The Secret Is Out: Here's How to Find the Best Vintage Chanel Bags

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(Image credit: Szymon Brzóska/The Style Stalker)

Ever since I was young, I’ve had a serious knack for shopping. My affinity for shopping extends beyond hitting the mall, though. There’s something magical about digging through secondhand stores and vintage shops until you’ve unearthed a hidden gem (like a vintage Chanel bag or vintage jewelry). Shopping secondhand is not only the easiest way to cut your closet’s carbon footprint, but it’s also the most affordable way to begin to collect designer pieces. 

Of course, there’s a specific art to finding the best vintage Chanel bags. You have to know where to look and what to look for, which is why we reached out to Tracy DiNunzio, CEO and founder of Tradesy, along with Emily Erkel, CMO co-founder of LePrix, and Kesha Linder, a merchandiser at ThredUp, to have them share their vintage shopping tips.

Whether you’re new to shopping vintage or unsure how to score the best vintage online, ahead, you’ll discover tips and tricks for finding the best vintage Chanel bags online. That’s right—the secret to securing your perfect bag is just a few scrolls away.

Tracy DiNunzio, CEO and Founder of Tradesy

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Tracy DiNunzio)

When did you first get into shopping vintage and second hand? 

I've always been a vintage and thrift shopper, since high school, when my friends and I would take the train to New York City and shop for $5 peacoats at Screaming Mimi's and Reminiscence. After college, I had a very fancy roommate who gifted me a few pieces from her closet, including a beautiful Prada dress and bag. That's how I got hooked on luxury. I transformed in that outfit—the quality and style made me feel like I could take on the world. 

I founded Tradesy in 2009 because I realized that there was tons of high-quality fashion globally but a lot of it was sitting dormant in closets and being underutilized. Meanwhile, the overproduction of disposable fashion was crushing the environment and the workers creating it. I felt strongly that the traditional retail model of buy, consume, and dispose of was broken and that the world needed smarter and more sustainable ways to fall in love with fashion. I set out to make online resale simple, safe, and stylish so that everyone could participate.

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(Image credit: Szymon Brzóska/The Style Stalker)

What’s one of the biggest misconceptions you think people have about secondhand and vintage Chanel handbags? 

Chanel bags can be sensitive to staining and wear, so shoppers may hesitate to buy a bag if there's even a small blemish. But a lot of the minor wear-and-tear on vintage Chanel leather can be restored and repaired. It's pretty easy to get the chain polished, leather re-dyed and conditioned, or an oil mark steamed out. And if there are still imperfections, embrace them. Chanel bags are heirloom pieces made with exceptional craftsmanship and materials, and they're meant to last a lifetime. They age with grace and don't need to be perfect to be beautiful. (Coincidentally, this applies to the Chanel bags and the people carrying them!)

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(Image credit: Szymon Brzóska/The Style Stalker)

Do you have any tips for finding the best vintage Chanel bags?

Setting up saved searches on Tradesy is a great hack, especially if you have a specific style in mind. If you're looking for a bag to carry often, I recommend sticking with caviar leather in darker colors; it's the most durable and won't require as much upkeep as the lighter suede or patent materials.

Can you share a few tips you abide by when shopping for vintage online with our readers?

Tip #1: Check back often and save your searches. Marketplaces like Tradesy get thousands of new items daily, and the best stuff sells pretty much instantly. So if you are on the hunt for something very specific, it's important to set an alert for new arrivals. 

Emily Erkel, CMO, and Co-Founder of LePrix

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Emily Erkel)

When did you first get into shopping vintage and secondhand?

I started shopping for vintage and secondhand in my teens. My sister/co-founder Elise Whang and I would spend weekends thrifting at the local consignment stores, hunting for gems. We had a love of designer vintage early-on, and it is the reason we started LePrix. As we began to travel the world, we realized there was no one place to shop the best vintage and consignment stores for pre-owned luxury. We thought, how cool would it be to shop some of the best vintage stores in NY, L.A., or Paris, right from the comfort of your couch? We launched LePrix, the only place to shop for the best vintage and consignment stores online for pre-owned luxury.

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(Image credit: Szymon Brzóska/The Style Stalker)

What’s one of the biggest misconceptions you think people have about secondhand and vintage Chanel handbags? 

