Monday, September 22, 2008

Chanel 2.55



There are two bags you need to know about, the Birkin is one and the other, the Chanel 2.55.
A typical Chanel handbag you say?

Well, helllooooo, it’s called an icon! Mention the label Chanel and the first thing that comes to mind is the word “classic“. History was made when Coco Chanel introduced this bag in February 1955 (as in, 2.55). Coco wanted a shoulder bag to free up her hands. Hey, she had other things to carry. The quilts were inspired by jackets worn by jockeys (yes, jockeys).

Here's a brief history of the icon that is the 2.55.


The 2.55 handbag bears that particular name simply because it was originally issued in February 1955. Her features have all a piece of tale to tell. From the inside out:


• The lining - The lining’s brown color represents the color of the uniforms from the convent where she grew up.


• The inside compartment - there’s a zippered compartment at the inside of the front flap. That’s where Coco Chanel hid her love letters (from her lover at the time).


• The backside - there’s a back outside flap on the handbag – that’s where Ms Chanel stashed extra money.


• The shoulder strap
– as I said before, Coco Chanel grew up in an convent, at the orphanage. The caretakers hold the keys at their waist dangling from the same type of chains as the 2.55 shoulder strap chains.


• The front lock – the 2.55 front lock is different from the classic double CC logo. It’s logo is called “the Mademoiselle Lock” (because Ms Chanel was never married).

The ad campaign of the 2005 re-release featuring Daria Werbowy

Karl Lagerfeld who took over Chanel in 1983 reissued the 2.55 in February 2005. His version is the exactly the one designed by Coco Chanel back in 1955.

The Reissue was made in commemoration to the 50th anniversary of the original 2.55 and the name Reissue 2.55 should apply only to those commemorative handbags.
Instead, it’s commonly used now as a name for all the handbags resembling the original 2.55. As for those with CC interlocking, they’re called Classic Flaps.

The new version in croc skin - with the shoe to match too!

This one is definitely my favorite out of the entire newly released Chanel 2.55 range. It's gorgeous!It has tiny little Chanel badges scattering all over the bag . The price is approx. US$5,000-$5,500. *faints*

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