I know the virtues of Chanel, so no need to preach me on the quality, its heritage or the allure of the brand. After all, I have been collecting all things Chanel for over 20 years and still make my regular rounds at Chanel boutiques from Paris, London, New York, Vegas, LA, Dallas etc (I know every boutique Director by name and have most on my speed dial). Suffice it to say, I am a Chanel addict. I am also a crocodile/alligator addict so when I saw this new chain bag for Chanel, I paused–if for a moment. Then I had déjà vu, this looked just like my Romanek midnight clutch except it’s black, has chain straps and a clasp (and yes, I am fully aware that the full tail alligator clutch bag has been around since the ’50s but let’s not forget it was Brigette Romanek who brought it back to the limelight on the red carpet a few years ago). Anywho, I was marveling at the scales and thinking to myself that a black alligator Chanel chain bag is what’s missing in my bag wardrobe until I got the email from Chanel that it was $39,450. I’m sorry, WHAT? 
Double the cost of a crocodile birkin and a gazillion times the cost of a Romanek Rock Star clutch? I know it does look a lot better but does it look $39,450 better? I’d understand if this thing was blinged out in diamonds and took 400 hours to construct but isn’t this just a gator tail wrapped around itself? Granted, it is a very beautiful gator with perfect scales and fancy chains but I don’t see the workmanship here nor the justification for this price– even the Bag Snob has her limits and I draw mine right here! My recommendation is, if you like the look, head over to Barneys New York and grab a Romanek clutch for $2,195.
I am glad even the Bagsnob has drawn the line at this…why are designers bags skyrocketing in price. I remember when the average bag was £500 and then maybe the more exclusive items where £800-£1000 and suddenly the average bag is £3000+ I know the bag business is a multi milliom pound industry so surely there is room for them to give a little?!
Back to the bag in question…this Chenal bag is very rock chick Tina you seem to be digging this style at the moe, I do preder the Romanek Rock Star thought think it is more chic!
L.xo
Did Chanel use the same kind of crocodile? The spacing, size, and symmetry of the scales are way different on those two bags. I know some types of croc are more expensive, even on H bags (I believe the expensive kind adds $20k to the price).
Outrageous!!
I think it’s a case of the label and paying for the name. Of course, the quality will be better than a hundred dollar bag, obviously, but it’s not constructed by the hand of God either to be that price, but with Chanel, factor in the cost of renting buildings around the world, the marketing campaigns (and everyone from the model to the staff). A few years ago, they paid Nicole Kidman a couple of million of dollars for a two minute perfume advert, hence the price of the handbags. You can buy larger croc bags for half the price, so despite its obvious charm (it is a nice bag, I think one of the nicest looking Chanel evening bags), a portion of the price is all about the name Chanel. I think if people can afford it, and there are people out there, then why not? Life is too short as it is.
Totally agreed. The Chanel bag looks fab though. The thing is the price!!! OMG, it is just not worth it! By the way, just FYI, i am in Jakarta this week and happened to be shopping in a huge upscale mall. In this department store where all things are made in Indonesia, there is a section where all the bags are authentic exotics and they are amazing!!! There is an orange patent cobra clutch priced at around USD100 (phyton costs around USD 150) and a Romanek-inspired clutch in gator(all bags with suede lining)only priced at around USD 500. The craftmanship is exceptionally fine (to my surpise.)Ended up getting four bags for the ladies in my family.
The Chanel bag is insanely beautiful and there’s no competition when you look at it next to the Romanek bag, but for the price of the Chanel bag, you could buy several Romaneks and still have money left over for a new car
I think at some point the pricing is to make a point: if you buy this, you can tell everyone how much you have without having to state it directly. It’s like the diamond encrusted H bags- are they necessary? No. Do people love and buy them, yes. While I think the Chanel is ridiculous, I think most of the pricing at Chanel these days is out of control and this is just a part of that.
At the end of the day, they wouldn’t make it if someone wouldn’t buy it and people are entitled to spend their money as they please.
I actually prefer the look of the romanek, i think chanel just took a cool idea (romanek) and tried to make it theirs..and it shows. romanek has the rock star credentials!!!!
I like both bags a lot, love the blue color and shape of the Romanek but on the other hand, looking at the Chanel, there’s a huge difference between the two bags. The Chanel bag is made with an extreme eye for detail. The skin is stunning and the quality is certainly not comparable to the Romanek. I think that the Chanel bag is a piece that will be passed on from generation to generation. However, for the lucky ones that can afford it!
omg…the chanel is way to similar to the romanek to justify the price!
Personally I feel that Chanel should be ashamed of themselves for stealing a brilliant idea from Mrs. Romanek.. OMG! Why would a BIG BUSINESS like Chanel do this? Are they so desparate for a new idea? Have they no ethics?
From what I’m told Romanek bags come in every color and they are not inexpensive. I actually like them better ..
I think it’s disgusting!
I’m sticking with Romanek bags and I cheer the woman who created them . A hardworking fashionista with today’s woman in mind. Chanel is asking us to pay $40,000 for something they copied!! What an insult!!
Yes I can afford it! NO, I wouldn’t think of it. My daughters will receive my Romanek’s and are and will always be collectibles.
dear Shopmaven, Chanel is not copying anything from Romanek, maybe that design was new for you but purses like this have been sold in latinamerica before I was even born….my grandmother had one in brown that she says she got in the 60’s in Colombia, and after Romaneks purse became popular in the US lots of people took out of the closet their versions, I have seen the exact same model both live and in pics,from the 50s and even before come from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela,Ecuador, Brasil, Bolivia and Argentina. As always in fashion very things are actually new Chanels bag is just a reinterpretation of the same idea, but so is B Romaneks version…who made this for the first time? we will never know.
I have found this bag on http://www.designerdrops.com in lower price everybody can have it
I’m a longtime Chanel handbag fan and have many in my wardrobe but I am now very disappointed with the brand….prices have skyrocketed but quality is the same if not declining. I still cannot get past the fact that cheap hideous vinyl bags now cost more then classic lambskins used to 5-6 years ago. Now they blatantly copy another designer?! I buy exotic skin bags all the time but will NEVER pay the kind of money Chanel is asking for as that is simply insane! Many of us are discerning enough to know when we are being overcharged for something. No doubt we’ll soon see it slung on the skinny shoulder of some hollywood star… Better to buy the Birkin instead! p.s skins taken off dead alligators after hurricanes Gustav/Ike etc should be making their way into the market too….I have seen a bag made from a gator skin that was a Katrina victim here in Asia. Cheaper then the usual premium prices of Mississipi Gator skins.
Is there a Chanel Ultimate Soft anywhere? In love with that bag!!
http://www.theconscioussnob.com
I have been collecting Chanel for many years, but the prices are getting too crazy.I still LOVE LOVE Chanel, but I’ll keep carrying my old jumbo Classics.
Chanel used the head/jaw from the underside of the crocodile, while Romanek used the top of the tail. The tails of crocodiles/alligators can be bought separately or as scraps, ones with the spiny ridge down the back are even cheaper and harder to use because hardly anyone wants the super hard spiny part of the alligator on their handbags. Kudos to Romanek for finding a clever way to use a cheap and hard to use part of the animal, but that’s probably a big reason for the price difference between the Chanel and Romanek bags. Plus the brand name of course, but I think the Chanel bag is lightyears beyond Romanek’s (also not so original) bag and is actually a beautiful combination of their classic style and vintage inspiration. Still don’t think I’d pay 39K for it though.
This bag has a unique appearance and has a high quality materials on it. It is very elegant and it suites business attires..And also all chanel bags was so unique style they also use a kind of crocodile.
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