Chanel Coco Handle: 2023 Complete Guide & Review (Prices, Sizes & More) – Luxe Front

Chanel Coco Handle Bag: your complete reference guide: prices, sizes, materials and more

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A recent edition to Chanel’s collection, the Coco Handle has quickly become a favorite of those looking for an affordable, versatile alternative to Classic Flap bags. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about the Chanel Coco Handle. 

Photo credit @my_lux_space_

About the Chanel Coco Handle 

Named after Chanel’s founder, the Coco Handle Bag first appeared in the brand’s Pre-Fall/Winter 2015 collection.

Initially, this model struggled to find its footing. Indeed, many Hermès loyalists mocked the Coco Handle, claiming that it was too close to the Hermès Kelly bag. 

However, the Coco Handle has become more and more popular with each season, gaining a fan base of both seasoned and novice handbag collectors. Now, the Coco Handle is one of Chanel’s most popular styles.  

With features like quilted leather, the Chanel CC turn lock, and the Mona Lisa back pocket, the Coco Handle is a dead ringer for a Chanel Classic Flap bag. 

Other features include: 

• Single top handle
• Front flap
• Trapezoidal shape
• Removable interwoven leather chain strap 

Depending on the bag size, it’s possible to carry the Coco Handle by hand, cross-body, or on your shoulder.

Materials: Caviar for the Coco Handle?

Chanel Coco Handle bags are most often made in Caviar leather. However, this style can also be found in metallic-coated caviar leather, smooth calfskin, and aged calfskin. 

Let’s take a closer look at each of these materials:

Caviar Leather –  Calfskin treated to produce a tougher and more durable leather. This treatment also creates a pebbled texture, making it more scratch-resistant than lambskin leather. 

Smooth Calfskin – Leather with a smooth, yet durable texture. It is also more scratch-resistant than lambskin leather. 

Aged Calfskin – This leather is unpolished while also being soft and durable. It doesn’t show scratches and is easy to clean. 

Until now, the Chanel Coco Handle was not released in lambskin leather.

In terms of hardware, the Coco Handle usually features either gold-tone or lacquered metal.

Coco Handle Sizes

The Coco Handle comes in four sizes: Mini, Small, Medium, and Large.

Check out the table below for the exact dimensions of each size. 

Coco Handle Bag SizeDimensions in inches (L x H x D)
Dimensions in centimeters(L x H x D)Mini5.1” x 7.5” x 3.5”13 x 19 x 8.9 Small5.5” x 9.4” x 3.9”24 x 14 x 10Medium7.1” x 11.4” x 4.7”29 x 18 x 12Large8.7” x 13” x 4.7”33 x 22 x 12Table: Chanel Coco Handle Sizes

Colors vary from season to season and include a mixture of neutrals (black, beige, and white) and bright colors (pink, turquoise, and red). 

Chanel Coco Handle: Mini vs Small

To see at a glance which Chanel CH is the mini vs the small, you can simply count the quilts from the CC logo. The mini will have 2 quilts on either side of the CC turn lock and the small will have 2.5 quilts on either side of the CC turn lock.

Chanel Mini vs Small

Chanel Coco Handle Mini

The smallest (and most adorable) Chanel Coco Handle. The Mini CH does not fit a lot but if you’re one to carry minimal stuff with you, then it can be a great bag. It transitions beautifully from day to night due to its size and smart look.

The mini Coco Handle can fit: a Louis Vuitton mini pochette (which fits a lipstick, a small hand sanitizer, and keys), a cardholder and your phone.

Chanel Coco Handle Small

The small is very similar to the mini but way more wearable in our opinion. It’s still small enough that it transitions well enough from day to night, but it fits more than the mini. The small fits a phone, a LV mini pochette, keys with key pouch, a cardholder and sunglasses in a fabric pouch.

It’s up to you if you prefer the mini vs the small, however if you’re not sure, the price difference is relatively low (300 USD)- so we advise you to choose the small for a bit of extra space.

