Saving for Chanel
Recently, I have realized that I don’t want my handbag “collection” to get too out of hand. Though, walk in closets with lacquered shelves of endless Chanel bags are eye candy I can’t quite get enough of, I don’t find that realistic for my lifestyle…at least right now. The full sized handbags I have from Chanel are all pretty practical and versatile. And all are pre-loved…..(see below)
I am grateful for each one and worked very hard for every. single. bag. As I look to the rest of 2022, I will be saving for very specific things….
A Home
Emergency Fund
Chanel Bag
Because I have a decent selection of black Chanel handbags in varying styles and sizes. I am ready for my first bigger purchase in color. I would love a pastel bubblegum pink mini…specifically a small coco top handle in caviar. This bag has already found its way on my vision board. I do recommend getting a bag first in black or a neutral but I already own these beauties…
Top Tips for Saving for a Chanel Bag:
Identify the bag you are lusting for
Put the bag on your vision board (so you are reminded each day of your goal)
Open a new savings account for this special bag
Dedicate a percent of your paycheck (that is realistic for you) and transfer to the dedicated savings account as soon as you are paid
Be patient! Chanel bags are mega money, especially in 2022. But if it is a bag you want to have for a lifetime and it is worth it to you, take your time to get the bag…and closet… of your dreams.
Black Friday 2020
As we approach Black Friday, I wanted to “throw together” a few luxury looks that are literally what dreams are made of. Though I am not able to splash out on a Chanel classic flap right now, I do like to have a luxury wishlist in mind before going cyber crazy when Black Friday sales launch. Being conscious of the quality and style that I value, will prevent me from overspending on fast fashion and just shopping because something is on sale. This pink Balmain cardigan looks unbelievable, but I would never spend this amount of money on a cardigan.
If I happen to find it pre-loved at some point, and it is 65-70% off retail price, then I would consider purchasing. I have seen amazing Balmain pieces in amazing condition on TheRealReal for a fraction of the retail price, and I recommend knowing exactly what you’re looking for when browsing reselling retailers. While most of these featured items are available on The Outnet, the houndstooth Balmain cardigan shown below is exclusively available on MyTheresa.
I am so in love with this 2 piece Balmain set. I absolutely adore how Claire Chanelle styled it and she is 100% my inspiration for this. The cardigan would like incredible with any white dress, thought it is quite the splurge, especially for both the cardigan and the skirt. If you are looking for a game changing outfit to really make a statement, this might be the investment for you.
The Outnet is currently offering 25% off clearance items. That is AMAZING!!! Typically, the clearance category offers 70% or more off retail, and with this promo, you get an extra 25% discount. For a limited time, they are also offering 22% regular priced items. It will work for the Balmain dress above, however it did not work for another Balmain sweater dress. It also didn’t apply for higher price point Zimmerman pieces. If you see something you love, try the code before checking out and maybe you can save an extra 22%.
In full transparency, I have no affiliation with The Outnet. It is just my go-to shopping spot for high end apparel at a more accessible price. Instead of shopping my heart out at a handful of retailers this Black Friday, I will be focusing on a few specific investment pieces.
your DREAM bag
My recent partnership with The Luxury Closet has has me lusting after a luxury handbag to add into my wardrobe. I’ve always had more of an interest in ready-to-wear than $$$ handbags, but even I have to admit that with a great designer handbag, it has more mileage because you can wear it with all your outfits (depending on what color you go with, of course).
As I don’t have the budget to buy more than 1 luxury handbag, I will narrow it down to a few of my favorite neutral bags, my top recs for classic black handbags and my favorite bright and bold ones. Then I will narrow it down to 1 in each category and decide what would be the best option for my wardrobe.
Classic bags
Classic bags are safer investments, as they will go with more outfits and surpass trends and fads. However, not all classic bags work well with our personal style or lifestyle. In the end, if a trendy bag is practical and works easily with your current closet, it may be a good purchase. People consider a bag trendy because of the color, print, or style. To me, a good capsule bag collection would focus on classic bags with a few trendy bags sprinkled in.
