I have to admit, I forgot about the Chanel Gabrielle bag until I was identifying bags earlier this week for our Bags in the Wild series. I haven’t seen the Gabrielle IRL in quite a while, nor have I noticed it on my social media feed or on the arms of our favorite bag-wielding celebs. For a second, I even wondered if the Gabrielle had been discontinued, but one swift search of the Chanel website answered that question. However, I was left with another question; has the Chanel Gabrielle bag run its course?
Let’s discuss.
Is the Chanel Gabrielle Bag Past its Peak?
The Chanel Gabrielle made its debut in early 2017, along with the rest of the brand’s Spring offering for that year. While the primary silhouette (arguably the most popular and the one we’ll discuss today) was the Gabrielle hobo, the full line was introduced to include a shopping tote, a backpack, and a drawstring bag. Much like the now-iconic Chanel Boy Bag, the Gabrielle was meant to target Chanel’s younger customer base, and the fanfare around the launch of the Gabrielle line was impossible to ignore. Though it never quite reached Boy Bag status, the bag eventually picked up steam among celebrities, influencers, and everyday handbag lovers. Two years after its initial release, the bag remained in the forefront of the Chanel lineup.
It was then that I questioned if the Chanel Gabrielle could stand the test of time. Ultimately, it felt a bit premature and too early on in the bag’s lifespan to develop a concrete response. But now, two and a half years later, I’m confident that the Gabrielle is past its peak and will eventually fade off. Here’s Why.
There’s a New Trendy Chanel Bag in Town
Rarely does Chanel put most of its resources for any given season towards pushing a new line, but that’s exactly what they did when the Chanel Gabrielle launched. Designed by the late Karl Lagerfeld, the Gabrielle possesses an effortlessly cool, contemporary vibe, and at the time of its release, it was trendy and of the moment. Now, its moment has passed, and that same younger, more on-trend consumer that was once after the Gabrielle has moved on to the Chanel 19, which launched in late 2019. On the other hand, the classic Chanel consumer is still after icons like the Classic Flap and the 2.55 Reissue.
Its Resale Value is Below Market
Another important point to note is that the Chanel Gabrielle doesn’t hold its value nearly as well as other shapes from the brand. While the Classic Flap, Boy Bag, and 2.55 Re-Issue, tend to hold or exceed their retail value, the Gabrielle falls short. For example, the Small Chanel Gabrielle retails for $5,000, while its resale value currently falls anywhere from $3,200 to $4,800, with the average falling somewhere in the low $4,000s.
While the Chanel Gabrielle had its moment, all signs point to a downtrend in this bag’s popularity, and I can’t help but wonder when the next shiny new on-trend Chanel is introduced, will the Chanel 19 see the same fate? What do you think?
I think *most* Chanel bags have run their course. If selling below retail on resale sites is an indicator, pervasively for a particular style (or nearly so) we can count in the 19, the boy, the vanity case, the filigree, the trendy, the Deauville etc. Not that those don’t keep decent value, but not retail value on resale. Of course neither do reissues. Funny b/c there’s so much hype around a particular bag (ie, the 19 caramel) that people go nuts for it, pay whatever for it, the masses move onto something else, there are 30 on Fashionphile marked down, and Chanel releases it again which floods the marketplace. Boutique closets are full of 19 bags, where 18-24 months ago most would do anything to get one. How much of an “it” bag is TRULY above love, and how much is about artificial perception of scarcity and competing with other women? Very interesting frenetic approach to what should be a classic, sophisticated brand.
Is it past it’s peak? Yes. Why? I wears weird. With time, the top part becomes slouchy and it droops over the bottom part. It looks odd and “worn” in a bad way. Not a good bag.
Exactly
I’ve seen exactly two Gabrielle bags out in the wild. I never found it to be particularly popular outside of social media. It’s an awkward bag and impractical at least for me.
This was not even close to Chanel’s best design.
I’ve never been a fan of this bag. It’s awkward to wear and the base is disproportionately clunky.
I have the black/white hobo in old medium size and love it , especially wearing it V style . A bag organiser also stops it from looking slouchy .
Totally agree. Gabrielle has run its course. I was never a fan. Never bought into it. The 19 on the other hand may have longevity due to its wearability factor. Mine is in goat and I find myself reaching for it time and time again. Great capacity and comfort. Beautifully made bag.
I purchased a hot pink Gabrielle bag this summer and I love it. It’s the small version and I think it’s the color that really makes it pop.
I was going to purchase the Gabrielle when it first came out. Ran down to my local Chanel and the SA pulled it out of a cabinet, and it was folded flat and looked terrible. It wasn’t even shipped stuffed or properly protected. She had a couple of awkward moments trying to push and pull it back into shape. I told her, “really, you are seeing this too, I am not going to buy a bag in that starts out in that a shape”. That all said, I have always liked the bag and wished it was constructed a little better.
This bag never made it to it bag status. I see the 19 and the boy in the wild nearly every day. I have rarely seen a Gabrielle.
I saw the Gabrielle and boy bag as youtuber bags – they are both ugly and I’ve not seen many people carry them in real life except the people who got it for free – no surprise because they are both ugly!
Boy is not that ugly. I have one in 11 inch size. It is roomy and functional. But I agree with you about Gabrielle.
So beautiful …
The Gabrielle bag.. love and hate thing about it, love the look on people wearing it, but the chains are too fussy for my liking.
As a Chanel fan I felt I needed variety in my collection and so bought a Preloved Gabrielle Backpack which I has been a total game changer. The chains are not so fussy and I love how modern and youthful it looks and can been worn casually and dressed up.
i had this bag, in large, and I sold it, reason I got rid of it, its that the height was too much I kept on rubbing my elbow on it, seems like a great messenger bag, but the straps are super long, I ended crossbody it, and it worked till the chain got in a bunch, structure wise, didn’t age well, structure wear and its seems crumples. hard base, easy to hit things while carrying it, idk I think maaaaaybe a medium would work, but idk maybe get it again when it really hits below 2k on the resale market or 3k, but i know for a fact it wont age well, and its gonna look weird when all the structure wear takes it toll, basically a soft bag with a hard base. i want a medium but the more i look at them, and seeing how they age, the more i tend to not pull the trigger.
I have the Gabrielle and used it quite a bit, although I find myself annoyed at how slouchy the top has become. Granted, I’ve had it for quite a few years. It’s easy to get in and out of when running errands. Would not recommend it to anyone. Sticking to the classics from now on.