“I saw it on her shoulder and just had to have it…”
Rex has never been one to shy away from walking up to a woman who is wearing or carrying something he loved and complimenting her on it. He has even been known in special circumstances to ask a woman where she got the coveted item. But offering to BUY it off the woman’s arm? Why not? Rex had no problem walking over to the woman to see if she would entertain the idea of doing without it.
The Brunt family was on vacation and while checking in at their hotel something caught Rex’s eye - the biggest and most beautiful Chanel Classic Flap bag he had ever seen!
At this point, Charlotte’s collection already boasted two small Classic Flaps and several Mini Flaps so he was no stranger to that gorgeous quilted lambskin with gold toned interlocking CC closure, but the sheer size of this bag took Rex’s breath away and he couldn’t help but think how much she’d love to have this one in her collection.
Being the ever dutiful son and knowing that Christmas was just around the corner, unbeknownst to his mother Rex slipped away and approached the woman carrying the bag. He shared his mother’s compliments and asked if the woman could advise him as to where he might purchase one. Had she found it at her local Chanel boutique? Perhaps at Neiman’s or Saks? No.
The woman took a deep breath and smiled as if to let Rex down gently before saying, “I’m so sorry, but it’s a vintage piece and I’m not even sure it’s made anymore”.
That’s all Rex needed to hear. Not one to miss an opportunity or risk letting the perfect Christmas present for his mother slip through his fingers, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his card.
“Would you ever consider selling it?”, he asked.
The look on her face was a mixture of shock and respect. This was bold, but she had to respect a son caring about his mother enough to make such a request. She politely declined, but didn’t refuse when Rex told her to think about it and handed her his card just in case.
Rex rejoined his family at the elevators and returned to their vacation, not expecting to hear from the woman with the vintage Chanel bag ever again. But sure enough, the next day he received a call from the woman asking to meet in the lobby.
She said she had considered and would sell for a price, but luckily it was one that was within Rex’s budget. Rex’s father always trusted Rex with shopping for his mother on special occasions, so Rex knew that having found the perfect gift money would be no option.
Months passed and Charlotte had long forgotten about the woman, the hotel lobby, and the Chanel bag. Her only memories from that trip were the ones she made with her family. But this only made the surprise all the sweeter when Christmas rolled around, and she opened the large, beautifully wrapped package with her name on it only to find the Chanel bag. THE bag. She was pleased, and while perhaps the least used bag in her Chanel collection, it is certainly the most treasured piece because of its rarity and the wonderful story behind it.
Shop the bag here: Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap
Shop more Chanel here: Chanel