Oh, how I love Chanel…

If you were to ask me, “What is your favorite designer label?” I would proclaim, in a sing-songy voice, “Chanel!”

In a previous post, I mentioned that I owned a couple of Chanel bags and a wallet. I rarely use them simply because I wouldn’t be able to stand myself if I brought on early “wear and tear” to them. So they sit bagged and boxed up in my closet.

I have a couple of vintage Chanel hair accessories, a.k.a. ponytail holders, which I purchased at antique stores. But my most recent Chanel acquisition sent my heart racing.

On January 14th, while wearing Dress Form Outfit #3, I had to run some errands. I dropped my baby, Daisy, off at the groomers. Daisy is a nearly 2-year-old beagle/poodle mix who weighs almost 35 lbs. I knew it would take about four hours so I decided to hit up some area thrift and consignment stores.

After perusing through a couple of consignment stores, I headed for the local Goodwill. My main objective was to look at belts and scarves. After looking through the overly packed rack of belts, I found two plastic bins overflowing with scarves. There were two other ladies looking through them, but I knelt down next to one of the bins and proceeded to pull out scarf after scarf.

Then one particular scarf caught my eye. It was navy blue and had a gold chain design. After I pulled it out, I saw the word “Chanel” imprinted on the silk material. SCORE!!!! I felt like I hit the lottery! Although if I had hit the actually $40 million lottery, my husband probably would have been happier.

As I clutched the scarf tightly in my now sweating palm, one of the ladies must have realized what she had either passed up or missed completely! She kept pulling out scarf after scarf, commenting to me, “Oooh… look at this pretty scarf. It’s so soft and silky.”

“Yeah, but this scarf in my hand is even softer and silkier,” I wanted to say back to her. Nothing – and I mean NOTHING – or nobody could have pried that Chanel scarf out of my hands.

I walked away from the scarf bins and around the store to the far corner of the building. I had to take a closer look at this scarf. I unclenched my hand and held it up. The only imperfection I could find was where the tag must have been.  About 1/2-an-inch of stitching was missing from one corner of the scarf. I quickly folded it up and casually walked to the register to pay for it. I was prepared to pay whatever it cost because it was “Chanel.”

“$1.08,” said that elderly woman behind the register.

I nearly passed out! One dollor and eight cents. Four quarters, a nickle and three pennies. Ten dimes and eight pennies. Twenty-one nickles and six pennies. Or 108 pennies. Whatever the monetary denominations – I freaking paid $1.08 for this Chanel scarf!!!

After I left the Goodwill and got into my car, the first person I called was my husband.

“I think I just scored at the local Goodwill. It may not be the real deal, but to me, it feels real,” I told him after he answered his phone.

“What did you find?”

“I just purchased a large navy and gold Chanel scarf!”

“Wow – that’s awesome! What’d it cost you?”

“$1.08! Can you believe that?”

“Nice score, honey!”

Oh, to find such classic (and to me, priceless) pieces like that every time I go thrifting! Too bad I can’t get to places that have huge thrift stores New York, Chicago, Dallas, Miami. I can only imagine what I could walk away with if I had just a few hundred bucks in my pocket! A couple of years ago, I hit up a thrift store in Chicago and walked out with a navy James Perse jersey dress.

Yours Truly,
Vanessa