Chanel Jumbo Flap

Bought this Chanel 2 months back as I heard about rumors that Chanel is going to raise their prices at that time. I was planning to buy one for ages, and because of the price increase rumour, I had to take the plunge! In the end it was really just a rumour but I have to say I was still happy with my purchase.

Before deciding which Chanel to get for myself, I was torn between the Grand Shopping Tote and the Jumbo Flap. Did a ton of research for the 2 models, read a lot of forums and this was my final decision:
Chanel Jumbo Flap in Cavier Leather Silver Hardware.

 

Indeed, a very beautiful handbag that all ladies must have!

This is my very first Chanel so I got the classic black. I must say I am very satisfied with the details of this bag. The thread works, the hardware, the proportion, and the little finishing touches were all blended together nice and sharply.  Looking at the "double C" clasp can just  make a girl smile all day. The strap is a little tad heavy, so you'll probably get the hideous strap prints on your shoulders  if you are wearing a sleeveless top.  The strap was designed by Coco Chanel as she felt that it would be much easier and convenient for ladies to have their handbags slung instead of holding on to their hands. Well, in my humble opinion, I think the strap could have been designed to be more comfortable. 

The back has a slot which is very tight. I didn't know what was it for until the attendant at the shop told me that it was a signature design. Coco Chanel designed this "secret compartment" so she could put spare change in it for tips so she wouldn't have to open her bag. Well, not a very "cool thing" but good to know.

 

The "puffiness" and shine of the bag is very uniform and well built. There were critics saying that this batch is not as well built as the previous batches. I heard sayings that it was less "puffy and shiny" then its previous batches. But personally I still felt that it was good enough and will not want it to be anymore puffy or shinier. I don't want to be seen carrying a black rock filled with shiny tumours walking around on the streets. Of course this description is exaggerating, and I understand that this is a high investment bag and buyers tend to be a little more picky and look into more details and expect better quality. I would say GO AHEAD and buy one if you are interested in this. It isn't so bad like what some say when comparing this to its previous batches. The Lambskin leather is another alternative to the Caviar leather which feels much smoother and softer. But I chose the Caviar over the Lambskin as it felt tougher and more durable. I was also concerned that the Lambskin leather will get easily scratched.

The latest batch comes only in double flap. This extra flap makes the bag heavier but only by a few insignificant grams. So don't worry about the weight. This flap has it's function, it is to support the bag to hold it's shape. See the zip on top? It's where Coco Chanel placed her love letters. There is also a pocket behind this flap.

That's the interior. It may look narrow but it fits a large dictionary. Coco Chanel felt that every woman should have a lipstick ready with them, so the little pocket (at the center of the picture just below the Chanel label) is where you can keep your lipsticks. I must say that this bag is really well designed for the ladies!

The nice contrast between the maroon and black. Nice...

 

Sometimes height may be a factor if you think you are too short or tall for this. I've hung this bag on my door knob so you can have an idea of it. Hope this gives you an idea on the length of the strap. The left picture shows the bag when you carry it with 2 parallel straps (default look) while the right picture shows the length when slung with a single strap. I'm 1.65m tall, this bag is just perfect for me.

I recommend this Jumbo sized one. I personally feel that it isn't too big but it's big enough to carry your load. I feel that the Medium/Large sized models are not big enough if you have quite a load. Its not a big bag so don't expect it to hold a lot of things. The colour of the hardware doesn't really matter to me.  

 

Retail price for this bag in Singapore at the time of my purchase was S$7,250.