Designer Bags: Entry Level Bags & Their Cons (Chanel Classic Flap Small, Medium/Large, Jumbo, Maxi)

Hardest Handbag Question Ever:
As a first time consumer of a classic Chanel piece, should you get the classic flap in the small, medium/large, the jumbo or the maxi size?

Today, let’s tackle which size may actually be the best fit for you. For as long as I can remember, the Chanel Classic Flap in the Medium/Large is considered to be the most quintessential handbag to own from the fashion house. Without this bag, any classic handbag lover’s collection was just not complete. So what is happening now, is this fact going to change?

As consumers started to transition towards a more digital age — we started to carry less and less with us. A great example of this is to think about when you may have downsized from a large long wallet to a compact wallet or flat card holder? As the digital age continuous to grow, we rely more and more on our smartphones to store information of items that we use to carry around physically.

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In comparison, back in the mid 2000’s and the early 2010’s, the Chanel Classic Flap Jumbo was the most coveted bag to own. During this time period, big bags were the trend, you wanted a bag that could store everything that you may have needed for a two day trip (just exaggerating). But, by the early 2010’s, small bags and mini bags were gaining traction in the fashion world. Hence it made consumers start to consider the Chanel Classic Flap in the Medium/Large size. However, over the years Chanel has also made a few changes to their bags that may also have impacted this transition.

The first most notable change took place in 2008 (12 series), where Chanel decided to entirely stop plating the gold hardware on their bags. Some speculate that this was due to the economic financial collapse and some speculate that Chanel wanted to create a larger margin of profit for their sales. Either way, this started a huge trend of folks looking for vintage bags because the plated hardware is less likely to tarnish, chip and can be re-dipped.

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Another change to note is that in 2014 Chanel discontinued their classic bags that featured single flaps. In order to help maintain the structural integrity of the bag, Chanel decided that it would be better to adapt all classic bags to double flaps. The downside to this is that in a Jumbo sized classic flap, the additional reinforced flap resulted in a much heavier bag. There is a noticeable difference between the weight of a single flap versus a double flap.

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As you can see from the photos above, the single flap on the left is significantly less structured and also has side-by side grommets versus the double flap on the right which is definitely standing taller and has grommets that are in front of each other.

There are often two teams when it comes to these pieces, there is Team A who is pro single flap, light-weight, easier to get in and out of and Team B who is pro double flap, better structure, concrete longevity, feels more sturdy. However, if you’re part of Team A you will have to go the pre-loved route in order to find one of these beauties, versus Team B who could walk right into the Chanel store right now and purchase it new.

Size Comparisons:
Now that we’ve gone through some of the bag history, let’s move on to sizing.

Let’s start with the largest bag, the Maxi Classic Double Flap:

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The Maxi size measures 12.9 inches in length, 9 inches in height and 3.9 inches in depth. Depending on the season that you purchase this bag, if it features a softer caviar, lambskin or calfskin it could potentially fit a 13 inch laptop. It would ultimately make the bag extremely heavy, but it would be a viable work bag even if you had to carry your laptop around. This bag can be worn double strap on the shoulder as well as crossbody on individuals that are 5’4+. This size currently retails for $7700 (*cringes*) as of July 2020.

Let’s move one size down to the Jumbo Classic Double Flap:

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The Jumbo size measures at 11.7 inches in length, 7.6 inches in height and 3.9 inches in depth. This bag can easily fit a water bottle, a planner and other necessities. This piece is a perfect double strap shoulder bag, but if you’re anywhere under 5’6 this bag looks ridiculous as a crossbody bag. On the shoulder, the length drop is perfect where you can hook your thumb and index finger to hold the bag tight against the body. This size currently retails for $7100 (*cringes x 2) as of July 2020.

And onto the next size, the Medium/Large Classic Double Flap:

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The Medium/Large (the boutiques call it Medium, but all us old school Chanel Lovers still call this the M/L) measures at 9.9 inches in length, 6 inches in height, and 2.5 inches in depth. For most people this bag is a perfect single strap shoulder bag since it sits at the perfect hip/waist length. It also works as a double strap shoulder bag even though it hits a little bit higher.

