All You Need to Know About the Iconic

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 an investment Chanel bag, how do you know which one is right for you?

From the high price tag to the sheer number of styles available, the decision can be daunting enough to make even Choupette’s hairs stand on end.

Which popular styles will go up in value over time.

If you want to be sure that your bag will continue to gain value over time, stick with the basics,” Davis adds. “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 $1885.

PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 21: Amelie Lloyd (Ameetslloyd) wears a Balenciaga bag, Rayban sunglasses, a Zara skirt, a Mango pull over sweater and Zara heels during a street style session on February 21, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

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If you buy that same bag in 2015, it will cost you $5770! This means that if you bought your bag back in 2006 and decided to sell it today, you can potentially make up to $4000 more than what you paid for it.

Sometimes more bells and whistles make a bag harder to resell. 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 24k-gold alloy—you can tell these bags by the little hallmark embossed in the crossing CCs.”

by CARSON OLIVARES

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

There are all kinds of businesses now that mean well but have a no-returns policy and one 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.”