The Politics of Fashion: Chanel at 21?

At 21-years-old, I am the proud owner of a Chanel bag. What is even more special is that I bought in Paris: the city of lights, the city of fashion, the city of love. If you don’t understand the significance of that, then we may just have a problem. There is something special about buying a Chanel in Paris. Maybe its because Coco Chanel once called Paris home or maybe it is just the city itself. Whatever it is, buying a Chanel in Paris is considered one of the ultimate fashion experiences that one can have, and at 21, I was able to live out my wildest dreams.

Nervous couldn’t even begin describe how I felt as I stood outside of the Chanel on 25 Rue Royale. Sweaty palms. Heart palpitating. This was it. I was about to make the purchase of a lifetime. As the well-dressed greeter opened the door, I was whisked into a three-story fashion wonderland and little did I know that I would soon become Alice. As I timidly browsed the store, almost afraid to touch anything, a beautiful salesperson asked if she could help. I immediately forgot the six years of French that I had learned and resorted to English. I told her what I was looking for, a black wallet on the chain, and she immediately led me downstairs to a place where dreams are made of. She showed me what they had, but that “ah-ah moment” just wasn’t there. She then brought it out. It was a black wallet on a chain that strongly resembled the classic Chanel bag, just a smaller size. When she brought it, it was almost in slow motion, as if angels were flying down and delivering me this masterpiece. After glancing at the price, I knew that this was the one. As I continued to look around, Lucinda offered me something to drink. I chose sparkling water over champagne just in case my body decided to shut down due to excitement. Don’t judge me. After deciding to purchase only the bag, Lucinda brought it out beautifully wrapped in a black box with the classic Chanel flower and white ribbons. At that moment, my life was complete.

I still remember beaming as I walked the streets of Paris with my Chanel bag. As a matter of fact, I am still beaming now. Some people may not agree with a 21-year-old college student’s decision to spend her money on a Chanel bag, but there was so much more to this purchase than what meets the eye. This purchase was a part of me letting my hair down for once and living in the moment. Here I was – a 21-year-old in Paris. Who knows when I will return? Who knows when I will have such an opportunity again? So, why not live it up? And that is exactly what I did.

C’est la vie!