Chanel Handbags and Purses

There are many different types of Chanel Classic Flap bags. They include Single Flaps with just an exterior flap and Double Flaps that feature both interior and exterior flaps. There are also a variety of sizes, including the Extra Mini, the Mini Rectangular, the Small, the Medium, the Jumbo and the Maxi. The Classic Flap bag comes in a range of materials, including classic caviar leather, lambskin leather, patent leather, iridescent leather and tweed, and they may feature chevron quilting, diamond quilting or no quilting at all. On 1stDibs, find a large collection of Chanel Classic Flap bags.

Chanel was founded in 1910 by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, a French fashion designer who opened a hat boutique in Paris that year. Chanel went on to transform women’s fashion with revolutionary and elegant designs that tore down gender boundaries and freed women from the confining fashions of the day. Find vintage and contemporary Chanel bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.

To know what model your Chanel bag is, look for the serial number. It usually appears on a leather tag or metal plate inside the bag. Once you have the serial number, contact Chanel customer service or consult trusted online resources for assistance identifying your bag. You can also consult a knowledgeable dealer for help with identification. Explore a large selection of Chanel bags on 1stDibs.

There are 310 Chanel boutiques located across the globe; 94 in Asia, 70 in Europe, 10 in the Middle East, 127 in North America, 2 in South America and 6 in Oceania. In addition to the Chanel boutiques, there are many authorized retailers of the Chanel line. Find a collection of expertly vetted Chanel fashions, accessories, and handbags from some of the world’s top reputable boutiques on 1stDibs.

The cost of a Chanel purse depends on its material, rarity, style and condition. On 1stDibs.com, you can purchase a Chanel purse starting from $280.

To know if a Chanel bag is real, first examine the serial number. Chanel began including serial numbers at the bottom of its bags in the mid-1980s. Between six and eight digits long, depending on the release date, they indicate the bag style and the year of manufacture. A quick web search will provide detailed information about Chanel serial numbers as well as the release dates of various styles. Walk away if you find that, for example, your serial number indicates a 2005 manufacture date for a style that wasn’t made until 2013.

Next, look closely at the iconic CC clasp. In a genuine Chanel clasp, the interlocking CCs have flat edges, not rounded ones. The right-hand C will always overlap the one on the left at the top, with the overlapping reversed at the bottom. Any other arrangement is an error, and when it comes to quality, Chanel doesn’t make those kinds of mistakes.

Also, check the backplate of the clasp. Located on the inside of the flap, the backplate of the CC logo clasp is secured with two screws (and not just any kind of screws). Until 2015, Chanel only used flathead screws, never cross-shaped Phillips screws. That year, it switched to star-shaped, proprietary screws made exclusively for the House of Chanel. These screws are easy to recognize and hard to fake because they require a special screwdriver that isn’t sold in a hardware store.

The backplate bears another indicator of an authentic Chanel bag: the all-caps etched lettering should read “CHANEL” at the top and “PARIS” at the bottom of the plate. If the etching is irregular, the spacing is uneven or the unmistakable typeface is replaced by a mainstream font, it’s a sign of a fake.

If you need assistance with authentication, consult a certified appraiser or other knowledgeable fashion expert. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Chanel bags.

How to clean white Chanel bags as they are susceptible to light and can turn yellow if exposed for too long by polishing the leather gently with a natural-coloured soft woollen cloth or pat with a fine woollen cloth when wet. Shop a range of authentic Chanel bags on 1stDibs.

Tuck the chain inside your Chanel bag through its holes and store it in a dust-free environment and avoid touching or bumping into any other items while they're hanging out of sight. Shop a range of vintage and modern Chanel bags on 1stDibs.

Yes, you can wear a Chanel Small Classic Flap Bag crossbody. The bag doubles as a shoulder bag thanks to its proportions and the length of its chain-and-leather strap. In addition, the Mini Square and Mini Rectangular sizes are good options for those who prefer crossbody bags. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of Chanel Classic Flap Bags.

The value of Chanel bags has been steadily increasing for years. This is because each year, they make a “limited run,” which means that there are only so many available to purchase from the Chanel store or expertly vetted platforms from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Yes, Chanel bags have names. The brand's iconic flap bag is known as the Chanel 2.55, and the redesign of this bag created by Karl Lagerfeld is the Chanel Classic or Chanel 11.12. Names of other Chanel bags include the Boy, the Gabrielle, the Wallet on Chain and the Grand Shopping Tote or GST. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of Chanel bags.

To find out how much your Chanel bag is worth, you can look at what similar pieces have sold for in the past on trusted online platforms. When searching for comparable bags, consider the age, style, materials, size and overall condition of your bag, as these factors all play a role in determining the value of pieces. For a more specific valuation based on your actual bag, consider using the services of a certified appraiser or other knowledgeable expert. Explore a large selection of Chanel bags on 1stDibs.

Yes, Chanel does have a crossbody bag. In fact, part of the appeal of Chanel bags is that many of them are suitable for both on-shoulder and across-the-body wear. The Wallet on Chain in any size is a great example. The Mini and Small sizes of many iconic Chanel bags are also commonly worn crossbody. Examples include the Chanel Boy Bag, the Chanel Classic Flap and the Chanel 19. Shop a wide range of Chanel crossbody bags on 1stDibs.

Chanel started making quilted bags in the 1950s (Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel had been making handbags since the 1920s, but following WWII, she began to create quilted bags in a focused manner). The French luxury fashion house's signature diamond quilting debuted on its 2.55 Flap bag, which was introduced in February of 1955. Since the debut of the 2.55, Chanel's quilting has become iconic and now appears on many of its bags. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of Chanel handbags.

How much Chanel bags cost in the 1990s varied from piece to piece and from year to year. For example, in 1990, the iconic Chanel flap bag's price was $1,150. When adjusted for inflation, that is around $2,280 in today's money. Shop a diverse assortment of Chanel bags on 1stDibs.