I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that Chanel puts out more distinct collections of bags than any other premier designer on the planet. Not only are there the standard four that every brand gives us, but Chanel also has things like Chanel Pre-Collection Spring 2012, which is separate from the actual Spring 2012 collection. That’s just how much the folks at Chanel love us, you guys. They can’t stop giving us bags to ogle.

Not only that, but each Chanel collection is divided into two smaller groups – the regular stuff and the Outstanding Pieces, which are either exotics or some sort of incredibly special embellishment like hand embroidery or strassing. I’ve included both groups in the photos after the jump, mostly because I’m greedy and I like all of my Chanel goodness at once.

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No matter the season, you can always count on Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel show for at least one thing: a very strong theme. For Chanel Spring 2012, you had to look no further than Kaiser Karl’s seashell clutches to find the oceanic common thread that ran through the entire collection. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that Lagerfeld was inspired by the shore; after all, the runway was lined with sand.

I’m not sure how many times a woman will have an opportunity to wear a conch shell-shaped clutch in her sartorial life, but if you’ve got a beach wedding on the horizon any time in, oh, the next ten years, I’d hazard a guess that these are the best bags you’ll find to carry to such an event. As always, Chanel will do lots of non-runway bags if you’re looking for something a little less literal, but a few of these bags make me long for a beach vacation something fierce.

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With the online launch of Chanel Spring 2011 comes the advent of Chanel Outstanding Pieces Spring 2011, which is the special moniker that the French brand uses for the most intricate, luxurious and expensive designs from each of its product categories. Encompassing everything from rare exotic leathers to hand embroidery, these bags are the creme de la creme from one of the finest leather goods companies in the world.

Would you like a Chanel Classic Flap completely covered in glittering crystals? It can be yours. What about a baby pink crocodile Mademoiselle bag? That too. Chanel doesn’t publicly release prices for thes pieces, but the old trope probably applies: If you have to ask, you can’t afford it. I know I can’t, but looking? Looking is free.

Photos via Chanel. For prices and availability, please contact Chanel at (800)550-0005.

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Since Chanel showed its diverse, covetable selection of Spring 2011 handbags in Paris back in October, I’ve been waiting patiently (ok, not-so-patiently) for detailed shots of the designs to hit the web. Now that they have, I feel confident saying that along with Pre-Spring 2011, Chanel Spring 2011 is some of the strongest work from the brand’s accessories team in recent memory. There’s a little something for everyone here, from the staunch Chanel traditionalist to the young woman who wants to mix neon and tweed.

I’m particularly excited to see that the fantastic leather-bound book clutch has made its way to retail, as well as some of the utterly feminine scarf-woven bags. What I loved but didn’t expect to see was a slim black and white clutch detailing the ceiling of Paris’ Grand Palais, where Chanel presents its collections every season. Not only is it beautiful and neutral enough to actually be used, but I could see it quickly becoming a collector’s item among Chanel devotees.

Photos courtesy of Chanel. Pricing and availability information available at (800)550-0005.

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Any post about Chanel handbags always elicits a fair amount of grumbling from longtime fans of the French brand who feel that its handbags have grown too faddish or lost their traditional Chanel feel, and when you look at the last few collections, perhaps those folks do have a point. If you’re among them, though, I’d heartily advise you to take a look through Chanel Spring 2011 Pre-Collection Handbags, which contains less handbag gimmickry than most of us have grown accustomed to from Lagerfeld & Co. If these bags are an indication of what’s to come for spring, I bet I’ll know a lot of happy Chanel fans.

Images via Chanel.com.

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