Chanel Spring/Summer 2017 Sale

Yes, Chanel does have seasonal sales and there is one happening today. I thought I'd share a few things that are included in sale just in case you're interested. The prices are listed below and are up to 40% off. Seasonal RTW clothes, shoes and accessories are included (no bags). High-end department stores like Neiman Marcus, Saks and Nordstrom are also participating in the sale. I know it's not easy to gather the sale info if you don't live near a Chanel boutique. I hope you find this post helpful.

{Clockwise: $560 | $465 | $450 | $717}

{Clockwise: $665 | $542 | $560 | $507}

{Scarves are $315 | Sorry, I don't have prices for these necklaces}

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Chanel Spring/Summer 2017 Sale

6 ways to wear a Chanel wallet on chain

I talked about my love for the Chanel wallet on chain (WOC) several times on here. This little beauty is so versatile and can take you from day to night with ease. Today, I am showing you 6 ways to wear it. The best part? You can adjust the strap length according to your height. My favorite ways to wear it is # 1 (as a cross body for days) and # 2 (as a clutch for nights). Click here to see what fits inside. Have a wonderful weekend, ladies!

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6 ways to wear a Chanel wallet on chain

Chanel Coco Handle :: Updated Details

This blog got a lot of traffic this past few weeks from people who were searching for more information regarding the Chanel coco handle bag. Chanel released the same bag in June with a couple of updated details. I thought I'd do a quick post to point out those changes just in case you're interested.

{Chanel coco handle bag}

1. The shoulder strap is now removable: This is an excellent feature! Say if you won't want to use the shoulder strap, you can remove it entirely. The bag looks even more streamline, is versatile and chic like their original Kelly bag

2. I personally haven't seen the new version in person but heard the new caviar leather is more sturdy and durable. My SA said the leather is a bit shiner and less dull. The previous version is made out of soft caviar leather. Mine had a bit of slouch in places even though it was brand new (definitely one of its downsides).

Even though I only had it for a short period of time, I truly enjoyed the bag (full review here). With these updates, I personally think the coco handle is a phenomenal bag. I would highly recommend it if you're in the market for a Chanel bag.

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Chanel Coco Handle :: Updated Details

Unboxing :: Chanel Caviar Chevron WOC In Red

 

Today, I have a little reveal for you - my gorgeous Chanel wallet on chain in the chevron print. This is a replacement of my navy timeless WOC. I always wanted to add a red bag to my collection at some point. This particular piece was from Chanel's 2016 Spring collection. It has the most beautiful classic shade of red. I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of the last few pieces (purchased in March). I won't go into details as I've talked about the wallet on chain to death on this blog. I personally think it is one of the most versatile pieces from Chanel. Hope you enjoy a little eye candy today and have a great weekend!

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Unboxing :: Chanel Caviar Chevron WOC In Red

Neutral with a pop of red

 

The start of 4th of July weekend festivities is only a week away so I though I'd show you a few patriotic-themed outfits this week. A pair of cut-off denim shorts is a summer must have. I got these years ago and am still wearing them every weekend. The midi length is chic and classy at the same time. For this outfit, I am pairing the shorts with my newly purchased top. I ordered a few things from Forever 21 last week and added this top as a filler (only $6). I ended up loving it. It's so comfortable, easy to wear and go with practically everything. Happy Monday, ladies! Outfit details: AE midi shorts *40% off thru Monday* | Forever 21 top | Chanel boy bag | J.Crew espadrilles *very similar here for under $50* | Quay sunglasses 

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Neutral with a pop of red

Chanel Pre-Fall 2016

For this week's handbag chit chat, I wanted to share some information regarding Chanel's Pre-Fall 2016 collection. Please note that I haven't seen any of these bags in person. This is just what I gathered from my wonderful sales associates as well as from people I know who have purchased the items. I am not in the market for a Chanel bag anytime soon but 3 bags below have caught my attention.

1. Chanel caviar boys: When I purchased my boy bag, I really wanted a caviar one. However, it wasn't available at the time so I ended purchasing a calfskin boy. Even though it's been wonderful, the thought of having a caviar boy is always in the back of my mind. Knowing Chanel will be bringing back caviar boys this year, I was so anxious to learn more about it. Caviar boys were released a month ago in 4 color (only available in ruthenium hardware). However, the caviar boy bags for pre-fall are made out of soft caviar leather (similar to the coco handle). I haven't seen one in person but based on feedback from those who bought the bag, it doesn't hold its shape like the classic caviar bags.



