There are few brands that rival Chanel when it comes to buying an investment handbag. The classic flap bags are not just a timeless wardrobe staple, but they also increase in value over time. However, once you’ve made the decision to buy one, how do you know which one is for you? From the high price tag to the sheer number of Chanel bags available, the decision can be daunting enough to make even Choupette’s hairs stand on end. And as the French fashion house brings out new iterations of the classics, as well as exciting one-off pieces, we think it would be fair to say that it isn't just the price tag that can be overwhelming, but the styles to choose from, too.
A Chanel handbag is a purchase worth doing a significant amount of research on.
Of course, most would probably say they’d like to buy the classic Chanel 2.55 flap bag. The iconic piece was first created by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel herself when she got fed up of carrying her bag in her arms. To free herself up, she decided to borrow the idea of having straps, which she’d seen on a soldier’s bag. As per everything else Chanel created, it was a revolutionary take on the item, as up until that point, women carried their handbags. The 2.55 bag was launched in 1955, hence the name. However, it wasn’t until the ’80s, when Karl Lagerfeld took the helm, that the double-C locks were introduced.
It’s worth considering which new Chanel bags will one day become collector's items, as we’ll discuss in greater depth.
"Chanel bags, particularly the classic flap bags, are true collector’s pieces, as they come in such a beautiful array of fabrics, sizes and colours,” says Rachel Ingram, all-round style expert and editor in chief at personalised luxury shopping service Threads Styling. "Seasonally, we see trends and demand for specific colours and fabrications shift—for example, right now, our clients keep requesting Chanel bags in bright green. That said, any Chanel bag investment is worthwhile, as they never lose their value.”
Specific colours and fabrications will increase in demand.
So we know they’re in demand, even with a recent price hike, but what does the current Chanel handbag market actually look like? For further help on navigating the luxury marketplace and all things Chanel, we asked fashion and handbag expert Sarah Davis of Fashionphile, a luxury handbag marketplace, to lend us her expertise on purchasing the iconic bag. From how much you should expect your Chanel bag, online or IRL, to appreciate, to understanding how to spot a fake, we’ve got your ultimate guide to buying a Chanel bag. Keep scrolling to find out more.
1. Know Which Popular Styles Will Go Up in Value Over Time
Lorna of Symphony of Silk carries a Chanel flap bag.
"The medium or jumbo Chanel flap bags that were selling back in 2000 are still super hot today,” says Davis. "In terms of other Chanel bag styles that hold their value, I’d say the medium Chanel Boy Bag is [one of] the most popular due to its versatility.”
"If you want to be sure that your bag will continue to gain value over time, stick with the basics. Go with a classic black Chanel flap bag made in lambskin or caviar leather. The crazy thing is that Chanel continues to raise the retail price on these styles every year or two. So if you bought your jumbo flap in 2006, it cost you £1399. If you bought that same bag in 2015, it would have cost you £4287. And today, in 2022, the style now comes in at a cool £8530! This means that if you bought your bag back in 2006 and decided to sell it today, you can potentially make up to £6000 more than what you paid for it. Truth be told, this is a trend I can only see continuing, so if you hold on to any Chanel bag long enough (10-plus years), you’re going to have some real value locked into that bag.”
Shop the bag:
If you’re in any doubt, this is the Chanel handbag to invest in.
We can see why the Boy Bag is still as popular as ever.
2. Spot the Rare Collectable Piece
Right now, Chanel’s heart-shaped bags are everywhere.
"This is actually one of the things that I adore about Chanel—the really cool, collectable, and super-limited pieces,” says Davis. "You actually have to hold on to them longer if you care about resale value because they’re special and usually have a higher price point out the gate. Some of my favourites are the minaudière clutches, such as the vinyl record minaudière, the cassette tape and the gold bar. The S/S 04 cassette tape bag retailed for £1247. Fashionphile once received a clear one that’s a tiny see-through clutch. We had never seen one sell before and ended up listing it for £7015. It sold in 30 minutes.” Now, it’s all about the Chanel heart bag.
Shop the bag:
It might sound surprising, but pink styles often hold their value really well.
Look for unique aspects like unusual shapes and chain details.
3. Find Out Which Hardware Best Suits You
"Sometimes more bells and whistles make a bag harder to resell,” advises Davis. "All the beading and tweeding looks amazing (and I love carrying a bag that no one else has), but if you care about resale, all those extra trappings don’t help. Stick with styles that have the traditional chain strap, a visible logo, and you’re good to go. The vintage hardware was made with 24-karat gold alloy—you can tell these bags by the little hallmark embossed in the crossing Cs.”
