Some people dream
for years of owning a
Chanel Classic Flap Bag or

Louis Vuitton Cruise 2009

Flap Bag, some already own multiples of each, and still others think
that they’re too traditional and played-out. I couldn’t agree less
with that third group of people – with lots of finishes, colors and
sizes, Chanel’s famous flaps have a little something that everyone can
appreciate, if you stay open-minded. Still on the fence? Allow me to
persuade you…


1. They’re just going to go up in price later: Seriously, are you
considering buying one? If you are, go ahead and do it.

Louis
Vuitton handbags

is among the masters of the crippling price increase, jacking up the
MSRPs of its bags every six months to a year, sometimes by as much as
$500 for louis vuitton bags a
basic bag. As a general rule, bags don’t hold their value all that
well, but constantly rising prices keep the timeless flap bags fairly
easy to resell later. Plus, even if you don’t take resale into
consideration, you’re just going to have to fork over more cash if you
wait.


2. Owning one is like getting in to one of the most exclusive
sororities on campus: Except, you know, this is real life. Legendary
actresses, socialites and royals have carried this bag, and hey, if you
can’t marry a prince, you can at least buy the same bag as the broads
who can. Or the same bag as the girls from The Hills – it seems as
though the bag has become the go-to accessory when a younger woman
wants to signal to the world that she has grown and matured into a
fashionable lady.


3. So many designers have been “inspired” by the flap – if you’re
going to pay big bucks, get the original: Everyone from Urban
Outfitters to Marc Jacobs has been accused of stealing from Chanel’s
signature bag, and there’s a good reason for that – it’s timeless,
iconic and still as relevant to luxury customers today as it was back
in the 1950s. Chain straps and quilted leather have become nearly
synonymous with the idea of the designer handbag, and the Chanel flap
may even be more well-known across the world than the illustrious
handbag holy grail, the Hermes Birkin.


4. Buy a flap bag in caviar leather and it will likely outlive me and
you both: Seriously, that stuff is indestructible. Run your fingers –
no, better yet, run your fingernails along it next time you’re near
amade of the material, and you’ll see what I mean. It has a finish
nearly as tough as Louis Vuitton monogram canvas, but you’re paying for
actual leather instead of, well, canvas. With how much those louis vuitton 2010
monogram bags run these days, the price of a neutral leather
with similar durability seems downright reasonable. But…


5. Despite their cultural ubiquity, the bags themselves are still too
price-prohibitive for everyone to own: They come in sizes ranging from
XS to XL, but even the smallest of the Chanel flap bags is way more
expensive than the average woman wants to spend. You’re in no danger of
seeing your bag on every woman on the block (unless you live on a
really, really nice block, but if you do, there’s probably no sense in
trying to stay one step ahead anyway), and even if you see a lot of
people carrying non-Chanel bags that look similar, there’s absolutely no
comparison when you see and hold a Chanel flap bag in person