weekend recap & handbag-shopping reviews (Chloe, Celine, Chanel)

australian labradoodle puppy beacon hill boston 670

J.Crew coat (old color), Sole Society scarf (color sold out), Ray-Ban matte aviators

I hope you guys had a wonderful weekend! It was a beautiful one for Boston standards, and I loved getting to do plenty of cooking at home with Nick and also catch up with girlfriends. The fluffy little one up above is my friend’s labradoodle puppy – he LOVES being picked up and cuddled (or maybe it was just the Polka Dog Bakery treats in my pocket…)

afternoon tea potluck girlfriends activity

Every Christmas my friends and I get afternoon tea & champagne at the Taj hotel, but we figured why not try to make it ourselves potluck-style? We split up some menu items, and our collective homemade spread blew me away!

mansur gavriel bucket bags barneys 2016

Mansur Gavriel mini bucket bag vs. regular (also in-stock at Bergdorfs), Chicwish gray trench jacket xs (sleeves shortened), J.Brand Maria jeans (hemmed), Nike Free 5.0 sneakers sz 6 (on sale!! runs small), Lou & Gray sweatshirt

Later while running errands, I stopped by the mall to try on some handbags I’ve been eyeing. All photos here are from my Snapchat story (username: extrapetite) yesterday, so please excuse the curt captions with typos. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much Mansur Gavriel in stock! Their bucket bags are almost always sold out moments after they become released, but Barneys had a whole wall of ’em and I see Bergdorf Goodman has several online. I love their minimalistic bags, which actually fit a lot inside. My favorite size was the mini bucket (left); I see they have a beautiful rosa pink mini in more scratch-resistant saffiano leather, available for pre-order. The regular bucket has a leather pouch inside that can be removed and used as a little clutch.

Celine Drew Bag small medium Barneys

Chloe small Drew bag in Motty Grey vs. regular Drew bag (color unknown)

This was my first time trying on the Chloe Drew bags, which are certainly adorable and petite-friendly. My favorite color combos have to be the motty grey or cement pink leather with gold chain. The leathers felt soft but durable in a pebbled texture, which I personally prefer to smooth ones. The chain strap did not seem to be adjustable, but a good cobbler can make it shorter if needed. I was told I’m trying on the small (left) and medium / regular size (right), both of which I thought suited someone my height well.

celine box bag green luggage tote navy

Celine box bag (strap tucked in), Celine luggage tote (unsure of size) in navy

The Celine box bag is high on my list of forever-classic purses, but I was usually deterred due to the signature smooth leather that it comes in. I am klutzy so can see any super smooth surface getting scratched up in no time. This was my first time seeing a textured leather box bag in-person (I believe it is goat leather lined in lambskin) and it was really lovely. The box is a style I wouldn’t mind buying pre-loved (some of the vintage editions are my favorite), since pre-existing scratches would make me feel a lot better about giving it additional marks of love!

chanel boy bag medium white clutch

Chanel boy clutch (?) vs Chanel boy bag in “old medium” with chevron

Last but not least, this was also the first time I tried on a Chanel Boy bag since it came out nearly 5 years ago! I’ve always liked the design but recently found myself really loving it, each time I saw it on a passerby (which is not very often in Boston). Out of all the bags I tried on, this one immediately felt the most my style, and I know given the cross-body design it’d get tons of wear like my wallet-on-chain bags. The strap can also be worn just on one shoulder, or doubled-up as a shorter-strapped purse. Current retail is $4700 for the “old medium” I’m trying on the right, and $5200 for the larger “new medium” size. This is less than their classic double flap, but hefty considering the bag is fabric-lined instead of leather-lined. I was surprised to see most Boy bags on the secondhand market actually being listed for more than current retail. The clutch above was a narrower and slightly longer version than the medium Boy…I wish they made the chain strap longer so it could be worn cross-body.

