Chanel bags: the most classic of all the highly covetable accessories you dream of owning one day. Beautifully made, timeless, iconic… a Chanel bag is instantly recognisable and elevates any outfit you wear it with. We can confidently say that you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t want one.
Every season, the Paris-based house introduces new styles to its bag collections, inevitably meaning new items are added to our wish lists. What’s more, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel designed her first bag in 1929, so when we look back at the archive, there’s a hell of a lot of bags to covet.
As well as being seriously desirable, Chanel bags also represent a solid investment opportunity, provided the style in question has been looked after well, so it’s definitely worth seeking our true expertise in the area of buying (or indeed selling). This is where Xupes come in. Xupes are pre-owned luxury experts with a store at London’s iconic Royal Exchange, just a short walk from Bank Underground. Such a prestigious location lends itself perfectly to browsing beautiful bags like Chanel’s (as well as high-end watches, jewellery and accessories).
From classic black quilted leather to denim or bright red, Xupes carries many of the most recognisable Chanel bags, and the website is an amazing place to start your journey to Chanel bag ownership. To discover our take on the 10 best Chanel bags, read on.
1. Classic 2.55
The ultimate Chanel bag, the 2.55 was created by Coco herself in February 1955, hence the name. Gabrielle Chanel was seen carrying the rectangular-shaped bag herself, cementing its iconic status. Quilted and fitted with a Mademoiselle Turnlock and metal chains, it’s a style that you can’t really go wrong with, no matter the size or the colour.
2. Classic 11.12
Karl Lagerfeld left an incredible legacy at Chanel, and his first bag, created in 1983, is now a true classic. Reinventing the 2.55, it’s now as popular as the “original” with its leather and metal chain, CC clasp, double flap and diamond quilting.
3. Boy Bag
Named after Coco’s true love, Arthur “Boy” Capel, the Boy was created by Lagerfeld in 2010. With its harder shape, gourmette chain and graphic clasp, the Boy has become a Chanel best seller, collection after collection.
4. Gabrielle Bag
Lagerfeld created the Gabrielle, an homage to Chanel’s founder, in 2017. A hobo shape with a double chain, this is a slightly more relaxed style from Chanel, but one that’s now been adopted by many of the brand’s fans.
5. Gabrielle Backpack
The backpack version of the Gabrielle would have made Coco proud. Practical and stylish (something she was aiming for with the 2.55 who was targeted at “working girls” who needed to keep their hands free), the Gabrielle Backpack is the no-fuss Chanel bag of our dreams.
6. Wallet on Chain (WOC)
The mini version of the 2.55, the WOC is more or less identical to the original flap bag, albeit slightly more affordable.
7. Grand Shopping Tote
Discontinued in 2015, the grand shopping tote could hold everything. Now a sought-after second-hand item, the Tote was the Chanel bag for anyone who couldn’t pack light.
8. Camera Case Bag
Small and structured, the Camera Case was first introduced in the ’90s. Meant to be worn on the shoulder or cross-body, this is an alternative to the WOC.
9. Kelly Bag
We all know about the Kelly, Hermès’ iconic bag. But Chanel also had a Kelly, named after the woman who loved this particular “Lady bag” shape so much. The Chanel Kelly is no longer being released, so you’ll have to look on vintage sites if this is the bag you’re after.
10. Mini 2.55 Anklet Bag
This might be the tiniest of all the Chanel “bags”. The Mini 2.55 Anklet is of course slightly ridiculous, as it’s a bag that won’t contain anything (you might be able to fit a lipstick and a credit card…). It was released in 2008 and is the epitome of luxury bags: expensive, adorable and completely impractical. It’s not possible to pop by rue Cambon to buy one anymore, unfortunately, but we’ll always hope it gets reissued.
