Chanel Lover
Who else here loves Chanel bags? I definitely do, and have reviewed several Chanel bags on this blogspace itself, including the:
- Chanel Classic Flap (Medium)
- Chanel Coco Handle (Mini)
- Chanel Coco Handle (Medium)
- Chanel Deauville Tote (small)
- Chanel Deauville Tote (large)
- Chanel Large Quilted Chevron Single Flap
The current item, the Chanel Business Affinity, is from Chanel’s 22p collection.
Chanel Business Affinity review
Who else understands the excitement of bringing home a new black-and-white box from Chanel?
I actually didn’t intend to to get this bag. However, around May last year (2022), after walking into my local boutique with the husband one day, my SA showed us the beautiful Baby Blue shade of Chanel’s 22p in the Business Affinity and OMG it looked so very cute. Surprisingly, it was the husband who encouraged me to get it simply because… “mother’s day is coming.”
Awww.
Let the unboxing begin
On first glance, the baby blue from Chanel’s 22p collection resembles a really soft and light blue under normal daylight.
Out with a friend. Behold her Mini Pearl Crush (left) and the Business Affinity (right)
But it has gray undertones and appears as a light grayish-blue when under flourescent light.
Chanel Business Affinity in Baby Blue and Caviar leather
Back view
Side view
Snap buttons on the side
allows for some minor flexibility in sizing
A question I get asked quite frequently: is the Business Affinity able to stand by itself?
The answer is, SOMETIMES. Honestly, it depends on whether the items inside the bag are distributed VS leaning towards one side, and the added weight from the placement of the straps…
Strangely, one can user the zipper to ‘balance out’ the bag a little.
Notice the zipper’s position on the bottom right? It’s actually helping to hold up the bag!
What fits in the Chanel Business Affinity
x1 long wallet (the Hermes long Bearn wallet), x1 eyeshadow compact, x1 key holder, x1 lipstick, x3 (or even x4) card holders, and x1 hand sanitizer,
What fits in the Chanel Business Affinity
The pocket behind can take loose bills, or receipts, or… a card holder.
Back pocket
I usually put my bus and train card in here – the cardholder is just for show.
Fits right in
Cardholder #2 goes inside the bag, where there is a pocket in the front.
Pocket for a card holder
The size is perfect – like it was made for a cardholder.
A perfect slot
Next is the Hermes long Bearn wallet. This is a bit of a tight squeeze – see how the wallet literally takes up the space from one end to another?
As such, the Business Affinity cannot technically be considered to hold long wallets. As far as long wallets go, the Hermes long Bearn is on the shorter side, and it is already super fitting in there.
Adding in the Hermes long Bearn wallet
Then we throw in Cardholders #3 and $4.
And there’s still room for more
Finally, adding in the hand sanitizer, lipstick, and eyeshadow compact.
Added in: hand sanitizer, lipstick, eyeshadow compact
But wait – there is still a front zipped compartment. Just the perfect size for an LV keyholder.
Key holder in the front zipped compartment
That’s everything
There. Now to close up the bag.
Ta Dah. Zips / Closes easily
Mod Shots
For reference, I am short. I am 154cm tall, or a little over 5 feet.
My preferred way of carrying the Business Affinity is as a shoulder bag.
Shoulder Bag
The strap is generally comfortable; the bag has a good weight to it without being too heavy, and the strap does not easily slide off the shoulders.
Side view
It can also be used comfortably as a crossbody. In my case, it sits nicely at the waist.
Crossbody
The handle is a small one; this renders it possible as a handheld bag but its way too narrow to hang on the crook of the arm.
Handheld
Overall Pros and Cons
Pros of the Chanel Business Affinity
- It is insanely cute and unique, while still maintaining some of Chanel’s trademarks – e.g. CC turnlock, chain strap woven with leather, traditional Chanel caviar leather.
- If you love Chanel and want some bag variety that’s not overly trendy, the Business Affinity is a good addition.
- Lower price point than many other mainstream Chanel bags. At the time of writing, Classic Flaps are over (in Singapore dollars) 5 figures (over 12k for small and over 13k for medium!), the Chanel19 and Coco Handles in the 8k range, and the Business Affinity in the 6k range. It is no means cheap, but it is more ‘entry level’ compared to the others.
- Compartments: outside the bag there’s a large back pocket and front zipped compartment, and in the interior there’s another zipped back compartment and a front pocket. Great for organizing and holding lots of cards / small items.
So cute and yet so understated
Cons of the Chanel Business Affinity
- Poorer resale value compared to other Chanel bags (not surprising, since price point is also lower).
- This can be downright irritating: the bag sometimes FALLS OVER. To balance it so it stands by itself, one has to literally arrange the contents of the bag so that the weight is well distributed, and sometimes that can be tricky – shift the straps a little or add an extra item and the bag will fall over. It can be hard to gauge the center of gravity… the saving grace is the ZIPPER which can hold up the bag, but ideally, this really shouldn’t be the way to hold it up. I imagine that this may be a real deal breaker for some.
Hope this helps anyone who’s thinking of getting the bag.
Literally held up with the ZIPPER
Note: If you love bags, feel free to follow me on Social Media. Especially on instagram; i post lots of bag pictures there and would love for you to join me on my bag journeys.
Only bag lovers will understand that we all need that one crazy bag friend in life
Want more of HappyHighLife? Follow me on Social Media!
Love Luxury Bags? Check out the list of all bags reviewed on this blog!
Love this post? Share it with others on Social Media!
