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a worthwhile investment: chanel ballet flats

11.07

[halves]Velvet Chanel Flats | Neutral Striped Sweater

Velvet Chanel Flats | Neutral Striped Sweater[/halves]

Velvet Chanel Flats | Neutral Striped Sweater

[halves]Velvet Chanel Flats | Neutral Striped Sweater

Velvet Chanel Flats | Neutral Striped Sweater[/halves]

In addition to receiving a lot of requests to share good basics for less, I’ve also received a number of requests to highlight investment pieces I’ve cherished and feel are worthy of the splurge. Today I’m going to do a little bit of both! First, my cute nude + black striped sweater is only $60… definitely a great buy due to it’s versatility color wise, plus it’s super cozy and warm for winter! It’s got an oversized fit, so definitely size down. I’m wearing an XS here! More sizes are available here. Now onto the investment piece…

One of my favorite items to splurge on is a pair of Chanel flats. Why? I have a few reasons. First, they are timeless. They were just as chic when they were created in the 1950’s as they are today in 2018, and will be just as classic and gorgeous decades from now. Second, you can wear them for nearly any occasion. I’ve worn them to work, church, date night dinners, traveling, and even to a few nicer parties and out at night when I didn’t want to wear heels. Third? They are SO COMFORTABLE. They get better with each and every wear.

My all-time favorite pair of Chanel flats is actually this gold pair I bought in London back in 2014. I had them resoled last year because I literally wore holes into the soles of the shoes from wearing them so often! Now that they’ve been resoled, they’re just like new and I’ve continued to wear them on the reg. The most recent pair I picked up is this nude velvet cap toe pair I found on my brief stopover in New York in August. I wear so many soft neutrals like this, so the color choice was a no-brainer. When I brought them home, I also realized they matched the nude Chanel bag I got for my birthday! Win win.

The price tag on Chanel ballet flats is definitely steep, but if there’s one multi-purpose shoe in my closet that I’ve absolutely gotten my money’s worth out of, it’s my Chanel flats. If you’re saving up to buy a pair (or have some on your list for Santa!), my recommendation would be to choose a color and fabric you’ll wear with everything. If you work at a more corporate office, black or navy might be the best bet so you can wear them day and night! For me, gold has been the ultimate neutral. I would also avoid buying them in suede – I have one pair and I’ve been so scared to wear them for fear of ruining them!! Chanel debuts new colors and fabrics each and every season, so be sure to stop in a Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom or Chanel boutique to see what they have available. A few current favorites from the website are this, this and this.

PS: I would actually not recommend trying to buy them second hand online unless you know you can return them… and the only reason I say that is because sizing varies WIDELY. Each Chanel ballet flat is made by hand, so the fit varies with each and every pair. I have a pair of Chanel flats in a 39, 39 1/2 and a 40… it’s a little all over the place! If you do want to buy a used pair for less, definitely check out The Real Real! They have a great return policy.

{ photos by Carter Fish }

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