2. Chanel Rock in Rome: This is a new release this season. Available in black, burgundy and deep blue (the blue ones are not available at Chanel boutiques). It's however available at upscale department stores like Saks and Bloomingdale's. If you're a fan of the jumbo classic flap but don't like the $5500 price tag, this is a great option at $3100. It's super roomy (11"L x 8"H x 4"D) and the organization of the bag is excellent as seen below. I wanted to point out that this bag is a shoulder bag. At 12.5" strap drop, it is not long enough to be worn as a cross-body (only available in one size with ruthenium hardware).

3. Chanel Trapezio: This is a new release as well (I could be wrong). This bag is definitely my most favorite out of the 3 (especially the burgundy one). This particular bag is made out of grained sheepskin. It sounds so luxurious, doesn't it? Starting from $2700 for the small ones and $3400 for the large ones. Again, if you like the look of the classic flap but don't want to pay the price tag, this is another fantastic option.

I hope you find this post helpful. Let me know if you have any questions. On a related note, I will have a medium Chanel boy in red up for sale next week. Please keep an eye out if you're interested. Have a great weekend!

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Chanel Pre-Fall 2016

Chanel Coco Handle :: What fits & my general thoughts

Happy Friday! Today, I have a full review of this Chanel coco handle bag for you. I'll go over what fits inside and my general thoughts. I know this bag is relatively new to the market and hope you'll find this review somewhat helpful. I wanted to mention that I no longer own this bag :( Yes, I cried a little while packing but I'll save the reason why in a later post. I took a few photos to show you how much you can fit in it before sending it out. This is a size small (style code: A92991, currently retails for $3300, measurements: 9.8″ x 6.7″ x 4.7″). It's also available in mini ($3000), medium ($3600) and large ($3700) sizes. If you're my height, a small is the perfect size in my opinion (especially when carry as a shoulder bag). The bag hits me exactly where I wanted. The leather portion of the strap makes it very comfortable to wear.

Even though it's a small, you can fit a ton. As you can see below: I have a mini iPad, a full size cosmetic pouch, a full size wallet, my iPhone 6 plus and a full size pack of baby wipes. I don't ever carry a mini iPad with me but if you want, you certainly can. It fits perfectly in one of the 2 big compartments. This bag provides great storage and organization capabilities. Love the divider in between. It provides great separation and not on big hole. There is a middle zipper compartment for added security. If I was going to travel with this bag, this is where I probably will keep my passport or important documents. The back pocket is too small for my phone but it's great for some sort of tickets. Below is how I pack this bag. As you can see, everything fits comfortably and there's no problem closing the bag. This is the most I will ever carry with me on any given day even with my kids.

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Chanel Coco Handle :: What fits & my general thoughts

Chanel Boy Bag :: Old Medium vs. New Medium (Jumbo)

For this week's handbag chit chat, I wanted to do a quick side-by-side comparison to show you the differences between the Chanel Boy in the old medium vs the new medium size. I did talk a bit about these 2 sizes in this post but did not go into details. I recently found this gorgeous bag in gray caviar leather for someone I know. I took this opportunity to snap a few photos before sending it to the lucky lady. I believe the new medium size is now called the jumbo.

Measurements: Medium (6” x 10” x 3.5”) vs. Jumbo (7” x 11” x 3.5”)

Current price: Medium ($4700) vs Jumbo ($5200)

It took me the longest time to decide on the size and I ultimately went with the jumbo size. After years of buying and selling handbags, trust me when I tell you bigger isn't always better when it comes to handbags. What important is how it fits and looks proportionate to your frame. If you ask me which size is best for petite ladies, without a doubt, it's the medium. Even though I purchased the jumbo, I honestly think the medium would be the better choice. I purchased this particular bag because I love the color/hardware combination so much. It wasn't available in the medium to purchase at the time. Going down a size is something I might consider doing in the future. However, I love this bag so much that I don't see myself selling it anytime soon.

