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Of course Rihanna owns Chanel handbags, but they have never been an obsession for her. Rare Louis Vuitton artistic collabs; absolutely.

Bottega Pouches; Rih went there first. But Chanel’s quilted investment pieces have become a recent flirtation.

After dabbling in the brand’s fun objet-cum-handbags over the years – including Karl Lagerfeld’s playful Lego bag, his perfume minaudière and youth-centric bouclé bum bags – Rihanna has fallen hard for the classic Chanel flap bag.

It all started with an internet-breaking bikini photo, in which the self-professed bad gal draped two exquisite petit red Chanel cross-bodies over her cheeky, cherry-printed swimwear. The teeny-tiny handbags – just big enough to encase a credit card and a lipstick – symbolised luxury. Remarkably hard to get hold of, the picture-perfect plush duo is the work of the vintage sleuths trawling the market to bag rare finds for the businesswoman.

Chanel Pre-Owned 1995 classic flap bag

Other recent retro Chanel acquisitions include an autumn/winter 1996 baby blue and pink bouclé coat, a pair of striking shield sunglasses and, most recently, a textured orange jacket printed with double C logos and a matching tangerine flap bag. The “Umbrella” singer showed off her spoils in a fruity Instagram post celebrating the success of her wildly popular Fenty lip glosses. Teamed with a denim skirt and heeled turquoise sandals, the vibe, as ever with Rihanna’s style, was a high-low mix of classics and streetwear.

Chanel Pre-Owned textured logo pattern zipped jacket

Invest in timeless pieces (see also Rih’s current beloved Fendi Baguette bag), and they will be an instant outfit elevator for years to come. For now, watching the world’s ultimate fashion influencer enjoy a new handbag romance is our equivalent of summer love. Sigh.