What are the differences exactly? Which leather is best? This post addresses all those questions and more.
As one of Karl Lagerfeld’s last and awe-inspiring creations for 2019, the Chanel 19 bag has become an “It” bag staple in every ultra-luxury lover’s collection. If it had to be narrowed down (which isn’t easy), a few reasons to love this style are its size options and array of colors, the tri-toned hardware, and of course, its resale value. But that’s not all.
The Chanel 19 has tons of looks thanks to the range of luxurious materials it comes available in like metallic calfskin, tweed, sequin, denim fabric and more. But the most common are lambskin and goatskin. At first glance it can be tricky to distinguish the two. This is your comprehensive guide to the differences between Chanel 19’s lambskin and goatskin.
Side note: no one leather type is better or superior than the other. When it comes to deciding on which textile to go with, doing your research (which you are, since you’re here) and understanding what you prefer personally is the best way to get the most of your investment(s)!
A Guide: Lambskin vs. Goatskin
Before goatskin or shiny goatskin, lambskin was one of the first leathers that the Chanel 19 style came in. Like nearly all leathers that Chanel uses, lambskin comes available in both classic colorways and seasonal colors.
Goatskin is known for being a sturdier textile with a little more texture to it and can withstand everyday wear (still prone to scratches, but the natural creases conceal them better) compared to lambskin. In the world of goatskin, there is regular goatskin and there is shiny goatskin. These also come in both classic and seasonal colors.
What makes these two leather types different comes down to several things: softness, structure, appearance, and durability.
Softness
Lambskin → If you’re like most people, you take great enjoyment in feeling those buttery soft, puffy quilts. It’s so quintessentially Chanel. With lambskin, you will get that on the daily.
Goatskin → Both goatskin and shiny goatskin are soft to the touch thanks to an ingredient known as lanolin that is naturally present in the skin.
Structure
Lambskin → Gives the bag a more slouchier, relaxed appearance.
Goatskin → Stiffer construction that allows for the bag to hold its shape better than others.
Appearance
Lambskin → The Chanel 19 in lambskin has a subtle shine to it, so it’s not quite matte and not quite comparable to shiny goatskin.
Goatskin → On regular goatskin you’ll notice a sheen. On shiny goatskin, you’ll definitely spot the sheen. Due to the grains, goatskin can develop more visible creases throughout. This occurs naturally with this type of skin.
Durability
Lambskin → Overall, lambskin is the more delicate leather option, meaning it does scratch more than goatskin. Over time it’s more susceptible to marks, especially when there is a lot of hardware present – in the case of the Chanel 19, that couldn’t be more true.
Goatskin → Both goatskin and shiny goatskin are incredibly durable, without being terribly stiff. In fact, they’re super flexible and hard-wearing. Many will say goatskin gets better with age, making them ideal materials for bags.
Watch our YouTube Short on Chanel 19 lambskin & goatskin!
Chanel 19 FAQs
Which leather is better?
You can’t go wrong with either. Both are equally sought-after. And we find that shoppers at FASHIONPHILE seek both for different reasons. By referencing the information above, you can hopefully decide which is best for you.
Do leathers alternate seasonally?
If you are a devout follower of Chanel collections, you may have already noticed that Chanel at times alternates between lambskin and goatskin. Here is an example looking at the Chanel 19s throughout the 2020 collections.
Chanel 19 Leather Releases by Season
Translation? Textiles do seem to mix depending on the season. But getting the Chanel 19 you want in your preferred textile directly from the boutique can be tricky, even in classic colors like black! However, these, unlike seasonal colors, come back at some point. But if you’d rather not wait for your SA to give you a call when one becomes available, you can get ‘em at FASHIONPHILE, of course.
