DISCLAIMER: This is a personal review and an unofficial authentication post for this specific bag, Chanel Classic Flap Medium, Black, Caviar leather with silver hardware. I am not affiliated with Chanel and this article does not serve as an official connoisseurship guide in any way. It is your responsibility to ensure that the same bag that you will purchase is authentic and to stay updated on the latest iterations and changes that the brand may decide to apply on this specific bag today or in the future. Purchase from third party dealers at your own risk and I highly encourage purchasing from an authorized retailer to guarantee authenticity.
I only have two dream bags from Chanel: Le Boy and the Classic Flap. I only dreamed of getting at least one, but thankfully, life has improved and allowed me to buy some of my dream bags. Last 2021, I was able to purchase a Chanel Le Boy, which I loved to bits and used almost everyday for months after acquiring it. I told myself that I'm already happy with at least just one Chanel bag, but if you are a bag collector like me, you know that's a big lie. XD
Last 2022, my husband and I, and my nephew traveled to Singapore for that much- needed break from the lockdown. The thought of finally completing my Chanel collection swirled in my mind and a month before our trip, I finally decided to go for it. I had zero expectations because I knew how in demand this bag is, therefore it's hard to get, but I still wished for it. I luckily chanced upon one in Chanel Takashimaya boutique and the rest is history!
CHANEL CLASSIC FLAP: THE HISTORY
Coco Chanel with the OG bag that inspired the iconic Classic Flap. Photo from iserewa.in
The Classic Flap wasn't called such when it was founded in 1955. The bag's original name is 2.55 and was designed in February of 1955 by Coco Chanel to suit her everyday needs and colorful lifestyle; it had a back pocket to store money, a lipstick holder in the interior plus open pockets for trinkets, and a zippered compartment to store her love letters. The square metal turn lock is called the Mademoiselle lock.
In 1980, when Karl Lagerfeld took over as the Creative Director of the fashion house, he made some iterations with the bag and reintroduced it as the Classic Flap. The most important change that made the classic flap Chanel's most iconic bag of all time is the introduction of the CC turn lock in lieu of the Mademoiselle lock. The Mademoiselle lock is still around, particularly on the 2.55 reissue bag, which is modeled exactly after Coco Chanel's first bag design.
I didn't totally expect that I will score a Chanel classic flap on my very first boutique attempt. I initially wanted gold hardware for my very first classic flap, but ended up appreciating silver hardware more as I kept on seeing it around Singapore and realized that silver is actually nice, more youthful and contemporary, and I was starting to like silver jewelry too.
I got to the Takashimaya boutique around 4PM and wasn't expecting anything, but I inquired anyway and luckily, there was a last piece left and it came in the exact specifications that I wanted. That time, I was still torn between silver and gold hardware, but there wasn't any gold hardware bags available anyway so I decided to bring home this big girl purchase. I was flexible on the hardware, but not really on the leather. I am 100% set on caviar leather because even if Lambskin is oh so nice and luxurious, I wanted something that is very sturdy and can withstand Manila weather and daily city use; had this bag come in lambskin, I wouldn't have purchased it.
This is the Chanel Classic Flap, medium, caviar leather, and silver hardware (shw). It has some weight to it, but doesn't weigh considerably heavier than the lambskin version.
Classic flaps come in a white dust bag. Only the Classic Flap and 2.55 Reissue bags will come in white dust bags such as this; other white dust bag versions have Coco's sketch on the under side of the flap.
If you're buying classic flap from a reseller and the Chanel dust bag is black and seller claims that it's brand new, beware.
The bag is wrapped in tissue paper with almost invisible Chanel inscriptions all over that is best spotted when the paper is held against a light source. Other boutiques issue a black tissue paper aside from white. The tissue paper is not really a good point to consider when it comes to authenticating a classic flap package, but it may help.
The flap is protected by two black felt type of cloth squares to protect the bag from markings from the hardware and compartment zipper. Just like the tissue paper, this is not a good gauge to consider when it comes to authenticating the classic flap. But fyi, brand new bags will come with these felt cloth squares unless the reseller/seller decided to leave them in the store.
This is the iconic classic flap CC turn lock. If you've noticed, the CC logo has a slightly chunky width and the ends of the Cs are pretty close to each other. The right C overlaps the left C at the top, and the left C overlaps the right C at the bottom. However, counterfeit bags have gotten this feature right already so it's not a good reference anymore.
The counterfeiters may have perfectly copied the CC logo positioning, but the devil is in the details. If the tips of the Cs are not flat, the width is either too thin or too thick, and the tip of the lock is not centered, beware.
Here's the side view of the turn lock. It has slightly droopy edges. I have noticed that Chanel's hardware is very shiny, polished, and don't scratch easily versus Dior and Louis Vuitton.
Here's the bottom of the the bag. The quilted pattern is flat.
If the bag that you will purchase has a puffy bottom or has feet or other types of hardware, beware.
