Chanel Camellia Flap Bag Velvet (Pre-Owned)

June 24, 2019

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The bag purchase reviews that I've written on this blog have been the ones featuring bags that I absolutely loved and have decided to personally invest in. The last bag that I wrote about was my Loewe Puzzle Bag in the color 'stone blue'. Since then, I haven't been quite active in growing my bag collection as I felt like it was pretty complete already. In recent years, more independent and young bag brands have also caught my attention, so I have been exploring that. I really love Cult Gaia, Staud, Danse Lente and Yuzefi. Seeing these new brands' take on handbags in terms of shapes, designs, and even color-ways have somewhat inspired me to compare them to bags of the pasts.

As I've mentioned in my last style posts featuring this Chanel Camellia Velvet bag, this is my first attempt at trying out the practice of investing in a pre-owned bag. For full transparency, I actually borrowed this bag for a short period of time from Rebag, as opposed to committing to actually purchasing it, to get a sense of how it would feel like. Rebag has a program where you can actually purchase one for 6 months to get you started, so definitely take advantage of this if you are like me, and are hesitant about this.

Knowing that I'm receiving a pre-owned bag, I was already prepared to see small imperfections, such as scratches and fades of metal finishes. Even so, when I actually opened up the package and saw it, I barely noticed any of those marks. This just goes to know that my worries about receiving something slightly flawed weren't stronger than my impression of how one-of-a-kind this bag was.

Now on to some of my thoughts on the bag itself. When it comes to my personal standards for what deems a bag worthy in my collection, the two things that I really focus on is uniqueness and practicality.

Upon sharing this bag via social, many people responded that this was not a typical Chanel, which of course, I couldn't agree more. However, if one really knows the history of Gabrielle Chanel, then they would also know that the camellia is actually one of her favorite flowers (making this bag, kind of truly Chanel?). Secondly, the bag is a flap bag style with three sectionals inside making it quite organized and roomy for the everyday essentials. Personally, I'm not a big fan of an accordion style bags as I'm someone that prefers to have one open compartment - but if this is your style, then you'll find that it's quite roomy as the compartments do expand quite a bit. Another thing to note about this bag that it can be pretty high maintenance since I did notice that the velvet is pretty prone to dents and dust.

Lastly, you might be wondering how such a bold bag works for my wardrobe. But let me tell you- although this bag is pre-owned and let go by someone else, it somehow felt like a piece that I owned myself. Don't let my monochromatic and grungy looks on certain days fool you- I'm a sucker for a good statement bag (and I actually already have another velvet bag in my collection). This Chanel easily dresses up any casual black dress, and even dark boyfriend jeans with a white tee shirt; it doesn't get simpler and more universal than that! The burgundy is such a classic color. If you need an outfit example, you can see this post here.

With everything said, the bag is now back with the Rebag team and will be up for grabs soon. Highly recommend this precious bag for anyone who's looking into vintage or pre-own bags.







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Loewe Puzzle Bag Stone Blue

November 29, 2017

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Loewe Puzzle Bag Stone Blue / FOREVERVANNY.com
Loewe Puzzle Bag Stone Blue / FOREVERVANNY.comLoewe Puzzle Bag Stone Blue / FOREVERVANNY.comLoewe Puzzle Bag Stone Blue / FOREVERVANNY.comLoewe Puzzle Bag Stone Blue / FOREVERVANNY.comLoewe Puzzle Bag Stone Blue / FOREVERVANNY.comLoewe Puzzle Bag Stone Blue / FOREVERVANNY.comLoewe Puzzle Bag Stone Blue / FOREVERVANNY.com
Loewe Puzzle Bag Small in 'Stone Blue'


If you caught my last bag review post on the J.W Anderson Mini Pierce bag, you'll know that I've also been eyeing this Loewe Puzzle Bag for a while now too. Now that my selection of bags has already fulfilled all of the classic shapes and occasion requirements, I'm so excited to finally start adding some statement bags to my rotation.

Aside from the multiple ways that you can wear this bag (up to 7 ways I've heard) - one of my favorite detail about it is this mellow blue color that I rarely see any other bags come in. Below are some of my pros and cons about this bag (per usual) to help you make up your mind on it if you're considering it too!