All the Boy bags in-store were in either lambskin, patent, or some exotic material. I was told by the sales associates that Chanel hasn’t made that bag in caviar leather (pebbled and more durable than their classic lambskin leather) for over a year, and was unlikely to this year. To my surprise, they said the US was one of the only markets that likes caviar leather, while shoppers in other countries prefer lambskin for how it gains character while it ages. The medium size for me was love at first try, but finding the right leather/chain color combo and my preferred material will be a journey in itself!

What is your current favorite handbag? Which is your favorite out of the options above?

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63 Comments

  1. tellmeyblog.com wrote:

    Thanks so much for doing this review!

    xx
    Yvonne
    http://tellmeyblog.com

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  2. Anna wrote:

    That would expin why I couldn't find the post! Thank you for your reply. 🙂

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  3. Jean wrote:

    Lucky you! I looked at the calfskin in person and it definitely did seem more durable than lambskin. I think I'm still going to hold out for my personal favorite caviar : )

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  4. Jean wrote:

    That must've been what I saw, because I thought to myself it looked like Epi!

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  5. Jean wrote:

    I love the Fendi peekaboo more and more, esp the Selleria ones which are definitely a pretty penny for the brand.

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  6. Jean wrote:

    Hi Fernanda – during my last trip the Chanel boutiques were so crowded, I was just focused on buying what I needed and didn't even look at the bags. So unfortunately I wasn't able to compare pricing and calculate the VAT, etc. I think it's really hard to find the exact color and material you want at a store though unless you are lucky. Every store may have different stock, so I'd suggest figuring out the exact bag you want first and then comparing prices if it's available.

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  7. Jean wrote:

    Thanks for the heads up!

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  8. Jean wrote:

    Hi Anna – I think I mentioned it in a really old video but I don't think it's something the stores do anymore. My bag was from Bloomingdales and I was told years ago they discontinued that promo.

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  9. Jean wrote:

    Good to know, thanks!

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  10. Jean wrote:

    Hey Mai – I believe it's the old medium. I just looked up the measurements for the new medium and it would look a lot bigger than the one in my photo. I did not even try on the larger size because I knew it'd be too big for my liking for a crossbody. Btw I LOVE that YSL bag…would highly recommend it, as you know!

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  11. Jean wrote:

    Good to know, thanks for sharing!

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  12. Jean wrote:

    Hi – sorry I have not tried it personally : /

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  13. Mei Liang wrote:

    These are definitely my favorite handbags! I've recently just heard about the Mansur Gavriel bucket bags and they're already becoming my favorite.

    -Mei
    Pieces of Mei

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  14. Blossoming Lotus wrote:

    All the bags looked good on you, Jean! However, I heard angels sang with that old medium chevron boy! It looked soooo good on you. Caviar looks great on classic flaps only. It looks like too much is going on with the boy bags. At first I thought I wanted a boy bag in caviar but then they didnt really have any so I got the calf skin one. It looks lux and is very durable so no worries there!

    You have a few wocs and small flaps so the box or drew bags would be a bit redundant for your collection I would think. The luggage looked fab on you so did the bucket bag. I think they would really diversify your collection lol Anyways, good luck and let us know what you choose 🙂

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  15. Anonymous wrote:

    Look up for the "liege" leather for celine box! It's a little bit like the Louis Vuitton epi leather – should be very durable/scratch resistant.

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  16. Vera wrote:

    Love the boy medium.

    Blonde in Cashmere

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  17. Barbara M wrote:

    I love the Chanel "old medium" boy bag, but it is way too expensive for me. Luckily my second choice is the Mansur Gavriel mini bucket which is much more reasonable. All are lovely and it is nice to see so many bags scaled for petites.

