If you’re a Chanel collector – or even just an online window shopper – chances are you’ve heard of Designer Vault. Carefully curated with the best of the best, this Chanel-exclusive consignment shop has the classics as well as rare and hard-to-find pieces from way back. We caught up with founder Christina Samoylov to learn more.
Rue La La: What’s the origin story of Designer Vault?
Christina Samoylov: Designer Vault came about when I was finishing up college. I came home from work and noticed my husband threw his Prada boots in the trash. It was clear they were worn out, but, in my eyes, they still had plenty of life left in them. I immediately took them from the trash and listed them on eBay. Seven days later the boots sold for $80-plus and I realized I had a brilliant business idea based on the premise that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
RLL: This may seem like a silly question, but why Chanel only?
CS: Designer Vault has quickly evolved over the last five years just as the resale industry itself has. When Designer Vault first came to fruition, a plethora of other consignment and resale companies did as well. I knew I had to differentiate if I wanted to stand out in a crowded marketplace and thus decided to focus on a niche, and that niche was and is pre-loved Chanel.
RLL: You have bags, jewelry, shoes, and accessories. What’s the most coveted?
CS: Without a doubt, handbags are by far the most coveted items that can be found on our site. They go with nearly every outfit and make a statement whether you’re leaving the gym or headed out on the town with your girlfriends.
Credit: Designer Vault
RLL: What should a Chanel beginner start with?
CS: That depends on your personal style. Are you the type of girl who loves to carry gobs of things around in your bag? Then absolutely a black caviar leather jumbo flap with gold hardware! If you’re the type of gal who just sticks to the basics, I’d recommend a Chanel black caviar leather wallet on a chain with gold hardware. Two classics you simply can’t go wrong with!
RLL: Have any celebs caught on to your treasure trove?
CS: Of course! Let’s just say Miley Cyrus is one of our favorites in Tinseltown.
RLL: What’s the authentication process like?
CS: Detailed – once the product arrives, it is inspected for authenticity. We check for craftsmanship, stitching, hardware, logos, hologram markings, and more. Each member of our team is trained in authenticating Chanel, and it passes through several hands before it ever lands on our website, ensuring we never sell a fake item – ever.
RLL: I know you started the business out of your garage. Do you still work out of it?
CS: We don’t, although it feels like just yesterday we were working there. I waited quite awhile before landing an office. Not because we couldn’t but because I wanted to make sure my company was extremely stable before extending ourselves with the overhead of a physical office. I think we may have waited a bit too long, as my entire house and garage were being consumed by Chanel. We now reside comfortably in a 3,000-square-foot office in San Diego.
RLL: Tell us what your day-to-day is like.
CS: Each day is entirely different. I start my day with meditation and journaling just to keep me centered. I spend half of the day working from home taking care of my newborn and the second half at the office. I answer emails, authenticate items for individuals, and provide quotes for those who want to consign or sell items with us. On any given day you can throw a meeting in there and a Skinny Vanilla Latte from Starbucks and that pretty much sums up my day-to-day life.
RLL: What do you love most about what you do?
CS: That I’m able to come to work and absolutely love what I do. I’ve never had a bad day at work because it simply doesn’t feel like work. It can be challenging at times as a business owner, but it makes the journey worth the ride.
Credit: Designer Vault
RLL: Confess – what have you been unable to resist collecting for yourself?
CS: Small bags and ballerina flats. I’m not sure how it happened. I was traveling in Europe and ended up with a pair, and then another one when I came home a few months later, and before I knew it I had four or five pairs of ballerina flats. The same thing happened with Chanel items. First, I needed a wallet. Then a clutch. Then a wallet on a chain. Well, you get the idea…
RLL: And now, to really put you on the spot: Coco Chanel or Karl Lagerfeld?
CS: Of course, I’m going to have to say Coco Chanel. She is the original, and had it not been for her we wouldn’t have Chanel in the first place.
By Chrissy Waters, Associate Content Editor
