Chanel Westminster II Pearl Flap Bag
View Similar Items
Chanel Westminster II Pearl Flap Bag
About the Item
Chanel
In the years following the opening of her modest millinery shop, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel became a pivotal designer of both fashionable casual wear and Paris haute couture as well as an icon and arbiter of 20th-century style with her bob haircut and pearls. Today vintage Chanel handbags, jackets and evening dresses are among the most sought-after clothing and accessories for fashion lovers all over the world.
The first Chanel shop was established in 1910 in Paris on rue Cambon by the young milliner Gabrielle Chanel (1883–1971), who had picked up the nickname “Coco” while working as a club singer. The boutique drew the attention of the Parisian fashion elite who popularized her wide-brimmed Chanel Modes hats. Soon she added a sportswear store in the Normandy resort town of Deauville, where Coco set the tone for her defining sense of style — traditionally masculine garments reimagined for feminine shapes, made from simple jersey fabric.
Effortless and elegant, Chanel's designs promoted comfort and grace in women’s wear that had been dominated in the previous century by complicated layers of fabric and cumbersome corsets. She followed this success with a couture house, opened in 1915 in Biarritz.
But Chanel was not born into a life of glamour. Following the death of her mother, her father left her in an orphanage where she lived until the age of 18. It was there that she learned to sew as well as appreciate the classic pairing of black and white as worn by the nuns.
In 1926, Chanel introduced her first little black dress, reclaiming a color that had once been reserved for mourning and working-class women. That same decade, she debuted her perfume, Chanel No. 5, as well as the Chanel suit with a fitted skirt, inspired by the boxy lines of men’s clothing and employing a sporty tweed.
Chanel closed her fashion operations during World War II, then returned to the industry in 1954 to design for the functional needs of modern women.
Structure and wearability endured in all of Chanel’s clothing and accessories, like the quilted leather 2.55 handbag — a 1955 update of a 1920s-era design — with its gold-chain shoulder strap that freed up a woman’s hands. Her collarless jacket reacted against the constricting styles of Christian Dior's New Look, replacing them with a design that was timeless, an instant classic. The 1957 two-tone slingback pumps had a practical heel height while offering a bold statement in the black tip of the shoes.
After Coco Chanel died in 1971, the brand underwent several changes in leadership, including fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who took over as artistic director in 1983. Over the years, the company has continued to innovate, such as expanding into ready-to-wear fashion in 1978 and, in 2002, establishing a subsidiary company — Paraffection — dedicated to preserving the heritage skills of fashion artisan workshops. The House of Chanel still operates its flagship on rue Cambon in Paris, where it all began.
Browse vintage Chanel bags, evening dresses, shoes, jewelry and other clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- Tom Ford Black Quilted Nylon Puffy Alix BagBy Tom FordLocated in Geneva, CHThis pre-owned new quilted puffy bag is part of the Alix collection. It is crafted in black nylon with a quilted padded finish. The triming is made of black...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoulder Bags
$1,978 Sale Price20% Off - Chanel 2.55 Double Flap Grey Aged Calfskin Maxi BagBy ChanelLocated in Geneva, CHThis gorgeous pre-owned Chanel 2.55 Classic Doubleflap Maxi Bag - 5 pockets is the most iconic handbag in the fashion world is crafted in a gorgeous dark grey aged quilted calfskin l...Category
2010s French Shoulder Bags
- Loro Piana Geranium Leather Bellevue BagBy Loro PianaLocated in Geneva, CHCrafted in a beautiful orange/pink leather this pre-owned Bellevue Bag from the house of Loro Piana is in very good condition. It features two pockets on the outside and a strap tha...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoulder Bags
- Chanel Camel Quilted Shinny Calfskin Large Chanel 22 BagBy ChanelLocated in Geneva, CHNew pre-owned Chanel 22 bag crafted in a light and supple shinny quilted calfskin leather. It features a metal chain interlaced with leather and a “CHANE...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoulder Bags
$6,332 Sale Price20% Off - Hermès Limited Edition Veau Doblis Swift Anate Trim II BagBy HermèsLocated in Geneva, CHThis pre-owned but new Veau Doblis Swift Anate Trim II 31 in Marron Glace and Sesame is a Limited Edition from the house of Hermès. It is crafted of suede in a delicate marron glacé ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Shoulder Bags
- Gucci Large Aphrodite Canvas and Leather Shoulder BagBy GucciLocated in Geneva, CHMade from canvas and trimmed with smooth calf leather, this large iteration of the Aphrodite bag is part of Gucci's Cosmogonie collection. It features a signature Double G plaque in ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoulder Bags
- Chanel Long Rare Vintage Patent Leather Classic Flap Bag Bijoux Chain BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLSmall Chanel patent leather quilted flap 2005 {VINTAGE 19 Years} Gold hardware Bijoux chain Two small interior pockets Strap Drop: Single 14.5” Double 8” 4.5” H x 9” W x 2.5” D Mad...Category
Early 2000s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel 2.55 Reissue Limited Edition Airplanes Flap Blue Denim Shoulder BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Rare Limited Edition Denim Airplanes Flap CHANEL Denim Airplane Embroidered is a stylish shoulder flap bag is made of fine denim with an airplane patch, a rainbow and a blue ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel 1980's Black Classic Crocodile Envelope CC Flap Bag Convertible ClutchBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel 1980's Black Classic Crocodile Envelope CC Flap Bag Convertible Clutch Circa 1986-1988 Gold hardware Multi-chain gold straps Crocodile leather Envelope style V-shaped flap...Category
1980s French Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Judith Leiber Swarovski Crystal Flower Motif Evening BagBy Judith LeiberLocated in Scottsdale, AZElegance and glamor right this way! This is a highly designed handbag by none other than Judith Leiber that will be sure to catch people's attention from across the room. This is a BEAUTIFUL Judith Leiber flower...Category
Early 2000s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Chanel Black Beaded Evening BagBy ChanelLocated in Scottsdale, AZComplete your evening look with this stunning Chanel bag! Circa 1997-1999, this boxy evening bag is crafted from black satin and features a black beaded motif on both sides, a black ...Category
1990s Italian Shoulder Bags
- 2018 Gucci Black Vinyl, Lambskin & Rust Enamel Bucket BagBy GucciLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireGUCCI Black Vinyl, Lambskin & Rust Enamel Bucket Bag Serial Number: 524823525040 Age (Circa): 2018 Accompanied By: Care Booklet Authenticity Details: Serial Stamp (Made in Italy) Ge...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
From the Runway to Rihanna, These Chanel Pearl Sunglasses Are the Peak of ’90s Chic
This cheeky accessory is seriously fun.
With a Wink, Karl Lagerfeld Sent This Egg-Carton-Shaped Chanel Bag Down the Runway
For the brand’s 2014–15 ready-to-wear show in Paris, the designer was inspired by a most unexpected place: the supermarket.