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  18. Sharan Kaur wrote:

    Love all of these bags! My favorite is the Boy Bag and the Celine.

    xoxo
    Sharan
    http://www.MyGoldenBeauty.com

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  19. Maggie Zemanek wrote:

    My eye is on the Fendi peekaboo, but my bank account does not approve! haha. I'm trying to find a quality dupe or used purse.

    http://www.maggiealamode.com

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  20. Sofia Papastamelos wrote:

    The "mini mini" size from Mansir Gavriel is great for petite frames. I have it in the black/flame and it fits all of the essentials even though it looks small. I find that the other sizes look kind of big and bulky. Similarly, Celine nano and micro are good options with similar space for petites.

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  21. Fernanda Pereira wrote:

    Hi, Jean. Thank you for the review. I've been eyeing the chanel boy for a while now. I'll be going to Paris next month and I was wondering if it's worth to buy there or here in the US. From your last trip, what do you think? Thank you! (Fernanda, Newport, RI)

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  22. Anonymous wrote:

    This is unrelated but Nordstrom Rack has J Brand jeans on sale right now.

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  23. ayme nicole wrote:

    I think that Celine you have is the micro which is such a great size but I hate how it doesn't have a shoulder strap, which, I mean I haven't carried a bag on my wrist/elbow in so long.

    coffeeslag

    COFFEESLAG Winter Coat OOTD

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  24. Julie Hiller wrote:

    This post makes me want a new designer handbag so much. They're all so pretty!

    Lifestyle by Joules

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  25. ZeeZee wrote:

    Celine box hands down.

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  26. Emma Sales wrote:

    Vestiaire Collective is a great website, I would recommend it! Everything goes to them first, so they can check the condition and authenticity before it comes to you and before money is taken from you.
    precious-needs.com xxx

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  27. Melody Chang wrote:

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  28. Anna wrote:

    Hi Jean! Love you post as always. I thought I remember a post from awhile back about you talking about signing up for deptartment store cards to get a slight discount on handbags. Can you send me the link to that post? I searched and can't locate it. I think it was when you were shopping for a YSL purse but I'm not sure. From your experience, would such discounts apply to Prada? Thanks so much!

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  29. Genevive n wrote:

    They are all so beautiful! I love the classic celine luggage bag!! But I also really love the chloe small drew bag on you!

    xx Genevive
    http://www.genevivelaurenn.wordpress.com

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  30. Thuy | Dress Up, Chow Down wrote:

    My favourite from the ones you were checking out is the Celine box. I feel it has the most classic and timeless shape. I don't think I'd get tired of it. While I love the Drew and Faye from Chloe, I might get tired of those versus the Celine Box.

    http://www.dressupchowdown.com

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  31. Linda Tran wrote:

    Beautiful bags! Thanks so much for the review! It was really helpful!

    http://www.llindatt.blogspot.com

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  32. damieco wrote:

    http://www.vestiairecollective.com/ Is a great option. They're based in France and have a wide variety of pre loved items which are authenticated before sent to the buyer. Bought 4 bags from them.

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  33. Lana wrote:

    I think my favorites from above are the Celine Box and the Regular Drew Bag.

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  34. Sasa Zoe wrote:

    I totally agree with you on this. Most of my Chanel bags are caviar leather. Lamb skin is too delicate:P

    Shall We Sasa

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  35. prudence yeo wrote:

    All these luxurious bags are such classics and easy for mix and matches, thanks for sharing!

    Prudence
    http://www.prudencepetitestyle.com

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  36. Ellya Aisyah wrote:

    I really really like the two Celine bags in this post. The classic box bag is the only bag that is on my wish list. But like you, I'm debating the durability of the bag. But it's just so pretty and chic 🙂

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  37. Avanti Gomes wrote:

    Such gorgeous handbags! I am personally a sucker for the Chanel Boy and anything Céline.

