My Last Hurrah

While I was overseas last month, there was a furious flurry of rumors about yet another price hike chez Chanel…and a significant one at that. By the time I left Europe the price increase had already happened in Asia and Canada. And as of June 1 in the US, a jumbo flap bag that had already jumped to a whopping $3700 (granted, it came with a new double flap) earlier this year from $2995 is now…drum roll please…$4300. I remember when it was painful at $1695! And all these increases have happened only within the last few years without any significant change to the original design or quality. How’s that for brand power?

With every impending price hike, there’s an irresistible pull to get just one more before it becomes ridiculous, and therein lies the marketing logic behind such hikes. But at some point, whatever that may be for each of us, the numbers stop making sense. I believe I’ve reached that limit. My jumbo collecting is officially finished.

But I did say jumbo, didn’t I?

So my last hurrah in the world of Chanel handbags? An olive green mini classic flap that I finally managed to track down before the June deadline, not just because the marketing wizards worked their magic but because these sneakers need a mate!

And no, I did not get two pairs of the same shoes. One is leather and the other suede. I know, I can rationalize just about anything .

June 2, 2011