The 10 Best Chanel Bags Worth The Splurge

This historic French luxury fashion house is known for creating some of the most desirable bags in the world – so we’ve brought together all the best Chanel bags with the best resale value.

Coco Chanel founded her revolutionary brand in 1910 and began by creating fashionable clothing for women that allowed freedom and movement.

Since then, Chanel has grown into one of the biggest fashion brands in the world, producing some of the most incredible and iconic handbags out there. So, we have compiled a list of the best Chanel bags that would make incredible investments.

10 Best Chanel Bags To Buy

1. Classic Flap Bag (In Small/Medium)

The Chanel Classic Flap is one of the most iconic and in-demand handbags in the world, with a classic, timeless design that never goes out of style. This world-famous bag was actually a reinvention of the original Chanel 2.55 bag designed by Coco Chanel, redesigned, and added to the collection by Karl Lagerfeld in 1984. This is where the diamond quilting and CC turn lock were first spotted, both of which are now synonymous with the Chanel brand.

At first, the Chanel Classic Flap was available in medium and small sizes, but then decades later the maxi and jumbo sizes were added to the collection. Each Classic Flap Bag also features a leather threaded chain strap that can be worn on the shoulder or across the body for a versatile finish.

Most commonly, the bag is crafted from either buttery smooth lambskin leather or sturdy caviar leather with either silver or gold-plated hardware, and while both are great investments, we’ve typically seen the caviar versions fetch a higher price on the resale market. The lambskin looks luxurious but the caviar leather wears better, making it an ideal bag for everyday wear.

There are also exotic leather, patent leather, and calfskin versions available as well as unique fabrics such as tweed and sequin Flap Bags. There are a whole plethora of colors available, plus iridescent and metallic options if you fancy a little more sparkle!

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2. Chanel 19 Flap Bag

Just like the famous Classic Flap bag, the Chanel 19 was inspired by the original Chanel 2.55 bag but was reinvented with a striking and chic look for a contemporary aesthetic. The Chanel 19 was named after the year of its creation, just like the 2.55 which was introduced in 1955, and was designed by Karl Lagerfeld alongside the current creative director, Virginie Viard.

This bag has a soft and relaxed rectangular shape, decorated with an oversized edition of the diamond quilting for a sumptuous finish. The CC logo crafted from chain links punctuated the plush leather finish for an eye-catching look. One of our favorite parts of the Chanel 19 bag is the mix of metals, with a gold or silver plated CC logo on the front flat and a chunky chain strap made from gold and ruthenium-plated links.

Often the Chanel 19 is made from luxurious goatskin or lambskin leather, but there are also rare shearling, tweed, and denim bags available. There are plenty of colors to choose from – we particularly love the black as it made the metal details pop – each with a spacious interior and handy interior pocket.

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3. Kelly Bag

The Chanel Kelly bag has been an underrated part of the collection since the 1980s, but a new edition of the Kelly bag has been released with a top handle, and it is quickly becoming one of the current best-selling Chanel handbags you may have already spotted all over Instagram.

This Kelly bag, also known as the Chanel Nano, is right on trend with its mini silhouette and structured, feminine design. The bag has a subtle, trapezoid shape, with a quilted finish, a semi-circular top handle, and a thick tab secured with a CC twist lock. This bag is most commonly made from shiny aged calfskin and decorated with light gold plated hardware, available in neutral shades as well as pastel pinks, blues, and purples.

The Chanel Kelly is fitted with a delicate leather threaded chain strap for crossbody wear, while the interior is lined with leather and fitted with a handy zipper and slip pocket to hold all your everyday essentials.

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4. Top Handle Rectangular flap Bag

The Chanel Top Handle Rectangular Flap Bag is a timeless bag that always looks super stylish, so why not make it your next designer bag purchase? This sophisticated Chanel bag looks very similar to the Classic Flap, but with the addition of a top handle, giving you even more ways to style it for both day and night wear.