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Chanel Boy Bag :: Old Medium vs. New Medium (Jumbo)

Handbag chit chat :: Chanel Spring Act II pieces

For this week's handbag chit chat, I have some eye candy for you - Chanel Spring Act II pieces! I am practically drooling over these beauties. They were released a couple weeks ago. I am sharing their prices as well for informational purposes only. It would be helpful for those who do not live near a Chanel boutique. I don't so I know it's not always easy to call around for prices. Which item is your favorite? Mine is the iridescent purple classic flap. How cool is that? A girl can dream =)

{Chanel boy large lambskin with shiny GHW/RHW - $5200}

{Shopping tote: Top - $5800 | Bottom - $4600}

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Handbag chit chat :: Chanel Spring Act II pieces

SOLD - Chanel Le Boy Old Medium Size Red RHW

Looking to add a little pop of red to your Christmas outfit? This gorgeous Chanel Boy bag from the pre-Fall 2013 Celtic collection is up for grab. It is an old medium size in calfskin leather with ruthenium hardware. Comes with box, dust bag and authenticity card. I actually prefer the old medium over the new medium (it's the perfect size for a petite frame). I talked about the difference between 2 sizes in this post. Details and additional photos can be found here.

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SOLD - Chanel Le Boy Old Medium Size Red RHW

How I store my Chanel handbags

{Pictured: Chanel Boy | Chanel Classic Flap | Exact same WOC here}

Even though all my Chanel bags are made of durable caviar/calfskin leather, it's still very important to take care of your things in general. I don't necessarily baby my bags but I am not careless with them either. Everyone has different ways to storing their handbags. This is just how I like to store mine. 

Step 1: Always stuff your bags with tissue paper. This helps maintain the overall shape of your purse. Make sure you push the tissue paper into the bottom corners of the bag. Corners are natural areas for the bag to lose its structure.

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How I store my Chanel handbags

Shopping in Paris/Rome and my VAT refund experience

**Update** I had my refund back to my credit card 6 weeks later

---------

As promised – today, I am going to briefly talk about my shopping adventure in Europe as well as getting my tax refund at FCO airport. A couple of months prior to the trip, I sold my Chanel jumbo flap because it wasn't a good fit for me. My plan was to get a medium size as a replacement and loved the idea of getting one at Rue Cambon. 3 weeks prior to the trip, I contacted the Rue Cambon boutique as well as the Avenue Montaigne boutique but had no luck. Due to the rumors about Chanel price increase, classic flaps sell out very quickly. Rumors turned out to be true. Chanel boy flaps, classic flaps and Chanel WOC's have gone up 20% across Europe as of 04/08. I checked back with both boutiques regularly and still had no luck. I then settled for a pre-owned one and couldn't be more thrilled. BTW, I have the contact email of both boutiques and am happy to share them with anyone interested.

{Buy the bigger size here}

Although the hunt for my replacement was over, I still wanted to visit the Chanel flagship boutique just for the experience. On the other hand, my sister in law was interested in getting her first Chanel bag and has asked me to look for one. We went to the Rue Cambon boutique and there wasn't a classic bag in sight (only seasonal styles/colors were available). I waited 15 minutes for a sales associate. She showed me a few bags but they were not even close to what my sister was looking for. We left the store empty-handed. We then walked around the area and stumbled upon another Chanel boutique on Rue Royal which isn't very far from the 1st one. This one is significant smaller than the original boutique. I caught a glimpse of a black bag out of the corner of my eye and decided to go in. I quickly realized that this bag is pretty close to what my sister was looking for. A sales associate greeted us and started gushing over the bag. She said this is a cross between a classic flap and a boy flap and suitable for a petite. Perfect! I took a few pictures and sent them to my sister. However, after 3 tries, they didn't go through and I finally gave up. My husband and I had a brief discussion and decided to purchase the bag anyway. We both love it so much and were confident that she would love it too. As soon as we got back to the hotel, I tried again and finally got a text from her saying that she loves the bag (style code A90810). Whew! You can buy the bigger size here in red. The bag is available in black/beige/gray and made out of calfskin. As you can tell from the side by side comparison, these two sizes are incredibly similar. The bag is truly perfect on her. Mission accomplished if you ask me =)

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Shopping in Paris/Rome and my VAT refund experience

Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap vs Chanel New Medium Boy Flap

Today, I wanted to briefly compare the Chanel jumbo classic flap and the new medium Boy flap just in case you have a hard time deciding between the two. Click here to see how they look on me.