COLOR
In this post, I am featuring bags from different retailers and re-selling websites. I fully intend on choosing a pre-loved bag, so I can get an almost new bag that is significantly discounted. While I want the bag to still be in great condition, I don’t see the need to pay double the price for a handbag that I will scuff or that I have to “baby” and be afraid to wear on a regular basis.
I’m in love with the Gucci Marmont in Candy Pink, but this wouldn’t be a good purchase since I don’t yet own a great basic black or neutral handbag. In the future, I would consider it, because most days I’m just wearing black and this would be a fun accent color. When I am wearing color, I opt for baby blue or pastel, and I think this pop of pink would pair with that as well.
Because I am a true declutter-er at heart, and want a modest but AMAZING bag collection, I will only be investing in one of the beauties. With all that said, let’s compare some stunning handbags from new and past collections across various brands…
METALLICS
I love a good metallic handbag, and one of my most loved bags was a white/iridescent one, and it truly went with all my outfits. If you want a bag that is a bit more unique and interesting than a basic neutral bag, metallics can be a good option.
You do have to keep in mind that silver or rose gold or gold can have very different effects and may look more night-time appropriate. You also should consider what colors look best on you. For instance, I have a warm complexion and brown hair and eyes, so copper and rose gold are the most flattering. However, I prefer silver.
Metallics can go with almost anything, but that can also depend on the bag’s style and leather/fabric composition.
HARDWARE
Givenchy Crocodile Embossed Antigona
Saint Laurent Toy Loulou in Cork
Gucci GG Marmont, Medium
Gucci Marmont GG Mini Top Handle
Gucci GG Marmont, Small
Obviously I’m a little obsessed with the Gucci Marmont in Porcelain Nude Rose, however I’ve never made the purchase because I love to wear silver jewelry and the brassy/gold hardware always deters me. Hardware is an important aspect to consider and I would prefer black hardware or a bag that has both gold and silver elements so that I don’t have to always consider whether I need to wear silver or gold jewelry when getting ready for the day.
SHAPE & SIZE
Chanel Calfskin CC Pocket Tote
Chanel Iridescent Caviar Clutch
What shape is best for you really comes down to style and function. A circle bag may be on-trend, but may not be user-friendly if your cell phone doesn’t even fit in it. Now most brands offer various sizes in their most in-demand handbags, so if you love the Gucci Marmont, or the Chanel classic flap, then you can decide which size…from the mini to the maxi…works best for your lifestyle. Whether you prefer a wallet on a chain for date night or a tote that you can use everyday, your lifestyle and how practical you need your handbag to be will determine your size preference. It becomes a bit easier once you have a few bags in various sizes, such as nice tote, a work bag, and a clutch. I want a handbag that will work for both day and night, so my ideal handbag would be a crossbody that will fit my phone, wallet, and essentials.
STYLE
The Prada Cahier is super edgy and functional, because it is a small crossbody. My ideal combination for this bag would be solid black with black hardware.
These Chloe bags wouldn’t be my first choice because I have a more edgy modern style and Chloe’s bags tend to be pretty feminine. The one in light nude is gorgeous though. If you prefer feminine and preppy looks, one of the bags below might be perfect.
EMBOSSED
Saint Laurent Crocodile Embossed Calfskin Sac de Jour
Saint Laurent Calfskin Crocodile Manhattan Shopper
The new croc embossed trend has paved the way for many brands to release alligator, croc, and croc effect. True exotic skins are crazy expensive, but croc effect can be more practical and attainable.
I did once buy a pre-loved Saint Laurent toy bag with croc leather in hot pink. I returned it because the scales were peeling off in the front. This is one thing I would precaution you on. Be aware of the condition of the leather and the specific type of leather, because as these bags show wear, the scales or “scaled effect” of the leather can flake off and make the bag look old and ratty.
Some leathers are more hard wearing, and in the right leather, a little texture on the bag can prevent every stain or scratch from showing.
Strap Drop
The type and length of strap also should be considered when buying a bag. A chain strap is more edgy and modern and I have heard that the straps on the Chanel classic flap aren’t ideal to wear crossbody. The YSL Sunset bag straps can be taken off and another put on, making it more versatile. I like to add on my own bag straps, so I look for handbags that allow you to clip off and on the strap.