Shop the bag:
Although a relatively new shape for the brand, this bag has "classic collector’s piece” written all over it.
This top-handle bag is an unusual shape, but the classic logo and chain details retain its re-sell appeal.
4. Learn the Red Flags of Counterfeit Bags
"If you aren’t an expert in Chanel authentication, I’d say the most important thing to look out for is that you’re buying from a reputable seller,” stresses Davis. "There are all kinds of businesses now that mean well but have a ‘no returns’ policy and one single authenticator. ‘No returns’ is a red flag. Some of the higher-quality fakes even have registration numbers, holograms, cards, come with receipts, and are made of quality leather and hardware. Don’t be fooled just because a bag has these features. If you need help, use an online authentication service.”
Shop the book:
A real obsessive can also invest in the Chanel books.
See and Shop More Chanel Bag Styles Below
1. Chanel Backpacks
Style Notes: Chanel’s backpacks have been popular for decades now, but they’re experiencing a particular resurgence at the moment: Here, you can see a showgoer carrying one around at fashion week.
Shop the style:
This has major Y2K appeal.
Quilting is synonymous with Chanel.
2. Chanel Gabrielle Bag
Style Notes: While Chanel seems to have pressed pause on its Gabrielle bag, you can still find pristine preloved versions on sites like Vestiaire and Farfetch. Featuring a double strap that you can wear both on your shoulder and across your body at the same time, it has proven to be an eye-catching version no street style star can resist.
Shop the style:
The cream and black combination is so timeless.
3. Chanel Classic Flap Bag
Style Notes: The classic flap bag traditionally can be recognised by the interlocking Cs (introduced by Karl Lagerfeld in the ’80s and now a permanent fixture) as well as the interwoven leather-and-chain strap. The classic flap comes in three sizes (small, medium, jumbo) and in many fabrications and iterations.
Shop the style:
How adorable is this mini iteration?
It doesn't get much more classic than this.
4. Chanel Boy Bag
Style Notes: First introduced for S/S 12 (yes, over a decade ago!), Chanel’s Boy bag is a more tomboyish, younger alternative to the ladylike, mature bags that came before it. The style—which was named after Coco Chanel’s lover, Boy Capel—still holds up as a mainstay on the street style scene.
Shop the style:
Another Chanel handbag that’s significantly shot up in price.
I just love the buttery yellow hue.
5. Chanel Waist Bags
Style Notes: Chanel’s waist bags (or bumbag, for those straight-talking folks out there) weren’t around in Coco Chanel’s time, but the fashion house has come back to them often (this season included). Celebs such as Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid are fully backing the fanny-pack trend, choosing dainty Chanel styles to join the hands-free club.
Shop the style:
Wear this with a minimalist outfit.
6. Chanel Collector Bags
Style Notes: No one can ever predict where Chanel’s most outrageous novelty bags will go next, but one thing’s for sure: They stay in a fashion editor’s memory. Who could forget this hula-hoop bag from 2013? This season, it’s the pearl-embellished evening bags that are catching our attention.
Shop the style:
Price On Request
Such a statement.
A stunning piece.
7. Chanel Minaudière Bags
Style Notes: You’ll find that many of the collector pieces revolve around smaller, intricate, often humorous minaudière bags. Suki Waterhouse carried this boxy logo style to the Serpentine Gallery summer party, and you can request the price in-store should you desire it for your own wardrobe—as is the case with many of these ultra-luxe minaudières.
Shop the style:
Price On Request
Unusual shapes are big in the collector world.
Price On Request
How could you resist this rose-shaped treat?
8. Chanel 2.55 Bags
Style Notes: Coco Chanel debuted the 2.55 in 1929 and updated it in 1955, hence the style name. The designer first introduced it to the market because she was sick of clutching a bag underarm and wanted freedom. All these decades later, it still does gives a girl the same amount of happiness, if not more. You can tell a 2.55 from its rectangular fastening and the chain handle (which doesn’t have leather woven into it, unlike the flap).
Shop the style:
The retail price of this handbag has also almost doubled in recent years.
How beautiful is this gold and green combination?
Next Up: The 10 Most Classic Designer Handbag Brands of Our Generation
The article was origianlly published at an earlier date and has since been updated.