The Chanel 25 is one of those bags that makes more sense once you see it away from a perfectly styled campaign image. Introduced in 2025, it takes some of Chanel’s most recognizable codes—diamond quilting, chain details and CC hardware—and places them on a much softer, hobo-inspired silhouette with two prominent exterior pockets. Chanel describes the design around practicality and effortless elegance, and the bag remains a major part of the house’s current handbag offering in 2026.
It also arrived with plenty of visibility. Dua Lipa fronted the original campaign, while Jennie later appeared alongside her in the Chanel 25 campaign. Vogue has also shown Jennie carrying a pale blue version off-duty, which suits the bag particularly well: the Chanel 25 feels more natural with relaxed clothes than with an overly polished head-to-toe look.
A Very Different Kind of Chanel
Whenever I look at Chanel bags in boutiques, I usually associate the brand with fairly controlled shapes—the Classic Flap, Boy Chanel and many of its top-handle bags all have a certain structure to them. The Chanel 25 immediately feels different.
The body is soft and slightly slouchy, while the drawstring-style opening and oversized pockets give it an almost utilitarian character. Yet the quilting and metal-chain details stop it from looking too casual.
I actually found the proportions more convincing in person than in photographs. The exterior pockets can look surprisingly large online, particularly on the Small and Medium, but once the bag is carried and the leather begins to fall naturally, they become part of the overall silhouette rather than looking like separate attachments.
That is probably the biggest appeal of the Chanel 25: it still looks unmistakably Chanel, but it does not behave like a traditional Chanel bag.
Those Pockets Are the Whole Point
The two exterior pockets are the detail that defines the Chanel 25. They add visual volume, but they also make the bag more practical for items you may want to reach quickly.
Instead of opening the main compartment every time you need something small, the design gives you additional storage on the outside. This is one reason the 25 feels much more like an everyday bag than many of Chanel’s smaller flap styles.
The grained calfskin versions are particularly convincing to me. When I saw the textured leather up close, it seemed to suit the relaxed construction better than an ultra-smooth finish would. Chanel has since pushed the design much further, offering versions in denim, lambskin, tweed, canvas and, in current 2026 collections, even felt and shearling.
Mini, Small, Medium or Large?
One thing that surprised me about the Chanel 25 is how much its personality changes depending on the size.
The current family ranges from Mini through Large. Official dimensions are approximately:
Mini: 20.1 × 22.1 × 12.4 cm / 7.9 × 8.7 × 4.9 in
Small: 30 × 25.9 × 14 cm / 11.8 × 10.2 × 5.5 in
Medium: 39.9 × 30 × 15 cm / 15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in
Large: 41.9 × 36.1 × 15 cm / 16.5 × 14.2 × 5.9 in
The Mini almost feels like a different concept—it is cute, compact and more accessory-like. The Small keeps enough volume to show off the slouchy design without becoming overwhelmingly large, so this would probably be my first choice for everyday use.
Medium and Large are much more fashion-forward. They fully embrace the oversized-bag mood and make the Chanel 25 feel closer to a luxury carryall.
How I Would Style the Chanel 25
Unlike a Classic Flap, I do not think the Chanel 25 needs much dressing up.
My favorite way to imagine it is with straight denim, a white shirt, loafers and an oversized blazer. It would also work beautifully with wide-leg trousers, knitwear or a long coat.
The bag already has quilting, chains, CC hardware and large pockets, so keeping the rest of the outfit relatively simple lets its shape stand out. The softer construction is also what makes it interesting with tailoring—it breaks up the formality instead of adding more structure.
Where It Works—and Where It May Not
The obvious strengths are capacity and accessibility. It can accommodate considerably more than many classic Chanel silhouettes, and the exterior storage gives it a genuine everyday advantage. Owners on PurseForum have specifically praised the Small for holding more than expected and working well as a daily bag.
But the Chanel 25 is not universally loved.
Some Chanel shoppers find the silhouette too complicated compared with the house’s simpler classics, while others love precisely that difference. Early owner discussions also show a clear preference among some shoppers for softer materials such as suede, where the relaxed shape becomes even more pronounced.
I can understand both sides. If I were choosing a first Chanel bag and wanted something that would still look almost unchanged stylistically years from now, I would probably lean toward one of the established classics. But if the wardrobe already includes traditional Chanel pieces, the 25 offers something genuinely different.
The Chanel 25 works best for someone who wants the visual language of Chanel without the formality usually associated with it. Its generous shape, prominent pockets and softer attitude make it one of the house’s more convincing everyday designs—and one that, to me, looks noticeably better in person than it does on a product page.
