First off, lemme just say, finding Chanel leather clothing second-hand is like…treasure hunting. Vestiaire Collective, I see you. You’re doin’ the lord’s work. Seriously, who *doesn’t* want a vintage Chanel leather jacket? It’s basically instant cool points.
But here’s the thing, and this is where it gets a little messy, because Chanel *loves* its materials. It’s not just “leather,” is it? Nooooo. It’s Caviar (which I think is technically calfskin, but feels AMAZING), it’s lambskin (so buttery soft, but scratches if you *look* at it wrong), it’s sometimes deerskin (rarer, but super durable, apparently), and then they throw in aged calfskin just to keep you on your toes. Like, come on, Chanel, give a girl a break!
And then you got the *exotic* leathers. Which, honestly, I have mixed feelings about. Like, okay, it’s Chanel, it’s gorgeous, but…you know…ethics. Just sayin’.
The *real* question, though, is *why* leather? I mean, tweed is classic Chanel, right? But there’s something about a Chanel leather jacket…it’s like you’re channeling your inner rockstar, even if you’re just going to the grocery store. (Which, let’s be real, if I had a Chanel leather jacket, I’d wear it EVERYWHERE).
Honestly, figuring out what leather is *what* when you’re buying pre-loved can be a nightmare. You gotta be a detective. Zoom in on those pictures! Read the descriptions *carefully*! And maybe, just maybe, if you’re lucky, you’ll snag that perfect Chanel leather piece that makes you feel like you can conquer the world. Or, at least, conquer the Whole Foods parking lot.
And PS: Don’t even get me started on the Zara knock-offs. They *think* they can imitate the magic. Bless their hearts. They just can’t. There’s something about that Chanel craftsmanship, that “je ne sais quoi,” that you just can’t fake.