Chanel-ing the Past: The Ultimate Guide to Vintage Chanel

Vintage Chanel. Nothing marries luxury fashion and sustainability quite like it. Chanel bags, clothing, and accessories are an essential part of fashion history. They broke barriers and democratized style. Crafted from the finest materials with extraordinary care and attention to detail, each Chanel luxury handbag is a wearable work of art that can retain its beauty and function for decades. Our vintage Chanel guide celebrates this iconic brand. We explore the reasons the vintage Chanel bag collection has become so popular and why some collectors believe the vintage bags are superior to new releases. 

The Legacy of Vintage Chanel

To kick off our vintage Chanel guide, let’s understand what’s driving the demand for bags from the Chanel vintage collection. While luxury designers are investigating more sustainable materials and processes, experts agree that the most sustainable fashion is that which has already been created. There is something magical about giving a home to a pre-loved bag. You become the caretaker of another’s cherished piece of fashion history. There is a sense of community among fashionable women across time and around the world.

Celebrity A-listers, including Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, and Sofia Richie, are rocking their own vintage Chanel collections. They mix their favorite vintage Chanel handbags with the brand’s vintage sunglasses, hats, and clothing. Of course, Chanel jewelry, both new and vintage, is a critical component of the look. 

An essential topic in any vintage Chanel guide is the inherent value of collectible vintage Chanel. Up until 2008, the gold hardware for all Chanel bags was plated with 24-karat gold, which has an undeniable richness to its tone. After 2008, the design house switched to a gold-colored metal. 

Additionally, many collectors find the lambskin of the vintage bags far superior to the newer hides, as it is more durable and better able to resist and conceal scratches. The vintage lambskin also possesses a richer sheen. 

While any fashion item that is 20 to 100 years old is properly considered “vintage,” the most highly-coveted items in any vintage Chanel collection are those dating to the 1980s and 1990s. This was the golden age of Karl Lagerfeld’s reign as the creative director of Chanel from 1982-2000. He channeled the spirit and joie de vivre of Coco Chanel while revitalizing and modernizing the brand. 

Decoding the Icons: Handbags Through the Ages

Now for the fun part of our vintage Chanel guide — the most coveted styles! Each of the iconic bags in greatest demand in a Chanel vintage collection is of Lagerfeld design. The Classic Flap bag is an update of the historic 2.55 Chanel bag. Lagerfeld intertwined the chain strap with leather, added the highly scratch-resistant caviar leather to the handbag, and designed the beloved interlocking CC Chanel logo. 

One of Lagerfeld’s most famous designs was the Chanel Diana bag, created for the elegant Princess of Wales. The Diana bag was introduced in 1989 and produced through 1995. The lovely style, based on the Classic Flap bag, was revived in 2015. Today, the vintage Diana in caviar leather is the most highly coveted of the style. 

Chanel Vanity bags and the Chanel Camera bag are among the most desired collectible vintage Chanel bags. The Camera bag was released in the early 1980s, inspired by the bags photographers and reporters carry when shooting Chanel fashion shows. The charming Chanel Vanity cases came out in the 1990s and quickly became a must-have. These glamorous statement bags had a novel look, crafted in round and heart shapes. 

Another popular vintage style is Chanel’s Parent and Child, which are two flap Chanel Kelly bags linked together by a “CC” embossed gold clip. These gems were produced in the 1990s and came in a variety of colors in basic leathers, metallic leathers and tweeds. An intact Parent and Child is a rare find but the individual “Parent”, which is a 10” medium size flap bag, and the “Child”, which is a 5.5” micro mini, are great bags to wear separately.

The chic Chanel Duma Backpack is the final entry in our vintage Chanel guide’s lineup of the most sought-after vintage bags. The Chanel luxury backpack perfectly embodies the brand identity. Coco Chanel empowered women through fashion, producing beautiful clothing and accessories that refined elegance to work for the modern woman. Offering functionality and hands-free style with elevated design and exquisite detailing, the chic backpack remains a favorite in the Chanel vintage collection. 

Authenticity Matters: Spotting Genuine Vintage Chanel

The most highly-prized items in the vintage Chanel collection also make for some of the most valuable luxury handbag investments. The bags, when properly cared for, hold and build their value extremely well. Of course, this is true only if the vintage bag is authentic Chanel. No vintage Chanel guide could be complete without a warning about the many counterfeit bags on the market. We provide detailed information about authenticating a Chanel bag. You can learn precisely what to look for with regard to stitching and stamps, hardware and inclusions, and how to spot a fake Chanel.

We urge you to buy from reputable Chanel dealers and protect yourself at all times. If the quality isn’t superb or the price seems too good to be true, the bag is not authentic Chanel.

Preserving the Beauty: Caring for Vintage Chanel

As we near the end of our vintage Chanel guide, we must talk about how to keep your collectible vintage Chanel in great condition. Proper care is essential. Without it, your bag may lose its shape or end up with stains, scratches, or indents. Always abide by the following tips:

• Store your Chanel bag someplace cool, dark, and dry.
• Maintain the temperature between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Protect your bag from water at all times.
• Empty your bag before storing it so keys, coins, and other contents do not dent the leather.
• Wash your hands well before handling the bag to protect it from skin oils, lotions, and perfume.
• Use a soft, dry microfiber cloth to gently wipe away any dirt and to buff out minor scratches. 
• Gently stuff the bag with acid-free tissue paper before storage. This helps the bag retain its shape.

Are you feeling inspired by this vintage Chanel guide? Celebrate the beauty and fashion history that are an integral part of the vintage Chanel collection. Madison Avenue Couture’s vintage Chanel bags are authentic, in stock, and shipped within one to two business days. Choose from an exciting array of Chanel colors, and give timeless style a chance to shine bright once again.