Looking for a vintage Chanel bag can be very exciting, especially if this is your first time! There are so many good fake bags these days that are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. In addition, with vintage you also have to pay close attention to the condition of a bag. In other words: choosing a vintage Chanel bag can be difficult if you don't know what you are dealing with!

What should you pay attention to with vintage designer bags? I collect a lot of vintage items. Bags, coats, jewelry and you name it. Vintage is usually second-hand and sometimes also a piece that is unworn from, for example, the 70s. Because these items are often EITHER second-hand OR have been stored somewhere for years, perhaps decades, vintage clothing, shoes and designer bags can look very different now than they did 30-40 years ago. These are the points you should pay attention to when purchasing a vintage Chanel bag:

1. Pay attention to the quality of designer bags

Some bags have been lovingly preserved and cared for, while other bags have also been lovingly preserved but less well cared for. Chanel bags are usually made of lambskin, calfskin or caviar skin. The way you store a bag can have a huge impact on the quality of the leather 10 years later. For example, a bag that has spent years in a damp environment can contain mold. A bag that has never had a nourishing cream applied can be completely dried out. So pay attention to the quality of the leather. Is it still soft? Is it dry? What does it smell like? Is it moldy?

2. Corners

Bags that have been worn with much love can have normal signs of use such as worn corners. Fortunately, these corners are also easy to repair, for example with these pins from Havre de Luxe.

3. Hardware

Is the hardware still good? What year is your Chanel bag from? Up until 2008, all Chanel bags were provided with a layer of 24k gold hardware. The hardware was gold plated for a chic look. Since 2008, the fashion house unfortunately no longer uses real gold, it is also common knowledge that Chanel has changed the quality considerably over the years and it has not necessarily become better compared to the vintage Chanel bags.

4. Length of the strap

Do you want to be able to carry a Chanel bag practically? Then make sure you take a crossbody model. Are you really looking for a shoulder bag? Then take a bag with a short chain or short strap.

5. Colored at a bag spa?

Nowadays, bagspas are mega popular. A lot of second-hand vintage designer webshops work together with bagspas to restore or repair bags. This ensures that bags get a nice fresh look again. But sometimes there are also bags that are completely dyed. For example from white to pink, or from yellow to black. When a bag is dyed, you can often see this from the difference between the color of the bag and the stitching. Most webshops fortunately mention this honestly, but beware that not everyone does.

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