The Chanel Top Handle Rectangular bag features a front flap secured with a CC twist lock, diamond quilting, a leather threaded chain strap to wear over the shoulder or across the body, and a leather interior fitted with zipper and patch pockets. Similar to the Classic Flap, the Top Handle Rectangular bag is available in lambskin and caviar leather, as well as unique options such as tweed and iridescent leather.

This bag is only available in the mini size or as a phone holder, so you can only fit a few of your most important essentials inside, but the compact size is super stylish and ideal for evenings out. Stick to classic black or go for something a little more striking like a pop of yellow or pink, or even a sparkling iridescent finish!

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5. 22 Bag

The Chanel 22 is one of the more recent additions to the famous Chanel handbag collection, introduced in 2022 and created by Virginie Viard. This bag takes inspiration from the foundations Coco Chanel founded her namesake brand on – namely comfort and freedom for women. The relaxed, slouchy shape and simple drawstring top line of the Chanel 22 exemplify this ease and freedom, making it a must-have in your collection for chilled evenings and weekends out.  

The bag is crafted from shiny calfskin leather, with a soft, rectangular shape, a drawstring top to allow easy access to the spacious interior, and two leather threaded chain straps.

For a classic Chanel look, the leather is quilted in a diamond pattern and then decorated with the Chanel brand name in gold lettering. Inside, you will find a zipper pocket and a removable pouch to help you keep all your everyday essentials organized and easy to find. This bag is available in three different sizes, and lots of different colors, plus there even is a backpack version of the Chanel 22 for a practical, hands-free look.

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6. Coco Handle Flap bag

The Coco Handle Flap bag from Chanel was first added to the collection in 2015 and has remained a popular choice for Chanel fans ever since. This handbag from the French fashion house has been compared to the Hermes Kelly bag, with similar trapezoid silhouettes, a twist lock on the front flap, and a top handle, but the Coco Handle Flap bag also includes many of the Chanel house codes, including the quilted finish, CC logo, and leather threaded strap.

The front flap opens to reveal a roomy interior, split into two compartments, and fitted with either a zipper pocket or slip pocket depending on the size of your Coco Bag.

This Chanel bag comes in 4 different sizes, mini, small medium, and large so there is an option for any lifestyle, plus a range of different types of leather as well, including hardwearing caviar leather and shiny lambskin leather. There are plenty of different colors to choose from, including classic black or light pink options for a timeless look and red, green, and iridescent shades to add a striking touch to your look.

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7. Chanel Vanity Case

The Chanel Vanity Case remained one of the most chic and stylish Chanel handbags for decades and is essential in your collection if you are a handbag lover! The Vanity Case was first released in the 1990s, designed by Karl Lagerfeld after he sought inspiration from 1950s and 60s vanity and jewelry cases, but has been tweaked and redesigned over the years to create the Vanity Case we know and love today – although you can find vintage versions of this bag on resale sites still.

There are now different Vanity Cases available – the Chanel website offers a Vanity Case with a zipper around the front of the bag and a structured top handle, but there are also taller vertical Vanity Cases with a zipper around the top of the bag, cylindrical Vanity Cases and Vanity Cases with no quilting, just a CC logo – so there are plenty to choose from.

Most of these Vanity Cases are crafted from caviar leather with gleaming gold hardware and a leather threaded chain strap, but there are many versions, designs, and colors to pick from so you can find the one that best suits your personal style.

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8. Boy Bag

The Boy Bag is another Chanel bag designed by Karl Lagerfeld that has proved incredibly popular all over the world, especially when it was released in 2011. Lagerfeld looked to cartridge bags used by hunters when he designed the bag and named it after Boy Capel, with whom Coco Chanel had a long-term affair and gained her boyish attitude. The Boy bag has a strong, striking look, mixing an intricate design with the same iconic elements that feature on many Chanel bags.

