find the cerf tote formal, but I'm the opposite. I find the cerf tote a bit boring and more like just a big tote with an open hole. Don't get me wrong... it's my work bag when I travel, but I only purchased it for that purpose (I travel a lot).

My true love for a tote is the GST. It has the center zipper which you can zip up. The side slots are open so you can just grab stuff when you need to. I actually tried to use my cerf tote casually but it annoyed me. The cerf tote has the detachable tote, but it is totally annoying... it never stays attached, so I just took it out. But then it's one big hole, so you have to use little bags like the LV Toiletry bag so your little items don't fall out or are just scattered all over the bottom. I don't carry much, but the stuff I carry is small... compact, lipstick, credit card holder... all these fit perfect in the GST center zip pocket, but in the cert tote, it's like a few pieces in a big hole. And you think you can just grab things, but the center cross-magentic strap is a pain to open and close.

Anyway, something to think about. I would not use the cerf tote as an everyday bag as I find it annoying. That's just me.

So.... this is just my two cents I wanted to share with you in my uses for the two bags... the pros and cons that I find.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thank you! Yeah, I just don't love the GST. It's too bulky and stiff for me and I really dislike the middle compartment. Oh well :smile1: With the Cerf, I'd actually want it to get soft and smooshy. I know that doesn't seem to be the norm here as everyone tries so hard to get the shape to retain, but I think I would love it when it gets easier and more comfortable to wear on the shoulder.

I really don't know what to do now. I guess I'll call local stores and see if the Classic leather can be found, but I have a feeling it will be difficult to locate.

May I ask, between the two, how much heavier would you say the seasonal leather is? A substantial amount? Because I've had the old leather before in the past and returned and I remember that too wasn't exactly light.

Thanks again for your help on this :smile1:
 
#1,218
StarBrite310 said:
Thank you! Yeah, I just don't love the GST. It's too bulky and stiff for me and I really dislike the middle compartment. Oh well :smile1: With the Cerf, I'd actually want it to get soft and smooshy. I know that doesn't seem to be the norm here as everyone tries so hard to get the shape to retain, but I think I would love it when it gets easier and more comfortable to wear on the shoulder.

I really don't know what to do now. I guess I'll call local stores and see if the Classic leather can be found, but I have a feeling it will be difficult to locate.

May I ask, between the two, how much heavier would you say the seasonal leather is? A substantial amount? Because I've had the old leather before in the past and returned and I remember that too wasn't exactly light.

Thanks again for your help on this :smile1:
Click to expand...

Hi! I'm with you on the cert tote! I want my cerf slouchy too! I think it looks really cool slouchy on the shoulder which is how I mostly wear mine. It's a tote, and hence it should be carefree and slouchy.

I am sure you can find one. Call NM. They have good stock, and the Houston NM is always great to help you search. Be sure to tell them you want the classic caviar one.

Another thought... you could always order the classic caviar in another color and then compare the weight. I would look at two things: 1) the weight, and 2) the thickness of the leather. If you look at this thread with pictures of the classic, you will see the leather is more flat when it hits the seams, but the seasonal is thicker, so it is rounder when it hits the stitching at the seams... like a bit puffy. I know it's nit, but I like my Chanel leathers to be crisp and flat... like the flap and GSTs. And I felt the thicker leather made it more stiff (which is what the SA suckered me into that), but the thickness added nothing to quality or durability. You can see in photos both get squishy.

The SAs will tell you the seasonal is thicker, stays up more, but I like the slouch.

As for weight... hmm... I noticed it right away. It's also a bit wider but not much wider to make a difference in choosing which one to buy. I would say maybe 20-25% heavier? It's enough that when both are empty I can notice it.

It's really preference. I must just be a caviar lover. As you know from owning caviar bags, those leathers and the way they treat them make it glossy and non-scratchable. With the seasonal model, it got scuffed up more.

And by the way, getting a bag scuffed up is not something I worry about as I really use my bags a lot and leave them everywhere (airplane floors, restaurant floors). So I am not one to baby my bag. It was just another I guess that I gave to myself to get rid of the seasonal cerf tote and get a classic one.

If you love it, keep it. Everyone is different and if you like that look, start using it!


I think if you love a big opening, you will love the cerf tote... it's a big open bag that you can stuff. I love the shoulder strap.
 
#1,219
willeyi said:
Hi! I'm with you on the cert tote! I want my cerf slouchy too! I think it looks really cool slouchy on the shoulder which is how I mostly wear mine. It's a tote, and hence it should be carefree and slouchy.

I am sure you can find one. Call NM. They have good stock, and the Houston NM is always great to help you search. Be sure to tell them you want the classic caviar one.

Another thought... you could always order the classic caviar in another color and then compare the weight. I would look at two things: 1) the weight, and 2) the thickness of the leather. If you look at this thread with pictures of the classic, you will see the leather is more flat when it hits the seams, but the seasonal is thicker, so it is rounder when it hits the stitching at the seams... like a bit puffy. I know it's nit, but I like my Chanel leathers to be crisp and flat... like the flap and GSTs. And I felt the thicker leather made it more stiff (which is what the SA suckered me into that), but the thickness added nothing to quality or durability. You can see in photos both get squishy.

