Chanel Paris New York Cream Distressed Bowling Tote
About the Item
- Designer:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Philadelphia, PA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU104216486962
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. The 1957 two-tone slingback pumps had a practical heel height while offering a bold statement in the black tip of the shoes. 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.
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. His collections for Chanel displayed his knack for synthesizing old and new, high and low. Lagerfeld revived Chanel ballet flats and thoroughly embraced the classic logo's interlocking CCs, which took the form of a clasp featured on so many of the rare Chanel bags that are much sought after today.
Vintage Karl Lagerfeld designs for Chanel dresses, coats and other clothing of the 1980s, '90s and 2000s riffed on its iconography, accenting a lexicon of Chanel-isms with tastes of the moment. And as the 1990s have become associated with styles adopted by today’s supermodels and influencers, vintage Chanel bags of the 1990s are among the most prized of the brand’s offerings.
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Philadelphia, PA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Hermes Black and Beige Canvas Herbag ToteLocated in Philadelphia, PAInterchangeable black and beige canvas herbag tote in good condition. Black barenia leather trim and brushed silver palladium hardware. Two bags in one as the leather upper and hardw...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Tote Bags
- Hermes Grey Clemence Leather Victoria II 35By HermèsLocated in Philadelphia, PABeautiful Hermes Victoria II 35cm in good condition. Grey clemence leather exterior trimmed with silver palladium hardware. Top double zipper c...Category
Early 2000s French Tote Bags
- Alexandra Knight Tan Alligator HandbagLocated in Philadelphia, PAThis fabulous Alexandra Knight handbag is in excellent condition. The exterior features stunning tan alligator skin with comfortably double handles an...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Tote Bags
- Hermes Red Leather Hand Painted Garden Party 30Located in Philadelphia, PAHermes Red Leather Hand Painted Garden Party 30 in very good condition. Smooth red leather exterior with hand painted yellow, blue, pink, black green, ...Category
Early 2000s Tote Bags
- Gucci Coated Monogram and Leather Buckled Portfolio ToteBy GucciLocated in Philadelphia, PABEAUTIFUL Gucci monogram and leather portfolio tote in excellent condition. Coated monogram canvas trimmed with dark brown leather and silver hardware. Buckle details on both exter...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Tote Bags
- Red Valentino Gold Sequin Ruffle ToteBy REDValentinoLocated in Philadelphia, PARed Valentino Gold Sequin Ruffle Tote in fair condition. Three ruffled layers of gold sequins over a beige canvas tote trimmed with tan leather. Signature Valentino name place along backside. Double top handles and removable matching leather shoulder strap easily convert between tote and shoulder bag styles. Top snap closure opens to an unlined canvas interior with attached tan leather zip pouch. Overall fair condition. Yellow stains on canvas bottom and under sequin ruffles. This is not immediately visible when worn. Delicate scuffs/small marks on leather trim throughout and one small area of missing sequins on top tier. Off center valentino plate...Category
Early 2000s Tote Bags
- Chanel Double Chain CC Quilted Calfskin Leather Tote CC-B0509P-0002By ChanelLocated in Downey, CAThis Chanel elegant diamond quilted lambskin leather bag showcases classic Chanel style with a casual twist perfect for everyday excursions. Crafted from lambskin leather, this chic ...Category
2010s Italian Tote Bags
- Hermes Picotin Lock 14 Micro Lucky Daisy Bag Chai / Rose Palladium HardwareBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers an Hermes Lucky Daisy Micro Picotin featured in Chai, Rose and White. Whimsical, charming and feminine! Printed calfskin and Swift...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Birkin 25 Bag Vert Anis Lizard Palladium HardwareBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers a limited edition Hermes Birkin 25 bag featured in Vert Anis Lizard. This extremely rare Hermes Birkin bag is elegant, timeless a...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Birkin 25 Bag Gold Togo Leather Gold Hardware Iconic NeutralBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers an Hermes Birkin 25 bag featured in classic Gold. This neutral Hermes Birkin is the all time perfect neutral statement. Signature bone top stitch detail. Lush Togo ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags
- Valentino Garavani Rockstud Brown Leather and Crochet Tote BagBy ValentinoLocated in Rome, RomeThis beautiful Bag will come with a Certificate of Authenticity provided by Entrupy. The certificate will be provided at no further cost VALENTINO GARAVANI woven crochet and brown l...Category
2010s Italian Tote Bags
- VALENTINO olive drab leather C-ROCKEE STUDDED FRINGE Tote Shopper BagBy ValentinoLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Valentino C-Rockee fringe tote in grained olive drab calfskin embellished with signature pyramid studs in copper metal and turquoise cabochon stones. Lined in olive drab suede with two big zipper...Category
2010s French Tote 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.