This bag has a structured silhouette with rows of channel quilting framing the diamond or chevron quilting, a CC lock plaque securing the front flap, and a chunky chain strap with the addition of a leather shoulder pad for comfort. There are six different sizes available, with the mini and small the most popular at the moment, each with the same eye-catching design, but the Boy Bag collection has been expanded over the years with the addition of totes and wallets.

Often, the Boy Bag is crafted from calfskin leather with either gold plated or ruthenium hardware, but you can also find goatskin, snakeskin, velvet, caviar, and lambskin editions of this bag. Like all Chanel bags, there are plenty of colors to choose from as well as iridescent, metallic, and studded options for a more glamorous look.

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9. Trendy CC Bag

The Chanel Trendy CC Bag first appeared in 2014 and has grown to become a staple in the collection, with plenty of different sizes and styles available, including bowling bags and Wallet on Chains. The Chanel Trendy CC bag is a little more under the radar but still difficult to get your hands on it in the stores, making it a great investment to add to your wardrobe.

The Trendy CC looks similar to the Coco Handle flap, with a quilted exterior and top handle, but the Trendy CC has a much more rectangular shape and a metal bar at the top of the bag decorated with the Chanel brand name. Most Chanel Trendy CC bags feature a top handle as well as a leather threaded chain strap, giving you lots of different ways to style this bag, but there are also Trendy CC bags without a top handle available.

The Trendy CC bag is crafted from diamond quilted lambskin leather with a gold or silver CC twist lock, while the interior is partitioned to help you stay organized and fitted with zipper and patch pockets. With plenty of gorgeous colors to choose from, the Trendy CC is a stunning addition to any handbag collection that can easily be styled for weekend, work, or evening wear.

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10. Deauville Tote

A tote bag is essential in any wardrobe, and the Chanel Deauville Tote bag is a classic style that will be eternally stylish. The Deauville Tote was named after and inspired by the coastal town of Deauville in Normandy, France where Chanel opened a fashion boutique and embraced a sporty lifestyle alongside Boy Capel.

This tote was introduced as part of the Spring/Summer 2012 collection and was an instant hit – soon the Deauville tote in a range of colors and materials was everywhere! With a timeless, square shape, the Deauville tote has wide sides to fit all of your essential items inside, rolled top handles, and a leather threaded chain strap to give you a range of ways to carry this bag.

The front of the bag is decorated with the Chanel brand name and ’31 Rue Cambon’, the site of the first Chanel store, while inside you will find plenty of space and a couple of pockets to hold your belongings.

The tote is available in small, medium, large, and extra large, with lots of different colors and plenty of materials too – including leather, boucle, shearling, canvas, mixed fibers, and tweed. The canvas and mixed fiber options are ideal for summer styling and as a beach bag, while the leather totes are a little smart for work or weekends.

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A Classic That You May Also Like: The 2.55 bag

The 2.55 is the first handbag to be created by Coco Chanel and was named after the date of creation, February 1955. The design for this now iconic bag actually began many years prior, when Coco Chanel was tired of carrying her handbag in her hand and designed a bag with straps to go over your shoulder, inspired by the straps on soldiers’ bags. This bag was first available in 1929, but the bag was redesigned and updated in 1955 and this is the 2.55 we know and love today.

The bag has changed very little since it was first added to the collection in the 50s, with a rectangular shape, diamond quilting, front flap, discreet closure, and sliding chain strap that can be worn on the shoulder or across the body. The popularity and timeless style of the 2.55 bag have meant the bag has remained a staple in the Chanel collection and has been crafted from many different materials and in a range of colors over the years.

A black, aged calfskin 2.55 bag is the most popular option because of its classic look and practical finish, but you can also go for bring pink, blue, or orange shades, as well as satin, snakeskin, sheepskin, patent leather, and tweed. Most of the 2.55 bags you will see on resale sites are named ‘2.55 Reissue’ – this is the name of the 2005 style of the bag designed by Karl Lagerfeld to be an exact copy of the original.

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