Some people have been dreaming for years to own a Chanel Classic Flap bag, or a Chanel Reissue 2.55 Flap bag, and more recently your dreams may be flooded with a Chanel boy bag. Some people may already own multiples of each, and still others think that they’re too traditional and played out. I couldn’t agree less with those people, theres no such thing as being too traditional when it comes to Chanel. Accompanied by hundreds of finishes, colors and sizes, Chanel’s famous flaps have a little something that everyone can appreciate. Are you still on the fence? Let me persuade you simply, with 10 reasons you must own a Chanel flap bag.
1. Owning one is like getting in to the most exclusive top tier sorority on campus.
Except, you know, this is real life. Legendary actresses, socialites and royals have carried this bag, and hey, if you can’t marry a prince, you can at least buy the same bag as the women who do. Or the same bag as the girls from The Hills it seems as though the bag has become the go-to accessory when a younger woman wants to signal to the world that she has grown and matured into a fashionable boss lady.
2. They’re just going to go up in price within the near future.
Are you honestly considering buying one? If you’re contemplating then i suggest you just go ahead and do it. Chanel is among the masters of the crippling price increase, jacking up the MSRPs of its bags every six months to a year, sometimes by as much as $500 for a basic bag. As a general rule, bags don’t hold their value all that well, but constantly rising prices keep the timeless flap bags fairly easy to resell for close to (or, in some cases, more than) what you paid. Plus, even if you don’t take resale into consideration, you’re just going to have to fork over more cash for the same bag in the very near future if you wait. So make moves before you and your wallet is disappointed.
3. So many designers have been “inspired” by the flap – if you’re going to pay big bucks, get the original.
Everyone from Urban Outfitters to Marc Jacobs has been accused of stealing from Chanel’s signature bag, and there’s a good reason for that – it’s timeless, iconic and still as relevant to luxury customers today as it was back in the 1950s. Chain straps and quilted leather have become nearly synonymous with the idea of the designer handbag, and the Chanel flap may even be more well-known across the world than the illustrious handbag holy grail, the Hermes Birkin.
4. The Chanel Boy Bag changed the game.
The Classic Flap has been popular for literally decades and the 2.55 Reissue helped revive the style in the mid-2000s, but it was clear that Chanel was going to have to produce a smart, modern-looking next generation flap bag to continue to woo customers who want Chanel bags to be as zeitgeist-y as the brand’s runway shows. With the Boy Bag, Chanel pulled off just that; a design that feels deeply rooted in the house’s handbag history but still new and different enough to beguile customers who don’t want to carry bags that their mothers are interested in.
5. There are more choices now than ever before.
The more women want Chanel flap bags, the more version the company fires out. In addition to the recent introduction of the Boy bags, Chanel puts out tons of very visually specific, heavily themed collections per year, which means that there’s a flap bag to fit everyone from the ultimate girly girl to the grunge goddess. Chanel’s famous for quilted black leather, but if you think that’s all it is, think again.
6. Buy a flap bag in caviar leather and it will likely outlive me and you both.
Seriously, that stuff is indestructible. Run your fingers – no, better yet, run your fingernails along it next time you’re near a Chanel bag made of the material, and you’ll see what I mean. It has a finish nearly as tough as Louis Vuitton monogram canvas, but you’re paying for actual leather instead of, well, canvas. With how much those monogram bags run these days, the price of a neutral leather Chanel bag with similar durability seems downright reasonable. But…
7. Despite their cultural ubiquity, the bags themselves are still too price-prohibitive for everyone to own.
They come in sizes ranging from XS to XL, but even the smallest of the Chanel flap bags is way more expensive than the average woman wants to spend. You’re in no danger of seeing your bag on every woman on the block (unless you live on a really, really nice block, but if you do, there’s probably no sense in trying to stay one step ahead anyway), and even if you see a lot of people carrying non-Chanel bags that look similar, there’s absolutely no comparison when you see and hold a Chanel flap bag in person.
8. Chanel bags have the wait lists that no one talks about.
Don’t think that just because there isn’t an infamous wait list that you’ll be able to get the flap of your dreams in an instant. Chances are that you’re going to have to make a few stops and a lot of research to get your hands on the bag you want. Although the struggles to get a Chanel bag aren’t as legendary as those chronicled by hermes customers, its still no easy break to get your hands on the exact Chanel bag you’re looking for. And for most customers is makes it that much more rewarding.
9. There’s a healthy vintage market for Chanel bags.
Not trying to pay full price? We don’t blame you. Because Chanel bags have been around in some of the same versions they are now for literally decades, it’s not that difficult to find a pre-owned version in good condition for a more reasonable price, as long as the bag isn’t from the past few years or a limited edition. There’s probably a high-end consignment store in your area with some options, as well as online specialists like us.. duh. Boca Raton Pawn has your back.