    Avanti
    xxx
    Avantigarde.wordpress.com

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  38. Mai Lowe wrote:

    Wow Jean!! What a shopping trip!! So fun to try on all these bags in person. There is nothing like it, no matter how much you fawn over them online first. I also am head over heels for the boy bag, but hesitate as it's quite a hefty price tag. I also think it looks the best on you among all the above options, most of which, outside of the Celine box bag, I feel are trendy vs classic. The medium you mention for the boy bag you tried on – is that the "new medium" or "old medium"? did you try on both? Is there a big difference b/w the two? Wld love your thoughts! Also, I am SO CLOSE to getting your YSL WOC :). You are quite the influence! 🙂 Thank you for the inspiration!!!

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  39. concun wrote:

    I bought pre owned from both fashionphile n real real, both Celine n Chanel. I have gray shopping exp with them.
    Fashionphile: I only look for excellent quality. They have great photos and return policy, free shipping so I don't mind pay a little more.
    Realreal: no return and shipping of $12, so I have to zoom in/out a lot n sleep over few days before I pull the trigger. Also once the item is in ur cart, u only have 15' to purchase.
    With that said, I hot great items n they become my go to for pre owned items, including shoes.

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  40. carmitive wrote:

    Uh looks like you had a great shopping day! xx, Carmen – http://www.carmitive.com

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  41. Anonymous wrote:

    HI Jean

    Have you come across the J Crew tweed crop jacket with zippers at all? I'm curious about sizing and want to order online. I'm too scared to bite the bullet as returns will be hard for me living in Canada. I think I'm about the same size as you but bigger in the waist a little. thanks

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  42. Cindy wrote:

    Here in Toronto, Chanel caviar leather is popular!

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  43. Anonymous wrote:

    The Celine box is very elegant and classy in my opinion. Honestly, I never like the boy Chanel. I love the brand but never like this style, too me it looks edgy and not elegant. Beside I prefer bags that with all metal chain or all leather strap but not half way like the boy chanel .

    Posted 2.22.16 Reply
  44. Cindy Kao wrote:

    My favourite(s) are the Chanel coco and Chanel boy. I prefer the lambskin, they look so much more luxurious than caviar, for me they don't scratch that easily either. Looking at your pics I'd definitely recommend boy, it's versatile you can do long strap or short strap, it's a good size for going out, goes with all styles as long as colour permits. For my boy I got the burgundy with oxidised silver chain, loved it. Silver chain looks much better on boy than on coco. I also love you with the Celine luggage, it looks like nice size for work.

    Posted 2.21.16 Reply
  45. Jean wrote:

    Hopefully patience will pay off! I would do two of the same color if it's one that is very versatile within my wardrobe, and if the bag styles are different enough for serving different styling purposes. I have several Chanel bags in black, but with different hardware and in different shapes and sizes.

    Posted 2.21.16 Reply
  46. Jean wrote:

    I haven't bought a pre-owned bag in a really long time so I'm not sure, because there are so many fakes out there these days. The sites that come to mind which claim to guarantee authenticity are Fashionphile, Portero, The Real Real, Malleries, Trendlee, and Yoogi's Closet, but I have not bought from them personally. Would love to hear others weigh in on this and recommend sites they've had good experiences with!

    Posted 2.21.16 Reply
  47. Manisha wrote:

    My Céline box in goat skin and the black chevron calf skin Chanel boy are my most used purses, so I vote for either one of these.I think both of these purses are timeless and classic. Although Chloe and Mansur looks great on you, I think they are more of a trendier purse which isn't really my style.

    Posted 2.21.16 Reply
  48. Catcat wrote:

    Thanks for the post! im looking for a chanel mini but it is so difficult to find the combination that I really want. would you get two chanel bags of the same color or would you prefer different colors?

    Posted 2.21.16 Reply
  49. Keri H wrote:

    Such beautiful bags. I have to say, I am loving the ones in that gorgeous pink shade!

    Enclothed Cognition/Bloglovin

    Posted 2.21.16 Reply
  50. AKA, me wrote:

    What website do you recommend for purchasing used designer purses ?

    Posted 2.21.16 Reply

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