Chanel Jumbo Classic Single Flap in caviar

Measures: 12" (L) x 8" (H) x 3" (W)
Retail price: $3500 (in 2011). This exact bag is no longer in production but you can find many preowned options available here

Chanel New Medium Boy Flap in calfskin
Measures: 11" (L) x 7" (H) x 3.5" (W)
Retail price: $5200 (see tag) - Many preowned options available here

Chanel Old Medium Boy Flap in calfskin
Measures: 10" (L) x 6" (H) x 3.5" (W)
Retail price: $4700

As you can tell from the photos, the jumbo is significantly bigger than the boy. It's quite large and can hold a lot of items. I picked the caviar because it’s really durable and less prone to scratches. Both of my preowned bags are in caviar leather and they hold up so well over the years. I love the timeless look of the classic flap and the size is perfect for daytime wear. The boy is my first Chanel bag in calfskin. While calfskin isn't as tough as caviar, it's not as fragile as lambskin. My very first Chanel purchase was a black lambskin small classic flap. Although, I don't baby my bags, I am not careless with them either. After using it for a couple of years, I eventually found a new home for it because it was too high maintenance for me. All of my caviar bags have been a breeze to take care of.

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Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap vs Chanel New Medium Boy Flap

Chanel Boy Adventure...

{Pictured: Chanel medium boy flap - Many preowned options available here}

As promised - Today, I am sharing my Chanel shopping adventure. A month ago, I had no desire to get another Chanel bag. I am happy and content with what I have. Now that Madelyn is older, I don't carry a diaper bag with me anymore. For a quick trip here and there, I usually carry my jumbo flap. It's super roomy and durable to haul around. There is one problem - The bag hangs down to my knees when worn as a cross-body (I am only 5'2"). As a temporary fix, I tie 2 ends together using a ribbon to achieve my desired length.

We were out Christmas shopping and I wore my flap as a shoulder bag (double up the strap - it works fine in this case). As the day progressed, Madelyn needed to be held. I told my husband I need to sit down to tie the strap so I can wear it as a cross-body. It's silly to wear a bag that hangs down to your knee. That's inconvenient - he said. I guess he never noticed my ribbon trick. Don't they make something that fit your frame better? He continued. I told him "I am sure they do but we're not getting a new bag, are we? He then said - let's just go look ... and this is how it all started =)

{Outfit details: Lysse leggings | Ann Taylor pumps | Banana Republic shirt}

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Chanel Boy Adventure...

Blogmas Day 22: I got a (Chanel) boy for Christmas

{Pictured: New medium Chanel Boy - many options available here}

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen what I got for Christmas already. As I am typing this post, it feels so surreal to be the proud owner of the most coveted Chanel bag. It's by far the biggest fashion purchase I've ever made. 3 weeks ago, a new handbag wasn't even discussed (forget about a new Chanel bag). I have to give credit to my husband - the one who made it possible. I will share our shopping experience in a later post. I will also gather my thoughts and do a comparison post between a classic jumbo flap vs. the new medium (wearing below) vs. the old medium. Stay tuned for that =)

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Blogmas Day 22: I got a (Chanel) boy for Christmas

August purchase: Chanel caviar wallet on chain (WOC)

August purchase was actually a gift from the husband. We just celebrated our milestones anniversary last month. The plan was to take a trip somewhere but his travel schedule was just too crazy for the month of September. Since we decided to forgo the trip, he said I can cross something off my wishlist as a gift for our anniversary =) I ended up getting the Chanel wallet on chain in navy. I was looking for a non-black, caviar, silver-hardware WOC and this little beauty couldn't be more perfect. I can't even express how much I adore this bag. It's classic, timeless and functional at the same time. I am not going to review this bag. These days, you probably can find anything you want to know with a few Google searches. Pre-own Chanel WOCs are widely available on the market these days. Just a quick search I found many pre-owned versions available here or get the exact same one here.

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August purchase: Chanel caviar wallet on chain (WOC)

Something new

I turned a year older today! Pretty exciting, huh? Not really =) I never make a big deal out of my birthday even when I was young. I've always been pretty low-key with my birthday celebrations. However, on my birthday, I like to take a moment and reflect back on my life and where I am today.

