Louis Vuitton Vs Chanel: Which Luxury Brand Is Right For You?
Louis Vuitton and Chanel both create such a wide range of gorgeous bags, clothing and shoes that it’s difficult to decide between the two – let this Louis Vuitton Vs Chanel article help you out.
Chanel and Louis Vuitton are arguably the two most famous French fashion houses at the top of the luxury world. While equally famous, the two embody a different aesthetic, different clientele and of course, the prices of the products vary greatly too.
In this article, we have done a deep dive into the two brands’ histories, differences and similarities as well as their most famous products to help you pick which brand is right for you.
Louis Vuitton Vs Chanel:
History of Chanel
The luxury fashion brand Chanel was started by couturière Gabrielle Chanel in 1910. Initially, Chanel began as a millinery store but quickly expanded to open a Chanel boutique and added ready-to-wear fashion to its repertoire.
Coco Chanel was known for revolutionizing women’s fashion by getting rid of corsets in her designs. The elegant, functional dresses, skirts, and blouses Chanel created were adored by women who wanted more comfortable but flattering clothes.
Coco Chanel often used unconventional colors in her women’s ready-to-wear collections, including black, navy, and grey – all of which were traditionally men’s colors.
The ever-popular brand grew – adding perfumes and Chanel handbags to its stores. After Gabrielle Chanel’s passing, Karl Lagerfeld took over the fashion house as Chief Designer.
Lagerfeld was key in making Chanel the world-renowned brand it is today. His impressive prêt-à-porter and haute couture collection took the fashion world by storm, with the catwalk shows subsequently highly covered on social media due to their unbelievable locations and elaborate sets.
The brand has been continued by Virginie Viard since Lagerfeld’s passing – she has added her own twists to the iconic luxury goods and made sure Chanel remains one of the most famous brands in the world.
History of Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton founded his eponymous brand circa 1854, originally making trunks and luggage. For years it remained this way, until expanding into more and more bags.
This included the Keepall bag in 1930 and the iconic Speedy bag soon after, which has remained one of the brand’s most beloved bags. In 1896, the now-world-famous LV monogrammed canvas was introduced and has since featured on the majority of Louis Vuitton bags.
It wasn’t until 1997 that Louis Vuitton started a ready-to-wear collection when they appointed fashion designer Marc Jacobs as creative director. This success was demonstrated by the fact that for six consecutive years Louis Vuitton was the world’s most valuable luxury brand.
Through both their clothing lines and bag collections, Louis Vuitton has collaborated with countless artists, including Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama, and Grace Coddington. These collaborations have ensured that the Louis Vuitton brand has always remained a key player in the intersection between art and fashion.
The brand changed in 2011 when they appointed Kim Jones as the menswear artistic director, then again in 2013, when Nicolas Ghesquière became creative director.
After Kim Jones left for Dior, Virgil Abloh was named artistic director of menswear – a historic appointment as he was the label’s first African-American artistic director.
Differences between Chanel Vs Louis Vuitton
As top-end luxury brands, both Chanel and Louis Vuitton are similar in many ways, but there are a couple of differences you should consider when deciding between the two brands.
1. Price Point
Although both brands offer luxury handbags at a high price point, Chanel is slightly more expensive, with bags from the fashion house ranging from $2,950 to $11,000 (and even more for their Métiers d’Art collection bags), with prices set to rise 1-2 times a year. Prices obviously depend on the size and material of the bag, as well as how popular it is.
Louis Vuitton handbags, on the other hand, range from $1,100 to about $6,000, displaying how LV bags are a little more affordable and kinder to our bank accounts.
2. Materials
Materials also differ between the two brands and their luxury bags. Chanel bags are often made from calfskin or lambskin which are much more expensive and luxurious fabrics that will remain soft and supple for a long time.
Louis Vuitton bags are often made from textured leather or a hardwearing canvas, both of which will stand up well against daily wear but are a little less luxurious and therefore less expensive.
3. Target Demographic & Aesthetic
While the two brands are wildly popular among people of all ages and can be seen everywhere on Instagram, we would argue that Chanel caters to a slightly older crowd that embraces sophisticated, office-appropriate designs more so than LV’s target demographic.
Louis Vuitton on the other hand is well-known for its streetwear aesthetic, especially when it comes to men’s wear. They cater to a younger crowd, which is especially obvious when you look at who they collaborate with: popular Squid Game actress HoYeon Jung and Youtuber Emma Chamberlain come to mind, for example.
Resale Value
Both Louis Vuitton and Chanel bags and accessories hold their value well if well looked after, meaning they have a high resale value.