For someone as busty as me at 5’2, this bag does not work crossbody because I wouldn’t be able to get the flap open. If your body frame is thinner and have an average bust size, this is the perfect bag for you because it will work both as a shoulder and crossbody bag. You would be able to use this while it is crossbody without worrying if you have enough room to maneuver. This size currently retails for $6500 as of July 2020.

Finally, the Small Classic Double Flap:

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The Small measures 9 inches in length, 5.7 inches in height and 2.3 inches in depth. Back in 2018 this bag was practically non-existent in store and may have been on it’s way out into the discontinued pile of Chanel goods. However this bag really made a come back especially in early 2019.

The Small size is actually a really suitable bag, especially if you only wanted one classic flap for special occasions. Obviously it would also work if you carry very little on your outings — but a lot of people tend to buy classic flaps for special occasions specifically. The bag sits on a perfect hip/waist length and due to the 2.3 inches of depth, it does not stick too far out from the body.

Here’s the twist, even though the small flap and the medium flap have an exact chain length, the small flap is actually a viable crossbody option. This is due to the height difference between the small flap and the medium flap. The small flap is roughly 0.3 inches shorter in height, which enables the strap drop to be 0.3 inches longer — although this may not seem like a lot, it’s actually enough to make a difference for a lot of people including myself. Even though I would still have issues opening the flap, it sits a lot better on the body for me in case I ever needed to go hands-free.

So, why did the Small Classic Double Flap make such a huge come back in 2019?

During 2019, specifically the Spring Collection of Iridescent Colors — this particular season took the handbag world by a storm. The collection consisted of mainly 3 colors and two finishes. There were a total of 7 different variations in this collection featuring all the unicorn colors. I had the pleasure of seeing all of these colors in person, (thank you wonderful SAs <3).

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The bag that stole the show was the Chanel Classic Small Double Flap in the Iridescent Pink. This unicorn-like caviar leather with the champagne gold hardware was the spotlight of the season. It was the most coveted bag ever since the release of the Rose Gold bag in 2017.

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This bag specifically brought back a lot of attention to this size of the classic flaps. Since then a lot handbag lovers have been adding all sorts of colors in this size into their collections, such as the Beige Claire and the Violet that was released in 20S.

Final Thoughts: So do I regret owning a Classic Medium/Large?

Nope, absolutely not.

The Medium/Large remains a quintessential piece in my collection. My bag of poison features the black caviar leather and shiny silver hardware. The silver hardware has a cool-girl vibe that makes this bag more versatile. It allows me to dress up or down and still be able to rock this classic piece. The Medium is also a great in between size, where it carries a little bit more than the small, but more comfortably.

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So, by saying that, does this mean that I’ll never add a Small Classic Flap to my collection? Never say never, but with the way the retail prices are surging, seemingly endlessly — it is more likely that I would indulge in the second hand market for my next classic piece.

It took me a long time to realize that I really only wanted a classic piece, that would go with many outfits and with loads of care and love the piece would transcend time and land in the lap of generations to come.

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By waiting this long, it also challenged my interpretation of what investment means. Most bags are not investments, they do not grow with interest and compound interest, but they do retain their value really well. You can sell a near-mint condition bag for an older retail price after a price increase and earn a one-time profit. However, if you choose to use this bag, any sort of wear and tear or dents will depreciate the value of the bag.

So — in conclusion, really think long and hard about why you are buying this bag. If you have an ounce of you thats saying I can buy it now and if anything I can sell it later — you’re buying the bag for the wrong reasons. You’re better off buying a CD at the bank for a year to yield you revenue with a much lower market risk.

The only exception to this rule is if classic flaps become incredibly hard to get in the future — which no one can predict considering the retail prices are sky-rocketing and Chanel is now under a new Creative Director. No one can say for sure where the retail/fashion world is headed in these questionable times — but owning a classic will never steer you wrong because it’ll still be useful for years to come.

Let me know in the comment section down below, if you have any insight on handbag buying, or your handbag collecting journey — and what classic you consider to be everlasting?

I hope this post has helped you choose the bag that is right for you. Remember, choose a piece that makes you happy and that will drive your cost-per-wear down — making it a worthwhile purchase.

Disclaimer: Please note that all images unmarked are my own and those marked are credited and not intended for any copyright infringement. All images and links are not affiliated. This post is not sponsored and not paid for, all opinions are my own and always will be.