If purchasing vintage Chanel is how you like to spend your Saturday afternoons, you may want to check out the Designer Vault in Carlsbad that opened this past spring. The upscale consignment shop boasts the largest collection of rare and vintage Chanel in the United States. Open Monday through Friday by appointment, the 300-square-foot store sells hard to find, like new and mint condition Chanel accessories, shoes, jewelry and bags.
More than 1,500 pieces are on hand from early-era jewelry to bags seen only on the runway, as well as exclusive offerings such as a $25,000 Pearl Shaped Plexiglass Minaudiere Bag. “I'm so excited to finally bring my vision of this showroom to fruition. To have customers tell me they feel like they are in an old Chanel store in Paris is absolutely mind blowing and that is what has made this labor of love worth every second,” said Christina Samoylov, founder of Designer Vault.
Before opening Designer Vault, Samoylov began pursuing a career in consigning after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Through the help of a Chanel collector, the new grad was able to secure a $2 million collection that became the store’s first pieces. Designer Vault updates its inventory weekly so regular shoppers can check back frequently for new items.
