Chanel Hand-Held Flap Bag: Almost Making the Cut

Topping my list of things to do when I was in Paris: pay a visit to the original Chanel boutique on Rue Cambon. While I expected to channel my inner Coco, I was disappointed not to find anything to buy! =( That’s not to say there wasn’t anything there I desired – a gray crocodile for €29,000 enticed me. Too bad it would have maxed out not only my credit card, but also my husband’s tolerance with me! And then there was this: a graphite-gray hand-held flap bag. It moved me, but not enough to go for it.

It’s the classic Chanel flap with the Mademoiselle lock with one really cool update: the cutout handle. It modernizes the aged lambskin bag (which makes for a great texture, especially with the trademark quilting). Carry it through the cutout and wear it as a clutch, without the need to actually clutch it; that way you get to see the whole bag. But no matter how much you utilize the nifty cutout, the chain are always in the way. That was my biggest obstacle. You can let the chain dangle, which is an okay look. Or you can tuck it in and allow part of it to be exposed across the top, which is also just ok – an imperfect solution when using the cutout handle. And when it comes to Chanel, I expect more than just ok. I already own the classic flap, so I’d enjoy a variation for fun. But at $3,000, I have other ways to spend that amount of fun. At Chanel for $3,000.