chanel

Chanel classic flap handbag review

 in Handbags  tagged chanel / handbag reviews by

Ah! The Chanel classic flap handbag. Why haven’t I reviewed this one yet? I am constantly asked questions about Chanel handbags, so I thought it was time to do a review of the most precious handbag style in my collection; the Chanel classic flap handbag. If you have been thinking about investing in one, I hope you will find this review useful.

This timeless shoulder bag by Chanel offers the quintessential Chanel quilting, and chain shoulder strap, we have all grown to love. While sometimes confused with the Chanel 2.55 reissue shoulder bag, the Chanel Classic Flap offers a “CC” logo clasp and puffier quilting. That is the only difference between the two!

chanel 2.55 handbag review

I have three versions of the Chanel Classic Flap shoulder; which isn’t technically called the “Classic Flap,” that is nickname we Chanel fans have given it. It really is just a classic shoulder bag. Pictured above are two versions of the small-size Chanel Classic Flap; one in brown caviar leather and one in black patent. The east/west bag pictured in the front is a convertible clutch which has a detachable strap tucked away. It is navy patent, and I don’t wear it very often because it doesn’t fit very much.

chanel 2.55 review

The small/medium size, which is often referred to as “old medium,” offers enough room for my wallet, phone, keys, lipstick, and sunglasses-not in their case. It is just the right size to fit everything I need when I am dressed up. Although I originally wore the Classic Flap as an everyday bag when I first purchased my brown one, as I get older, I just save them for dressier occasions, and I gravitate towards more casual bags for my everyday life.

chanel 2.55 handbag review chanel 2.55 handbag review chanel 2.55 handbag review chanel 2.55 handbag review

The Chanel Classic Flap, in every size from small through jumbo, offers hidden compartments Coco Chanel originally designed for hiding love letters. There is an opera ticket pocket on the exterior back of the bag; as pictured above. Inside the bag there are two slim compartments; one in the back of the large compartment and one in the front which is protected by an interior flap. Inside the main compartment there are two small pockets, and a lipstick pocket. This is a very organized handbag!

One of my favorite aspects of the Chanel Classic Flap handbag is the strap. It can be worn doubled up, allowing the bag to hit around the elbow, or, it can be worn as a single strap which allows for the bag to hang by the top of the hipbone. I prefer to wear mine as a single strap bag. I find it to be the most comfortable configuration.

I originally purchased my first Chanel Classic Flap in brown caviar leather in 2004, and as you can see, it is in great condition! I then purchased the navy patent east/west clutch, and then the black patent. These bags are well over ten years old, and they look new! If stored correctly, your Chanel bags can easily last for several generations.

In order to properly store your Chanel bags, keep them stuffed with white tissue paper, and always keep the felt they are packaged with. The felt is good for keeping the strap off the leather while it is stored. I always place the felt between the strap and the bag to protect the leather from the metal; you don’t want those touching! I store my bags on their back so that they don’t sag, wrapped inside their dust bag, and protected in their original box. Since Chanel has one of the highest resale values of any designer brand, it is important to keep them stored properly. I have sold Chanel bags for more then I originally paid for them, so proper storage is a must!

If you don’t want to spring for a new Chanel bag, there are plenty of reputable re-sale retailers online where you can find authentic Chanel bags which are gently used; and in some cases, new with tags! I have linked to Chanel bags online from reputable retailers below. I hope you find the Chanel Classic Flap bag of your dreams!

Thanks for stopping by, and feel free to ask me anything about your next handbag purchase! I love your emails and DM’s!!

XOXO

Cathy

chanel 2.55 handbag review

Street style handbags New York Fashion Week February 2018

 in Handbags / Trends  tagged chanel / chloe / gucci / new york fashion week / NYFW FW18 / spring 2018 / street style trends by

It is one thing to spot trends on the runways at New York Fashion Week, it is another thing to spot what people are wearing on the runway designers want their handbags to be seen on; the street.

Since fashion week in February has a combination of winter weather, and guests wanting to rock the latest spring trends, the only thing people can really wear without worrying about ice on the sidewalk, or snow falling from the sky, is a handbag. The spring 2018 handbags were out in full force at New York Fashion Week fall 2018! Yes!

I took careful notes of what people were carrying when attending the shows at New York Fashion Week. The street style handbags from New York Fashion Week will dictate which handbag trends will dominate the spring season, and which designer bag will gain the coveted “IT” status of the season. I have to admit, I was a little surprised to see the handbag patterns on the street!

Didn’t we say something about the death of the mini bag? Weren’t they going away? Well, they are going away, unless they are shaped like a circle or a box, then, they are not going away. That’s right! The streets of New York Fashion Week have spoken. Small or mini circle bags, and box bags, are all the rage for spring 2018; just don’t wear them cross body, that’s so last year.

Of course, there is more to street style handbags then small circles and boxes; the fashion set was also spotted wearing the Gucci Dionysus, Gucci Marmont, Chloe Nile, Chanel Boy Bag (it’s making a resurgence!), and any style of Louis Vuitton. Is Louis going to have a moment? It is so very 1990s. . .speaking of the 1990s. . .

Oh GenerationX, I hope you kept your mini backpack! Unfortunately, mine is long gone. <sign> Mini backpacks were everywhere on the streets of New York Fashion Week. Look for mini backpacks this season in bright colors, metallic hues, and funky fabrications. Free up those hands girl and dance! Speaking of free hands. . .

