CHANEL GST: DRESSED UP OR DOWN

Chanel handbags are known for two things:

1. Their timeless, classic style that can elevate any wardrobe.
2. They break the bank.

Combined with their genius marketing and their likely hiring of evil psychologists (not exactly sure if the latter is actually true), Chanel raises their prices frequently. They are not small increases either, the most recent round of price increases went as high as 19%. Therefore, they create this illusion of these bags being exclusive and unattainable which, crazily enough, makes people want them even more. See? Genius! (But very unfortunate for us consumers who are in love with the bags despite their rocketing costs and rumored quality deterioration).

The outrageous price tag for a Chanel piece in conjunction with buyers being dissatisfied with the recent quality influenced my decision to scout the pre-loved market.

I was able to find a beautiful 2008 Chanel Grand Shopping Tote (GST) in black caviar leather and gold hardware from someone who was selling it locally. My bank account was very relieved, and I am still more than pleased with the condition and sturdiness of my pre-loved, 10 year old (!!) bag.

The Chanel GST is an extremely functional tote bag that holds significantly more than the classic styles (except for the maxi), so I do wear it out often. I find it to be versatile enough where I am able to wear it with casual outfits and more work-appropriate wardrobes as well. This is also a great “transition” bag from work to after-work events, the gold hardware matches well with dressier, going-out clothing!

Casual:

Here I am pairing the Chanel GST with the Madewell Drapey Oversized Boyshirt tucked in the 9″ High-Rise Skinny Jeans. The belt is Madewell’s Perfect Leather Belt in true black. The shoes I am wearing are the Vince Camuto Maita Pointed Leather Loafers (they are so comfortable and the pointed toes gives them an extra level of polish).

On most days, I am a pretty casual dresser (jeans, flats, and shirt). The Chanel GST compliments this style, blending in with the everyday look. It also has the magical ability to make my sloppiest days look acceptable, but I shall share that look for another post.

Professional: 

For a more professional look, I paired this bag with this crepe colored Theory Blazer Dress. The gold hardware of this bag is a great accent against the white blazer. To match the color of the purse, I wore my black Kate Spade Bow Tie Pumps.

The Chanel GST fits comfortably underneath the crook of my arm when I sling this over my shoulder. I was worried at first that it would be too big against my petite frame, but fortunately, I do not find it to overwhelm my small size, especially for a tote.

Overall, this bag is able to hold all of my work essentials (i-pad, kindle, chargers, notebook) and going-out items (sunglasses, water bottle, wallets, make-up bag). The caviar has held up beautifully, there are NO scratches – I repeat – NO scratches on the leather and I do not baby this bag. This bag is a tiny bit slouchy and it did lose a bit of it’s original shape. There are also visible creases to the leather. However, these things are to be expected for a 10 year old, frequently used purse. I still think that the bag is gorgeous and it definitely has a ton of life left in it.

Sadly, Chanel has discontinued the GST and is no longer selling it in their stores. But fear not – there is a healthy pre-loved market for these totes on trusted websites such as Tradesy, Fashionphile, The Real Real, and many more other third party selling websites. If you are planning to buy pre-loved, always, ALWAYS do your research to ensure that you are getting an authentic bag – the counterfeit market for Chanel, unfortunately, is on the rise and superfakes are known to sometimes plague even the most trusted pre-loved vendors. For your peace of mind, you should get your bag authenticated by one or two professional authentication services (I use Etinceler Authentication and Lollipuff).

Let me know your favorite versatile handbag that you can wear with any outfit in the comments below!