Since its first design in the 1950s by the iconic Coco Chanel, the classic flap bag from Chanel has become a symbol of luxury. However, it is challenging for an untrained individual to distinguish between genuine Chanel bags and fake bags.

Authentic Chanel bags feel supple, yet sturdy. copyright bags often use lower-quality materials that don't have the same luxurious texture. At Maison Vivienne, we prioritize checking the leather quality and other materials before reselling any Chanel piece.

Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel designed her first quilted jersey flap bag in 1929. The original quilted jersey bag had a rectangular twisting lock and short, all-chain straps. Her bag was carried in hand or on the arm, like most bags available to upper-class women during the era.

All variants of The Flap Bag featured gold, black or silver metallic chain straps and when resources grew scarce, leather straps were intertwined and/or used as a stylish alternative.

The Jumbo size also features a lengthy shoulder strap that can be doubled, allowing versatile and comfortable carrying options.

Chanel bags boast expert craftsmanship, so most designs will feature 10 or more stitches per side on the diamond quilt. This prevents the leather from puffing. The stitches will all be meticulously done and of the same size. 

When Karl Lagerfeld took the reins as Chanel’s creative director in 1983, he honored the legacy of the 2.55 while infusing it with his own artistic vision. He introduced the Classic Double Flap, which featured a leather-woven chain strap and the now-iconic interlocking Double C turn-lock closure.

This groundbreaking design featured an adjustable chain strap, a practical back slip pocket, and a deep burgundy leather lining—a detail inspired by Chanel’s childhood uniform at the Aubazine Abbey convent in France.

Thus far, we’ve considered the softer side of the bag’s construction. But the hardware is just as important when learning how to tell if a Chanel bag is real. Counterfeiters simply cannot match Chanel’s superb artisanship throughout the bag’s hardware.

Unfortunately, fake Chanel bag producers have managed to replicate many of the differentiating qualities of a real Chanel bag. Thus, it can be challenging to avoid the super fakes and to find a true vintage piece unless you buy an authentic bag straight from a Chanel boutique.

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Authentic logo locks are designed with equal width , flat edges to ensure a consistent and precise appearance.

Few accessories in the world of fashion are as universally recognized and celebrated as the Chanel Flap Bag. First introduced in 1955 by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, this iconic handbag revolutionized women’s fashion by combining elegance with practicality.

The Chanel serial codes were printed on plastic stickers that were then affixed to a location inside the bag that varied with the bag style and year it was produced. Like everything Chanel makes, genuine stickers look professional. If your bag has a cheap-looking date sticker with blurry or uneven text, that would be a fake. If the sticker is missing, it may still be a genuine fake vs real Chanel bag Chanel; you just won’t be able to authenticate it by the date code.