Here is the female button closure of the double flap. The words CHANEL and PARIS are engraved on the top and bottom part of the closure. Take note that the engraving is clean and the alignment of the letters is straight.
The metal reinforcement of the CC logo looks like this and the screw comes with Chanel's signature flower screw.
The new generation of Chanel Classic Flaps now come with this mode of reinforcement for the leather string of the strap. The ends of the leather are reinforced in an open loop style. The older classic flaps have a different reinforcement for the leather straps.
This is the Mona Lisa back pocket where Chanel loved storing her money. The reason why this pocket earned the moniker is because it has a slightly crooked curve, just like Mona Lisa's smile. The Mona Lisa back pocket is always the hardest to imitate and most of the time will give away a counterfeit bag.
If the Mona Lisa pocket of the classic flap that you're eyeing has a straight or a very deep curve, beware.
This is what the side of the bag looks like. Notice the elongated Y- shaped creasing, which shows that the bag has a solid base and a softer top.
Here's the zipped compartment. Personally, I don't put anything here, not even receipts because it's quite hard to access. The zipper is almost triangular in shape and comes with a slightly long leather strip that is looped and stitched together.
If the zipper of the zipped compartment of the classic flap that you're eyeing comes with a thin leather tip or has no leather tip at all, beware.
Chanel ended the production of the single flap classic flaps in 2014. 2015 onwards, all classic flaps come in the double flap configuration.
The interior of the classic flap is burgundy, which is said to be the color of the uniform of the Catholic school that Coco Chanel went to.
If the classic flap that you're eyeing comes with a red/dark red/wine red interior, beware.
There is another secret pocket on the bag, but I don't put anything here as well so the bag won't be deformed.
The interior of the bag comes with a silver- colored logo and MADE IN FRANCE phrase stamped just right below the puffy CC logo. There are 2 open pockets and one lipstick pocket in the interior. Stitches are tone on tone and the metal plate on the opposite side is the microchip, which is now the standard for Chanel bags as it has replaced the authenticity card. If you noticed, the logo inside comes in the same color as the hardware of the bag.
If the bag you're eyeing has an interior logo that comes in a color that is different from the hardware of the bag, interior stitching is not consistent with the burgundy- colored interior, and the letters of the logo and MADE IN FRANCE phrase are crooked, uneven, and alignment is off, beware.
MY VERDICT ON THE CHANEL CLASSIC FLAP:
When I was younger, I didn't like this bag because I thought that the style was too dated, but I guess I just got older and started to appreciate this bag.
I didn't expect that I would love it so much and more than my Le Boy!
The Classic Flap is indeed built for everyday use because of its compact size, versatile chain, and well- placed compartments. It's a bag that's not a pain to use, doesn't require extra space to accommodate, and overall, it's just very functional. I used to be a big bag girl, but nowadays, I only bring the basics: wallet, phone, card holder, powerbank, airpods, and a small makeup kit. I used to bring a lot of stuff, but decided to downsize because I guess you just become more and more practical as you get older. Besides, whenever I will need to bring a laptop and documents to work outside, I always bring a separate bag to accommodate those things.
I've been reading a lot of discussions about Chanel's quality issues, most especially on the bags. You know what? This and Le Boy are my sturdiest bags. They got caught in the rain, fell off a chair, got flung inside the car, and got bumped for numerous times and these bags still look nice and I will argue that they still look as good as new. They're my most low maintenance bags, but I still am mindful whenever I use them.
IS THE CHANEL CLASSIC FLAP FOR ME?
It's a versatile bag that can be used from day to night so I would say that it's a great addition to any collection. I would even say that if you can only buy one luxury bag in your life, I would say go for the Chanel Classic Flap because of its good quality, versatility, the fact that it's an investment since its retail and secondary market prices just keep on going up, and we can't deny, it does help your image a lot.
But it also depends on how much stuff you bring on the daily. Do you bring a lot of stuff or are you okay to go out with just the basics like me? If you're the latter, you will get more use out of the classic flap since this bag is structured and not expandable, therefore it won't really hold anything else apart from the basics.
But overall, I highly recommend this bag to luxury bag collectors or to anyone who just wants to buy 1-2 statement pieces for their bag wardrobe.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHANEL CLASSIC FLAP
1. Always keep the chains inside the bag to avoid indentation on the top part of the external flap
2. Always wipe it dry if it gets caught in the rain.
3. Best to clean the external part of the bag with just the exclusive cleaning cloth that came with the bag.
4. The interior, burgundy- colored part of the bag is made with untreated leather and tends to get dry overtime so be sure to use a delicate leather moisturizer to remove dryness, avoid cracking and peeling, and to remove dirt.
5. Store in a cool, dry place, preferably outside of the box and in a place with ample light (but not in direct sunlight) and air to avoid moisture build up and mold infestation.
What do you think of the Chanel Classic Flap?
Check out my other bag reviews:
CHANEL LE BOY NEW MEDIUM, CAVIAR LEATHER, GOLD HARDWARE, BLACK
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