The SAs will tell you the seasonal is thicker, stays up more, but I like the slouch.

As for weight... hmm... I noticed it right away. It's also a bit wider but not much wider to make a difference in choosing which one to buy. I would say maybe 20-25% heavier? It's enough that when both are empty I can notice it.

It's really preference. I must just be a caviar lover. As you know from owning caviar bags, those leathers and the way they treat them make it glossy and non-scratchable. With the seasonal model, it got scuffed up more.

And by the way, getting a bag scuffed up is not something I worry about as I really use my bags a lot and leave them everywhere (airplane floors, restaurant floors). So I am not one to baby my bag. It was just another I guess that I gave to myself to get rid of the seasonal cerf tote and get a classic one.

If you love it, keep it. Everyone is different and if you like that look, start using it!


I think if you love a big opening, you will love the cerf tote... it's a big open bag that you can stuff. I love the shoulder strap.
Click to expand...

Yay, another person who prefers the squishy look :D My GST has started to lose it's boxy shape and I for one am thrilled!

Honestly, my bag doesn't look too puffy. It's actually near perfect which is not easy with Chanel's quality control. I am extremely picky when it comes to things being even and not crooked and everything on my particular bag I'd say is probably 95% near perfect. Nothing is 100% I've come to realize. Saks had literally just gotten brand new stock in and my lovely SA let me choose through a ton, I think she eventually brought out 7-8 of them and I picked the nicest one.

I actually called a few Chanel boutiques today and spoke to three different SA's trying to find the original. This is the deal... there are no more of the classic leather in black with gold and they haven't had it in stock for awhile. They are ONLY receiving the grainy ones now and were informed that this is it from now on. Also, they told me that the leather is actually NOT really deerskin, it's just made to look like deerskin, but it is most definitely still calfskin, just a different textured calfskin than the smoother kind.

Oh and the last girl I spoke with said that the grainier leather should retain the shape more...lol....as we know that is up for debate!!!

Anyway, I'm not sure there is much I can do. I can try NM but my SA there always tells me now that they barely receive stock in of many bags because they keep them all available in their warehouse in Texas and want the customer to order it instead. I don't get that at all and it just doesn't work well for me since I always need to choose from a lot of choices in person :sad:

I wish I knew what each version weighed empty. Eeeek, decisions, decisions!
 
#1,220
StarBrite310 said:
Yay, another person who prefers the squishy look :D My GST has started to lose it's boxy shape and I for one am thrilled!

Honestly, my bag doesn't look too puffy. It's actually near perfect which is not easy with Chanel's quality control. I am extremely picky when it comes to things being even and not crooked and everything on my particular bag I'd say is probably 95% near perfect. Nothing is 100% I've come to realize. Saks had literally just gotten brand new stock in and my lovely SA let me choose through a ton, I think she eventually brought out 7-8 of them and I picked the nicest one.

I actually called a few Chanel boutiques today and spoke to three different SA's trying to find the original. This is the deal... there are no more of the classic leather in black with gold and they haven't had it in stock for awhile. They are ONLY receiving the grainy ones now and were informed that this is it from now on. Also, they told me that the leather is actually NOT really deerskin, it's just made to look like deerskin, but it is most definitely still calfskin, just a different textured calfskin than the smoother kind.

Oh and the last girl I spoke with said that the grainier leather should retain the shape more...lol....as we know that is up for debate!!!

Anyway, I'm not sure there is much I can do. I can try NM but my SA there always tells me now that they barely receive stock in of many bags because they keep them all available in their warehouse in Texas and want the customer to order it instead. I don't get that at all and it just doesn't work well for me since I always need to choose from a lot of choices in person :sad:

I wish I knew what each version weighed empty. Eeeek, decisions, decisions!
Click to expand...

You can try Hirshleifer? Usually you can order classics if they don't have it in stock. Cerf tote I know is a 00V bag but not sure if what the SA told you is true that it is now seasonal only? HTH!
 
#1,221
Hi I have a question regarding the cerft tote. I purchased mine last May. I have now noticed that the long attachable strap that comes with the cerf tote now has the word chanel engraved in it on the metal clasp of the strap. Is that new?
 
#1,222
fancynancy1218 said:
Hi I have a question regarding the cerft tote. I purchased mine last May. I have now noticed that the long attachable strap that comes with the cerf tote now has the word chanel engraved in it on the metal clasp of the strap. Is that new?
Click to expand...

The new ones do have the word Chanel engraved on it, yes :yes:

Although, I'm not sure when that started...
 
#1,224
I love my Cert tote with seasonal pebble leather, I've been carried it everyday since I received, so much room for travel, shopping, etc. it's simple, elegance bag not shout out "here is Chanel", looks well with shorts, jeans or dress.
 

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