Coco Chanel's inaugural venture into bag design occurred in 1929. However, resembling the prevailing norms, her creation, along with other bags accessible to upper-class women, necessitated manual carrying and proved unwieldy. A transformative moment materialized in 1955 when she unveiled the shoulder-carried variation, reshaping the history of handbags.
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This innovation marked the first time women of significant social standing could confidently sling a bag across their shoulders. The Classic Flap Bag iteration, under Karl Lagerfeld's creative helm, surged in popularity during the 1980s. The brand aptly describes it as "eternally elegant," echoing the iconic 2.55 bag's allure while encapsulating the enduring timelessness that defines Chanel's essence. Delve into captivating insights about this iconic bag.
1. The Origin of the 2.55 Name
The iconic bag's nomenclature is strikingly straightforward. The original 2.55 flap made its debut in February 1955, leading to its appellation "2/55." Surprising, right?
2. Chanel Flap Bags are an Investment
Renowned as a prime designer brand for investments, Chanel, particularly the classic flap bag, garners attention. With regular price increments, it offers a compelling prospect for those seeking to invest and enhance their collection.
Since 2008, the cost of Chanel's luxury bags has exhibited a consistent upward trend, with an acceleration in the past five years. Factors include rising production costs and supply disruptions due to Covid-related lockdowns. Nonetheless, robust global demand for Chanel bags remains a pivotal driving force, demonstrating resilience in the face of continuous price hikes.
3. The First Price Tag
Nowadays 2.55 and Flap Bags are getting more expensive everyday but in 1955, when the first iconic bag was sold, the price was $220.
4. The Origins of the Hidden Pocket
A distinctive feature of Chanel bags is the concealed zipper compartment beneath the top flap, absent in counterparts from other brands. It is reportedly designed for the discreet storage of love letters. Chanel was never short of lovers (and love letters in consequence), and is reported to have enjoyed romances with the composer Igor Stravinsky, Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia (with whom she created Chanel No. 5), artist Salvador Dalí, and Arthur "Boy" Capel (who inspired the "Boy" bag some years after).
5. The Orphans color inside
The choice of burgundy leather lining for the original Flap Bags was influenced by the uniforms Coco wore during her upbringing in a convent orphanage.
6. Double CC Signature in the 1980
While many associate any Chanel handbag with the interlocking CC emblem on the purse's facade, this feature wasn't part of the initial design. It wasn't until the 1980s, under Karl Lagerfeld's visionary guidance, that the interlocking CC became an integral component of the bags, a feature that has since become a permanent hallmark.
In the vintage flap bags you can find a square in the left top of the CC closure, that means that the clousure and chain are 24K gold-plated.
7. The Leather-woven Strap
Lagerfeld's ingenious addition of leather woven through the gold chain strap, coupled with the replacement of the elegant rectangular clasp with the double Cs, introduced a new dimension to the bag's identity. Presently, the bag offers a variety of finishes including finished leather, calf leather, pebbled calf leather (dubbed "caviar"), square or chevron quilting, tweed, among others. The unmistakable Chanel essence pervades this bag, a legacy maintained under the current stewardship of Creative Director Virginie Viard.
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8. Adapting to Contemporary Preferences
Contemporary production reflects longer chain lengths, accommodating the preference of modern women to wear bags crossbody, rather than slung over the shoulder. A noticeable contrast can be observed in vintage Classic Flap Bags, characterised by shorter chains, we love both!
9. Able In 6 sizes
The Chanel Flap Bag offers a range of sizes, catering to diverse preferences:
Mini Square: 6.5" x 5" x 2.5"
Mini Rectangular: 8" x 5" x 2"
Small: 9" x 5.5" x 2.5"
Medium (M/L): 10" x 6" x 2.5"
Jumbo: 12" x 8" x 3.5"
Maxi: 13" x 9" x 4"
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10. What a Chanel Bag Should Come With
In the world of luxury handbags, the accompanying components hold significant weight. When you invest in a Chanel flap bag, it's imperative to ensure that it comes complete with its essential accoutrements. These include an authenticity card, a dust bag, and a Chanel box. The presence of these elements takes on a crucial role, not only in asserting the bag's genuineness but also in upholding its packaging integrity, a factor that could prove pivotal when considering potential resale opportunities.
Regrettably, as the years go by, some vintage bags might have parted ways with these components. This absence, in turn, prompts specialists to exercise their discerning expertise to authenticate the bag in question. Therefore, the inclusion of these elements isn't just about convenience; it's about ensuring that your Chanel Flap Bag retains its value and authenticity over time.
11. Meticulous Craftmanship
The allure of the The Classic Flap Bag bag is well-established, but not everyone recognizes the exceptional artistry it embodies. These bags are renowned for their premium pricing, a trajectory aligned with their intrinsic value. The Ateliers de Verneuil-en-Halatte, a cherished Metiers d’art of Chanel, represents the sanctum where each The Classic Flap Bag bag is meticulously shaped.
Chanel's stringent criteria dictate that only artisans who have undergone four to five years of rigorous training and mastered every gesture and technique involved in production are entrusted with the monumental responsibility of crafting an The Classic Flap Bag bag. This intricate process demands 15 hours of labor and up to 180 meticulously executed operations.
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