American tourists in white tennis shoes will rejoice at the third biggest trend in street style handbags from New York Fashion Week. The fanny pack is back from the 1980s, and it is not your typical touristy, nylon fanny pack. Sometimes called “belt bags,” the fanny pack was everywhere at fashion week, and it was Gucci. Don’t even bother getting a different designer or brand; it’s Gucci, or look like a cheesy American tourist, your choice.

Can we circle back to Louis Vuitton? For guests who need more space in their handbags during fashion week, the two bags I spotted the most often were the Louis Vuitton Neverfull, and the good ol’ fashion week standby; the Givenchy Antigona. In general, workhorse fashion week bags offered two top handles, a medium size, a neutral hue, or a metallic color. The bright colors were reserved for the smaller bags such as the circles, boxes, and <gasp> fanny packs.

The most spotted bags in these categories were the Gucci fanny pack, the MCM box bag, Louis Vuitton Neverful, Givenchy Antigona, Gucci Dionysus, anything from the Gucci Marmont family, Brahmin Lane Melbourne, Chloe Pixie, Chloe Nile, and the Chanel Boy bag. Which IT bag is your favorite?

Shop the top IT bags from the streets of New York Fashion Week:

Which street style handbags from New York Fashion Week are your favorite?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

                                                                               

Chanel nail polish spring 2018 review

 in Beauty / Nail Polish  tagged chanel / chanel nail polish / reviews / spring 2018 by

chanel nail polish spring 2018 review

Chanel nail polish spring 2018 collection from left: Chanel Arancio Vibrante nail polish / Chanel Nuvola Rosa nail polish / Chanel Giallo Napoli nail polish / Chanel Verde Pastello nail polish

Spring has sprung! Well. . . at least in nail polish land. haha! Chanel has brightened up this cold weather, with a beautiful spring 2018 nail polish collection filled with bright, cherry hues. Love!

The Chanel nail polish collection for spring 2018 is filled with four, very vivid colors which are going to make the spring season fun, light-hearted, and cheerful!

The four colors from the Chanel spring 2018 nail polish collection are cream polishes with a high gloss finish. They are color saturated, and offer a vivid version of red-orange, cool lilac, mellow yellow, and green-blue.

Despite the fact that Chanel introduced a flatter application brush in the winter 2018 collection, they have foregone the new brush in favor of the old application brush for the spring 2018 nail polish collection. These four spring hues offer the traditional Chanel application brush; which is fine with me, I think the old brush is easier to use then the flat brush from the winter collection.

Chanel nail polish spring 2018 : Chanel Arancio Vibrante

chanel arancio vibrante nail polish spring 2018 review

Chanel Arancio Vibrante nail polish for spring 2018 is a bright red-orange hue which looks more orange in natural light, and more red in artificial light. This photo was taken during morning golden hour outside, so you can see the true color in natural light.

Aracio Vibrante by Chanel is a cream polish, which applies evenly in two coats, with one base coat. This is a great color for red nail polish fans who want a hue which is on trend for the spring 2018 season. It is also fabulous for people like me who shy away from red nail polish; it isn’t really red, but can pass for reddish, so it is a great option for a classic look.

Chanel nail polish spring 2018 : Chanel Giallo Napoli

chanel giallo napoli nail polish spring 2018 review

I normally gravitate towards blues, purples, and greens when it comes to nail polish, but for some reason, I am in love with this bright yellow polish! Chanel Giallo Napoli nail polish is my favorite hue from the Chanel spring 2018 nail polish collection. This is a bright, cheery hue which is fun, happy, and hot off the runway. I love it! This spring, it looks like I will break away from my usual hues and rock this yellow one! Loving it!

Chanel Giallo Napoli nail polish is a cream polish which needed three coats of color, and one base coat. The polish applies in thin layers, so it needs three coats. Despite using three coats, it did not look too thick on my nails. The three layers were for color saturation, and to avoid streaking, not creating depth. It turned out to be a pretty manicure.

This is the perfect color for standing out from the crowd this spring 2018 season! I think this might be the color I wear to fashion week this season, it is so much fun!

Chanel spring 2018 nail polish : Chanel Nuvola Rosa

chanel nuvola rosa nail polish spring 2018 review

This is not your grandmother’s rose nail polish. Chanel Nuvola Rosa nail polish for spring 2018 is a rose slash lilac hue which is edgy, and the perfect pink for non-pink people. This will also be my go-to neutral nail polish hue for spring; it’s not a real neutral per se. . .but it acts like one!

I tested out Chanel Nuvola Rosa with two coats of color and one base coat. This is a nice cream polish which applies evenly, and the color packs a big punch. Love!

Chanel spring 2018 nail polish : Chanel Verde Pastello

chanel verde pastello nail polish review

Chanel Verde Pastello was my favorite color out of the box from the spring 2018 collection, and it is a very pretty color, but it looks too similar to Chanel’s winter 2018 hue Chanel Vert No. 19 for me to jump for joy. If you already purchased Vert no. 19 from the winter collection, you may not need Verde Pastello in your collection. Verde Pastello is about four shades lighter then Vert No. 19, so, if this color is your jam, you have the option of the slightly darker winter hue, or this brighter spring hue. They are both beautiful colors, and I love them both, but you don’t need to own both.

I tested out Chanel Verde Pastello nail polish with two coats of color and one base coat. This is a cream polish, and as with other Chanel cream polishes, it applies evenly and offers ideal color saturation. Love this color!!

The Chanel nail polish spring 2018 collection is full of bright, vivid hues which are both fun and beautiful. I can’t wait to rotate through them all this spring season. I love all four colors, and feel they are great additions to a nail polish wardrobe. Which color is your favorite?

You can find the Chanel spring 2018 nail polish collection online here.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

chanel spring 2018 nail polish review