September holds a special place in my heart. It's not only my birthday month, it's also our anniversary month. It's very important as you celebrate your marriage anniversary, to remember why you fell in love. This is the time to pause and reflect over the last years that you've been together. What makes our anniversary even more special this year is the birth of baby Madelyn.

OK..so enough with the mushy stuff =) Let's talk about the fun stuff. Say hello to my birthday/anniversary/push present – The Chanel jumbo flap in caviar. By the way, the first time I heard “push present” was from the talented Sew Petite Gal. I had no idea what it was before but think it's a beautiful concept!

Even though, I've done fairly extensive research online before purchasing my first Chanel, there are a couple things I wish I had done differently.

1. Caviar vs. lambskin: I love the feel and texture of the lambskin but boy, it's hard to care for and scuff easily. I really don't baby my bags. I am a firm believer that luxury goods are there to be enjoyed, I just have to find ways to take more care of it. Caviar would be so much easier to take care of and also keeps its shape better than the lambskin.

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Something new

Getting my dream Chanel bag (Part IV): Q&As

I wasn’t planning on doing another post on my Chanel purse. Since I’ve gotten a few questions from you guys, I thought I’d share my experiences. Buying an expensive handbag is always a monumental task whether it’s brand-new or pre-owned. It requires a lot of homework to be done. A Chanel bag is an investment. Like all investments, you need to make sure of everything before pushing through with your purchase. Below are my answers to some of the questions you’ve asked:

Q (from Nelah): If you don't mind me asking, did you get it from a reseller? Perhaps you can recommend a trustworthy one. I am so afraid to buy high end bags from ebay to find out I paid for a knock off.

A: Yes, my purse was a pre-owned one. I actually prefer pre-owned over new designer handbags. The money I saved can be put towards something else. I won’t reveal the seller’s name publicly just because I don't want to be held responsible for any purchase from this seller. If you’re interested, please DM me =)

Q (from JenLovesBal): Did you purchase preowned as well? I believe its the best thing to do right now since the current retail prices are insane!!

A: As the price will just keep going up, it makes more sense to go with pre-owned. I don't mind a few scratches at all. Scratches add character to the bag and I won't be afraid to use it. I am not the type of girl who keeps everything in dust bags. If I paid a fortune for it, I’ll make sure I get a ton of use out of it.

Q (from CinnyAngel): What is her size and exact model, just for reference, and for us to compare her to the ones mentioned in your previous post?

A: She is a size small. The measurements are as follows: width = 9 inches, height = 5.5 inches, depth = 2 inches. It was just a tad smaller than the M/L classic flap but wasn’t anything considerable. The exact same purse in brand-new condition retails for $3700. The M/L flap retails for $3900.00. As you can see from the photos, the small was a good size for me.

Q (from Sophia): You mentioned that you found many classic flaps with gold hardware. If you don't mind me asking, which store did you find them at? I'm looking for one with gold hardware, but it's so hard to find one in my area (SoCal).

A: If you’re looking for a preowned classic flap with gold hardware, I've found quite a few listings on Malleries, Bonanza and Yoogi's Closet. There is also a store called FashionPhile located in Beverly Hills and San Francisco. Hope that helps!

{Close-up photos of my purse}

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Getting my dream Chanel bag (Part IV): Q&As

Getting my dream Chanel bag (Part III): The reveal

As mentioned in this post, my search for a dream Chanel is finally ended. This is what I ended up with – a 2.55 classic flap lambskin with silver hardware. I’ve been searching for this perfect purse for almost 4 months. It’s easy to get caught up in moments and settle for just OK. This has happened to me a couple of times when searching. I was able to talk myself out of it both times. $2000 is a lot to spend on a bag. Hence, I wanted to make sure that I make the right choice.

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Getting my dream Chanel bag (Part III): The reveal

Getting my dream Chanel bag (Part II): Researching...

After convincing my husband that spending $2000 on a purse is OK, the next step is to go look for one =) We stopped by Saks a couple of months ago to try on a few purses in person. With a $2000 budget in mind, I know I wouldn’t have so many choices. If money wasn't an issue, my first choice would be this jumbo flap. It’s so gorgeous! Sadly, the $4000 price tag is wayyy out of my price range right now. I've tried on both the Wallet On Chain (WOC) and the Petite Shopper Tote (PST) in store that day.

Chanel classic flap

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Getting my dream Chanel bag (Part II): Researching...