Coco Handle Prices. How much does the Coco Handle Cost?

Coco Handles saw a significant price increase in January 2022, with increases of more than 10 percent on all sizes. 

Prices might continue to rise in 2023 and beyond as a result of supply chain issues, increased demand, and inflation. It’s tough to predict exactly how much prices will increase, but a minimum of 6 percent is expected. 

With that in mind, here are the current prices for the Coco Handle bag in each of the four sizes. 

Coco Handle Bag StylePrice (USD)Mini$4,800Small$5,100Medium$5,500Large$5,900Table: Chanel Coco Handle Prices

Is the Coco Handle Worth It? Pros and Cons

Ultimately, you’re the only one who can decide whether the Coco Handle bag is the right fit for you. However, it is helpful to know about the bag before making up your mind. 

Let’s start with the positives. 

With its diamond quilting, front flap, interlocking CC twist clasp, and interwoven leather chain strap, The Coco Handle has all of the markers of a traditional Chanel bag. This is obviously a huge plus if you’re a fan of the brand’s aesthetics. 

Versatility is another plus. Depending on the size you choose, this bag can work as a cross-body during the day or as a handheld bag in the evening. 

Another attractive feature to mention is the price point. Considering how much the Coco Handle resembles the Classic Flap bag, it’s surprising how much cheaper it is (sometimes more than 30%). 

While there are plenty of pros, there are a few cons worth mentioning. The Coco Handle is made of stiff, padded leather. This material choice makes getting things in and out of the bag a struggle. 

Another con is that the handle is very stiff and has no give. That can make storing or transporting it a pain. 

Lastly, as is the case with all Chanel bags, prices of the Coco Handle have gone up. As a result, it’s not as good of a deal as it was a few years ago. 

Hopefully, having a more holistic view of the Coco Handle will help you make up your mind. Our opinion is that even with the recent price increases, this classic, well-constructed bag is a fantastic buy. 

Is It Hard to Get a Coco Handle?

Chanel buyers have had different experiences when it comes to buying their Coco Handles. One claimed that she was able to walk into her local boutique and purchase a small black Coco Handle with no previous buying history. 

She did concede that other shoppers followed her around the store in hopes of snagging the bag should she decide not to purchase it. This suggests that the bag was in high demand and was hard to come by for others. 

Another buyer shared her experience of shopping for the Coco Handle, mentioning that popular colors (black, grey, white, beige) of the mini size were becoming increasingly difficult to get in boutiques without a relationship with a sales associate.

It seems as though you might be able to purchase this bag from a boutique if you time it right and if you can be flexible about sizes and colors. 

If you’re looking for more control over the buying process, then rest assured that there are plenty of Coco Handles available on reselling websites like Fashionphile. 

Coco Handle Resale Value

Like many Chanel bags, the Coco Handle retains its value well. This model has an average retention value of 97 percent.  It’s important to note that the smallest models (mini and small) have the best resale value. If you’re looking for a medium or a large you might get a great deal on the resale market.

If you want to check the second hand market for Chanel Coco Handle Bags: have a look here.

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Chanel Coco Handle Bag : Outfits and Inspiration

Here’s some eye candy and inspiration on how to style the Coco Handle.

Photo credit @linoayarviv19
Photo credit @alexiaak
Photo credit @laviedupapillon
Photo credit @josvoyage

Is the Coco Handle Discontinued?

No, the Chanel Coco Handle is not discontinued. However, it is a seasonal handbag, meaning that it won’t necessarily be available every season. Currently, it is in boutiques in only one size (the small) – we hope that in the next season there will be more Coco Handle sizes available.

Conclusion Buying a Chanel Coco Handle

Fans of classic Chanel styling will fall head over heels with the Coco Handle bag thanks to its quilted design, interlocking CC twist lock, and woven leather chain strap. 

In many ways, the Coco Handle is exactly like the classic Flap bag at a lower price point. So, if you’re looking to add a Chanel bag to your collection, this is a solid option. 

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