Pros:
  • I am a sucker for the construction of this bag. I love all of the handcrafted details around the bags and how it folds when it's sitting or carried. 
  • Similarly to my Proenza Schouler PS11, this bag's dimension is quite roomy and I actually don't mind the fabric lining at all since it barely shows with the small opening on top.
  • I love the versatility of the strap on the Puzzle Bag. It easily adapts and adjusts and really changes the bag so much from shoulder length to arm length and cross-body length.
  • Although the bag is a blue color, it's so neutral that it pretty much goes with all of my casual clothes for everyday wear.
  • Another thing that I do really appreciate about this bag is the feet at the bottom that really help the bag hold its shape and stay sitting upright. 
Cons:
  • For once, I really love this bag because it's quite low key and understated. Even though I really like it, I'm not sure if I consider this one a classic or one that will stay relevant over a long period of time. However, this is just something for you to think about and not something that personally affected my decision.
  • While the bag is quite roomy, I find that the opening of the bag is quite small and inconvenient to fit something large inside the bag especially for this small size. Again it doesn't really bother me since I don't think I'll be stuffing this bag at all.

As always, I hope that you enjoy these super close up shots of this  Loewe Puzzle Bag. 


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J.W Anderson Mini Pierce Bag Green Velvet

September 18, 2017

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J.W Anderson Mini Pierce Bag Green Velvet Bag Review / FOREVERVANNY.com J.W Anderson Mini Pierce Bag Green Velvet Bag Review / FOREVERVANNY.comJ.W Anderson Mini Pierce Bag Green Velvet Bag Review / FOREVERVANNY.comJ.W Anderson Mini Pierce Bag Green Velvet Bag Review / FOREVERVANNY.comJ.W Anderson Mini Pierce Bag Green Velvet Bag Review / FOREVERVANNY.comJ.W Anderson Mini Pierce Bag Green Velvet Bag Review / FOREVERVANNY.com
Before I start my usual honest breakdown of pros and cons about this J.W Anderson Mini Pierce bag in velvet, I want to clarify that this bag was actually a very generous gift from my boss to me for my birthday and not a purchase I made on my own.

I'll be frank and say it now, before you read on, that I am actually not a huge fan of the larger version of the Pierce bag (mainly because it resembles the Chloe Faye quite a bit). I've been beating up my Proenza Schouler PS11 for the past few months, and although I wanted to give it a break, there wasn't really any other bag that caught my eyes. When I was in Europe last month, I thought about buying the Loewe Puzzle bag, but somehow, I didn't feel like I was too excited to get it. It has literally been sitting in my cart for the past 9 months or so (I know, I take forever to make a damn decision when it comes to purchases like these). If you're familiar with the J.W Anderson Pierce bag, you'll know that this is more on the trendy side versus classic. The price point for the large version of this bag isn't quite steep when compared to how much more this one actually costs. Before it even became available for pre-order I was already looking at multiple velvet bags. Something about fall approaching just made me wanted something with a different texture. When searching for velvet bags, I found that most were Gucci (and I actually haven't really been digging their later drops). I suddenly recalled this bag from the runway last season and begun frantically searching for it. Originally was going to go for the black one, but this green color was actually the reason why I decided I was going to get it (before my boss surprised me with it). At first glance, this doesn't look like a typical bag that I'd wear, but if you've been following me on Instagram, you'll know that I've been wearing this non-stop for the past few weeks. Because my wardrobe is so simple, a statement bag like this actually helps pull all of my looks together. If you're thinking about treating yourself to this bag as well, here are some things I love and do not love about it just in case you're looking for a reason to get or not to get:
  • I love the velvet texture of the bag. It's extra plush and soft in my hands when I'm just using it as a clutch without the chain.
  • I'm one of those people who doesn't like closing my bag so I really like that the metal pierce-circle serves as a heavy flap that keeps the bag closed. If you're one of those people who are concerned about always keeping your bag closed, this one might not be for you.
  • Another thing that makes the back stick out to me was the satin ribbons details. It's nothing new, but I love how it makes the bag feel quite unique.
  • I'm not a big fan of the accordion side flap bags, again - I'm one of those people who prefers a one compartment bag so I can just toss everything inside.
  • Although the bag is really green in person, in certain lighting, it looks close to black. It's the best of both worlds for me!
There aren't really many things I dislike about the bag, but more so concerns.
  • While the velvet is quite luxed, it does get dented a lot when rubbed too harsh against clothing. I've already noticed parts of the back of the bag getting slightly damaged.
  • The chain strap on the bag is pretty sturdy and polished, however, I've already started noticing that the gold plating is starting to chip
  • I'm not sure if each bag is unique, but I've noticed that my ribbon lengths for the bows are all different, and the OCD in me can't quite stand it. I'd recommend you going to an actual store and making sure that you're fully happy with the bag.
I hope that this was helpful, and I hope that you enjoy the change in photo styling for this J.W Anderson Mini Pierce Bag in velvet.
J.W Anderson Mini Pierce Bag Velvet








