Chanel Vanity Bag: Sizes, Straps and Pre-Owned Cases

Chanel Vanity Bag: Sizes, Straps and Pre-Owned Cases

A Chanel vanity bag is a boxy top-handle case with a zip all the way round. Here are the sizes from mini to large, the strap options and pre-owned finds.

What is a Chanel vanity bag?

A Chanel vanity bag is a small, boxy top-handle bag with a zip that runs all the way round, based on the cosmetics case. Karl Lagerfeld turned it into a handbag in the 1990s, and Chanel brought it back for the Spring/Summer 2016 Airlines show. Most have a chain as well as the handle. I sorted the pre-owned ones by size and strap.

 

If you want the other quilted classic, start with the Chanel flap bag guide.

Street-style collage of 12 outfit photos featuring chanel vanity bag, scattered and overlapping
Phia demo: tap a black Chanel mini vanity case from this edit, Phia flags the price as high, compares the same bag on six resale sites with each listing's condition, sets aside the cheapest one because it is in fair condition, and finds the best price for its condition on myGemma, then tracks new listings, ending on a card to download Phia free on the App Store

Chanel vanity case sizes at a glance

These are the sizes and strap set-ups I keep seeing on Chanel vanity cases, so you can match a listing to a style.

 

Filigree Vanity, small. 17 x 13 x 7 cm (6.7 x 5.1 x 2.8 in). Chain and leather shoulder strap, plus top handle. Holds a phone, lipstick, cardholder and keys.

 

Filigree Vanity, medium. 21 x 16 x 8 cm (8.3 x 6.3 x 3.1 in). Chain and leather shoulder strap, plus top handle. Built-in card slots, room for a larger wallet.

 

Filigree Vanity, large. 24 x 17 x 10 cm (9.4 x 6.7 x 3.9 in). Chain and leather shoulder strap, plus top handle. Opens like a suitcase, with a detachable mirror.

 

Small Vanity with Chain. 9.5 x 17 x 8 cm (3.7 x 6.6 x 3.1 in). Chain, plus top handle. Box shape, minimal interior, mirror in the lid.

 

Mini Vanity with Chain. 10 x 9 x 8 cm (4 x 3.5 x 3 in). Chain. Very small, so capacity is limited.

Small Chanel vanity cases in other finishes

More small vanity cases in different finishes, now with a few filigree cases in caviar and lambskin. Look at the hardware and the shape of the case. The filigree style has quilted panels front and back with a ribbed border, which is what gives it a firm structure. A small one measures about 17 x 13 x 7 cm.

Small vanities, chain and crossbody

The minis are the ones I reach for first. Boxy or round, they hold a phone, cards and a lipstick, and most come with a chain. The Mini Vanity with Chain is about 10 x 9 x 8 cm, so capacity is limited. If you need more than the basics, step up to the small. A Chanel wallet is the better fit if you only carry cards.

Vanity cases with a chain strap

Chanel vanity bags with a chain add a shoulder or crossbody option. They are more practical for a full day out. The classic Vanity with Chain is boxy, with the zip around the top, a short handle, a long chain and a mirror in the lid.

Vanity cases with a chain strap, part two

Here the chain does more of the work, from filigree and tweed to rattan and striped cases. Check the chain for wear where it meets the case. The medium filigree cases in this group measure about 21 x 16 x 8 cm.

Top-handle vanity cases

Top-handle Chanel vanity bags are the classic shape. Caviar, lambskin, patent and denim versions all appear here. The early 1990s versions were cuboid, in diamond-quilted patent leather with a wraparound zip and a fixed top handle. Karl Lagerfeld is the designer who turned the case from a travel accessory into an everyday bag. For another small structured bag, compare the YSL clutch edit.

Classic and caviar vanity cases

More top-handle vanity cases, in caviar and other grained leathers. Compare the corners and the handle for wear. The large Filigree Vanity Case, at about 24 x 17 x 10 cm, can open flat like a suitcase and has a detachable mirror. The medium is the better size if you want one that sits shorter on the body.

Vanity cases with their own details

A few Chanel vanity bags that sit outside the groups, from pearl and tweed minis to crochet and raffia cases, each with its own detail. The shape stays the same underneath, a boxy case with a zip all round. Chanel has made the style in rattan and in iridescent patent as well. For these, check the listing for the exact size, since the sizes vary by style.

Chanel vanity bag, answered

What is a Chanel vanity bag? It is a small, boxy top-handle bag with a zip around the perimeter, descended from the cosmetics case. Karl Lagerfeld reinvented it as an everyday handbag, and most versions add a shoulder strap for crossbody wear.

 

How big is a Chanel vanity case? The Filigree Vanity Case comes in small at 17 x 13 x 7 cm, medium at 21 x 16 x 8 cm and large at 24 x 17 x 10 cm. The mini with chain is about 10 x 9 x 8 cm.

 

What fits in a Chanel vanity case bag? The small size just about fits a phone, lipstick, cardholder and keys. The medium sits shorter on the body and takes a larger wallet and a makeup bag, and it has card slots.

Buying a pre-owned Chanel vanity bag

Read the condition notes and check the corners, zip and hardware in the photos. A Chanel vanity bag in good shape keeps its box structure. The zip runs the full perimeter, so test that it runs smoothly all the way round. Match the listed size to the sizes in this guide before you commit. If you want a softer case for what goes inside, see the make-up bag edit.

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