As both brands increase their prices annually, Chanel 1-2 times a year with relatively steep price hikes and Louis Vuitton reportedly four times a year, it shouldn’t surprise you that you can resell many items from both brands at a higher price if you wait a year or so.
This is especially true for classic pieces and highly-coveted items from both brands, as well as limited-edition pieces that have become a hit on social media.
Our Top picks from Louis Vuitton Vs Chanel
1. shoulder bags
Shoulder bags are probably the most popular type of bag that there is. While both brands have multiple beautiful designs, we wanted to pick classic bags for this section that will hold their value and be popular for years to come.
The gorgeous curved shape of the Louis Vuitton Alma BB bag makes a refreshing change to the usual shapes of shoulder bags.
The brand’s famous epi leather is supple, yet durable at the same time, making it a great, sturdy bag for everyday use. The rolled top handles and long shoulder strap mean it can be styled in many different ways.
The classic Chanel flap bags come in many different sizes and the Medium Double Flap Bags are the perfect size for a shoulder bag. The caviar leather has a stunning texture, while the interior is fitted with smooth leather pockets.
The classic design of this investment bag is forever stylish and the polished CC hardware complements the leather perfectly. These bags are definitely on the pricier end, and with recent price increases, they cost as much as some Hermès handbags, including some versions of the Birkin bag. With this said, the timeless design and high-quality materials are definitely worth it.
2. Top Handle bags
For top-handle bags, here are two perfect options for you. The classic LV Speedy bag has been shrunk into a nano version to create a surprisingly spacious everyday bag.
This classic bag features the Louis Vuitton monogram on toile canvas, rolled leather top handles, and a crossbody strap as well – timeless and functional!
While Chanel has many top-handle bags, the small Trendy CC bag is in our opinion perhaps the best option. The black buttery soft lambskin is perfectly offset by the gold hardware, including the classic CC logo which doubles as the clasp.
The leather threaded strap guarantees functionality, as does the leather interior and pockets.
3. Tote bags
Louis Vuitton offers one of the most recognizable tote bags out there – the Louis Vuitton Neverfull. This iconic, simple design has been around for decades and will never go out of fashion.
It’s the perfect addition to any wardrobe, no matter your style. It’s the ideal bag for moms, office ladies, and fashion enthusiasts. If the instantly recognizable monogram print isn’t your style, the bag also comes in multiple other colors, including an understated single-colored leather, a giant monogram print (that can actually be rather understated), as well as seasonal colorways. Available in multiple sizes and finishes, you can’t go wrong with this classic!
The Chanel Deauville tote bag is also a stunning, essential bag to own. The bag features top handles as well as a longer shoulder strap to make it oh-so-versatile.
While the bag comes in both fabric and leather options, the fabric version is perhaps the more popular one, and makes for a great designer travel tote. The tightly woven fabric is embellished by a studded Chanel logo and the interior features hanging zipper pockets to help you remain organized. You can find this tote starting at around $3,00 on Fashionphile and in-store – pricey, but on the cheap side for Chanel.
4. Crossbody bags
The Louis Vuitton Coussin bag is an addition to the Louis Vuitton bag collection in recent years and is definitely already a modern classic.
The canvas crossbody strap is fabulous yet functional, while the gold chain-link shoulder strap offers versatility. The bag is also embossed with the world-famous LV monogram, offering everything you could need in a crossbody bag.
Chanel makes a plethora of crossbody bags, including its gorgeous Wallet on Chain bags.
Always available on Fashionphile in multiple different colors, the brand’s wallets on chain are perfect if you are looking for something a little smaller but with all the classic Chanel additions. This includes the threaded leather strap, CC logo hardware, and interior pockets.
Conclusion
These fashion industry favorite brands are totally irresistible and it’s, therefore, such a challenge to choose between the two and their designer handbags!
If you are looking for an instantly-recognizable luxury bag with timeless appeal, then you can never go wrong with any Chanel bag – they are iconic and world-renowned for a reason. Although the beautiful bags are the more expensive option – they can either be an heirloom piece or resold on sites such as Fashionphile because they hold their value so well.
However, Louis Vuitton bags are better for those of you looking for an elegant bag, that will last well but won’t break the bank. The Speedy and Neverfull bags, in particular, are just magnificent and incredibly versatile.
In the end, the biggest deciding factor is your budget and personal style. It is important to ask yourself a couple of questions, including “Will this go with other items in my wardrobe? How much wear will I get out of this? Is this the best color and material for me?”.
Once you answered all these questions and taken the time to mull over your decision before choosing a bag – you are guaranteed to love your new Louis Vuitton or Chanel handbag.
We hope you enjoyed this post about Chanel Vs Louis Vuitton! For more similar luxury fashion analyses and ideas, make sure to check out the posts below!
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