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Proenza Schouler PS11 Mini Classic

August 7, 2017

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Proenza Schouler PS11 Mini Classic / FOREVERVANNY.com
I get a lot of questions about what’s my favorite bag, or about this bag that I wear basically all the time. Although I don’t have a huge bag collection (mostly because I’m a shoe girl) I do have severals that I just ignore and wear this one ALL the time. Honestly, when I first got this Proenza Schouler, I mainly just thought that the front of the bag resembles car grills and it would make a great signature piece that goes with my name - Van (I hope you caught that).

The Proenza Schouler PS11 Mini Classic is my all time favorite bag despite how it squeaks like a mouse during the colder months when the metal clasps rub against each other. Despite being almost 3 years old, I fall in love with it more and more after every wear.

So, with that in mind - this is not so much a 'bag review' but a 'bag appreciation' post and I hope it’ll give you some insights into seeing what an aged PS11 looks like.
Proenza Schouler PS11 Mini Classic / FOREVERVANNY.com Proenza Schouler PS11 Mini Classic / FOREVERVANNY.com Proenza Schouler PS11 Mini Classic / FOREVERVANNY.com Proenza Schouler PS11 Mini Classic / FOREVERVANNY.com Proenza Schouler PS11 Mini Classic / FOREVERVANNY.com Proenza Schouler PS11 Mini Classic / FOREVERVANNY.com
I’ll start off by saying that I got this bag as a 21st birthday present, so this makes this bag 3 full years old. It’s been to a few different countries with me and is basically worn 300 out of 365 days a year. Every rust parts and scratches bring me back to a memory and it’s even more of a reason why I cherish this bag.

Although this is a PS11 Mini Classic (OG because it’s the prior version that has the D ring attached to the base of the bag), it’s a really good size bag for everyday use. I know you’ll be surprised when I tell you that it fits my Polaroid and a card case/wallet.

There was a point when this bag was super trendy, but even though it’s not anymore, it’s still quite an eye-catching bag that’s low-key. I don’t think there aren’t many people who can recognize it if they weren’t in the know about fashion.

I really can’t say anything about this bag at all so I’ll cut to the chase and list a few things that absolutely love about this bag.

The magnetic button closure is such a gem, it saves me the struggle of trying to close the bag, which a lot of trendy bags right now lacks. (AKA - if you read my Chloe Faye Mini review, you’ll know that that one is a pain).

I love the medium width strap, not too wide and not too skinny - it makes for such a comfortable day bag and another reason why I always bring it with me on travel.

I’m not a big fan of mixing gold and silver but I really like the metal mixing on this bag. It’s super versatile with my daily jewelry. There are a lot of “it” bags and trendy bags in the market lately, but I just haven’t found another quite like this one. It’s quite easy to fall in love with a pristine, brand new bag that you’ve been dying for - but I just thought it would be resourceful to share an aged bag so that you can get an idea of how it’ll weather over time.

For exact dimensions and specifics of the bag, you can simply compare here.

Tip: Proenza Schouler often have an annual sale where these go on sale for more than 40% off, so I suggest you keep an eye out for that if you’re interested in this bag.