For those new to vintage, especially Chanel, some assume that vintage Chanel may not hold up as well as the latest editions. This is a misconception. In fact, vintage Chanel bags are made of even better quality materials than today. For example, if you’re looking for a Chanel bag with gold hardware, look to bags pre-2008. Before the 2008/09 Cruise collection, vintage Chanel bags were made with real 24-karat gold hardware. After 2008, Chanel stopped making bags with 24-karat gold and now has gold-tone hardware.

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(Image credit: Szymon Brzóska/The Style Stalker)

Do you have any tips for finding the best vintage Chanel bags?

Shop around and see what styles are out there. It’ll help you narrow down the exact bag you want and what you can afford. Also, think about your lifestyle. What bag do you use the most? If you find you’re always on the go and prefer to be hands-free, then a crossbody like a Chanel Wallet on Chain (aka WOC) might be your best choice. Or if you tend to carry around everything and the kitchen sink, then maybe a larger tote like a Chanel Deauville Tote would be a good fit. Or if you’re like me and into classics with high-resale value, you can’t go wrong with a classic flap. 

Once you decide on a style, then it’s time to do your research. Visit reputable resale sites like LePrix to see what color, leather, and condition you most want. With so many variations of a certain style, it’ll give you a good feel for the price range as well. Wherever you end up buying your "new” vintage bag, ensure that the business guarantees authenticity.

Kesha Linder, Merchandiser, ThredUp

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Kesha Linder)

When did you first get into shopping vintage and secondhand?

I’ve always worn secondhand clothing, whether it was clothes my siblings didn’t want anymore or swapping clothes with friends in high school. My first trip to a thrift store was after I returned home from the military. I craved for my identity back after years of wearing nothing but a uniform. A friend suggested that we go thrifting, and I’ve been obsessed ever since.

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(Image credit: Szymon Brzóska/The Style Stalker)

What’s one of the largest misconceptions you think people have about secondhand and vintage Chanel handbags? 

Shopping secondhand is my favorite way to score coveted designer items (like a Chanel bag!) at attainable prices. A common misconception many have about shopping secondhand for designer bags because the items aren’t in good condition, so they think it’s better to splurge on a brand new bag fully. This isn’t the case because many things in the resale market are durable enough to go from closet to closet with minimal wear and tear. Many people resell items they only wore once or twice, making many thrifted items just as fresh as a brand new item. This makes shopping used a no-brainer! 

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(Image credit: Szymon Brzóska/The Style Stalker)

Do you have any tips for finding the best vintage Chanel bags?

According to ThredUp’s 2020 Resale Report, Chanel is one of the top 10 luxury brands with the best resale value, meaning your Chanel purchase is an investment that will last and hold its value. Having chosen an excellent resale brand to start, my number one tip for finding the best Chanel bag is to think about how it will match the rest of your wardrobe. Can you picture yourself wearing the bag for multiple occasions and getting a lot of use out of it? Make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck by choosing a versatile bag that complements your closet. My second tip would be to buy from a trusted resale site, where the work of vetting the items is done for you. Finally, be sure to take advantage of signing up for product arrival alerts, so you can be the first to know when new Chanel bags arrive.

Can you share a few tips you abide by when shopping for vintage online with our readers?

Tip #1: Filter the site by your size: The first thing you should do when you hit an online thrift store is filter it by your size to find one of a kind gems that work for you. You can also filter by "new with tags” and "like new” to find items in near-perfect condition. 

More Places You Can Find the Best Vintage Chanel Bags

Fashionphile

Rebag

Vestiaire Collective

The Luxury Closet

What Goes Around Comes Around

StockX

Next: The Best Designer Handbags Worth the Investment

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Editor

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a fashion editor living in New York City. What began as a hobby (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a career dedicated to storytelling through various forms of digital media. She started her career at the print publication 303 Magazine, where she wrote stories, helped produce photo shoots, and planned Denver Fashion Week. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked as MyDomaine's social media editor until she was promoted to work across all of Clique's publications (MyDomaine, Byrdie, and Who What Wear) as the community manager. Over the past few years, Jasmine has worked on Who What Wear's editorial team, using her extensive background to champion rising BIPOC designers, weigh in on viral trends, and profile stars such as Janet Mock and Victoria Monét. She is especially interested in exploring how art, fashion, and pop culture intersect online and IRL.