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Celine Belt Bag Black Mini

August 10, 2016

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Celine Belt Bag Black Grained Leather | FOREVERVANNY.comCeline Belt Bag Black Grained Leather | FOREVERVANNY.comCeline Belt Bag Black Grained Leather | FOREVERVANNY.comCeline Belt Bag Black Grained Leather | FOREVERVANNY.comCeline Belt Bag Black Grained Leather | FOREVERVANNY.comCeline Belt Bag Black Grained Leather | FOREVERVANNY.com


I’ll probably never get tired of black bags honestly, and this Celine Belt Bag is a testament to that. Originally I had a hard time choosing between a white one and this black one, but even my sales associate told me, on multiple occasions, that the black just fits so much better with me. Regardless, I wholeheartedly believe that this is one of Celine’s most underrated bags, and it is beautiful in any color.

Like what I usually do with all my bag reviews (I know it’s been a really long time since the Chloe Faye), I’ll be talking about what I like and don’t like about this Celine Belt Bag (although it’s pretty much almost flawless, to me)

I actually got this one a few months ago, but already have been wearing it as often as I can!

To begin, one of the main reasons that I was attracted to this bag in the first place was it’s unique shape (which has kind of lost its appeal to me as my current boyfriend pointed out that it looks like a catfish, haha - stupid boys). I’ve always been a fan of small bags, but this one was just big enough to hold a decent amount of things without seeming too oversized. The fact that it wasn’t lined was something that I was not used to, but I really like the suede inners. The width of the bag allowed me to carry my DSLR, a laptop and a small makeup bag without it being too stuffed. FYI, there’s a larger version of this Celine Belt Bag -it comes without the shoulder straps and a slightly longer top handle.

Another part that I really adore about this bag is the tiny gold hardware all over the bag including the small Celine stamp at the bottom in the front. I really appreciate the fact that Celine decided to add feet (the metal parts on the bottom of the bag) to keep the leather from being worn out on the base.

Although the Celine belt bag is near perfection in my opinion, and as much as I love the versatility of the front flap going under or over the belted front, I do find that I often have trouble closing the flap when the bag is more full. I would suggest testing out if this would be a problem for you before you commit, since even closing the zipper wouldn’t really help if you want to carry the bag on your arm. Fortunately for me, the messenger strap drops the bag just enough for my hands to reach the clasp and close it with minimal effort.

Overall, I really appreciate how minimal this bag is and one that is unique to Celine’s handbag line as many people wouldn’t even be able to recognize it. Compared to many of Celine’s classic styles, it is also one of the lightest bags at a decent price point - making this one a must have in my life.
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Chloe Faye Small Motty Grey

July 28, 2015

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Chloe Faye Small Motty Grey


I remembered when it was available for pre-order on Farfetch a few months ago, it went for about 900$ which I kick myself in the leg for - for not snatching it up then. It now retails for $1,390 at Saks, or pre-order at Barneys so I highly suggest checking it out before it goes out of stock when it releases for the fall.

For this post, I’m mostly going to be talking about what I like and do not like about the bag, since you can find general information on this bag everywhere else online. I hope this will answer some of your concerns about the bag if you’re looking to #treatyourself.

For many people, what’s special about the Chloe Faye is the ring chain flap in the front. Although it looks beautiful, I find it extremely annoying to open and close the bag (but for it’s unique look, that’s totally something I can live with).

When it comes to bag, I prefer them with less compartments but I didn’t mind that the small Faye had 3. Since the middle compartment is the biggest, it will probably be the one I use most. The compartments in the front and back also allow the bag to stand upright so the back doesn’t get so dirty and beat.

When considering this bag, I would suggest you keep in mind that the leather is extremely delicate and buttery; it will get scratched up really easily if you’re wearing it as a cross body over raw/dyed jeans. Since the bag is a light grey, and there is an extension of the suede to the back of the bag, it is possible that it will be easily discolored as well (trust me I’ve gotten a really blue looking one the first time I ordered mine).

With this in mind, I generally love wearing the small Faye as a clutch rather than a cross-body since I think it’s the perfect size to go right under your arms!

And to give you and idea of how roomy the inside of this bag is, I’ve also included a photo of what I generally carry in all of my cross-body bags.

What's In My Crossbody
Passport (since I'm traveling), Limejuice mobile charger, cards and ID, headphones, USB cable, and Prada sunnies.
While I do prefer this person, I also really like it's bigger version as well.




---- Update: Chloe recently came out with a few new versions of this bag and even in wallet form. I think it's super cute and the price point is great to consider if you're in the market for this bag!


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