Chanel Red Quilted Patent Leather Reissue 2.55 Bag with Mademoiselle Lock
View Similar Items
Chanel Red Quilted Patent Leather Reissue 2.55 Bag with Mademoiselle Lock
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, she 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 introduced in 1955 with its gold-chain shoulder strap that freed up a woman’s hands. Chanel's 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.
- Hermes Taurillon Novillo Victoria II 35 in Rouge GaranceBy HermèsLocated in Toronto, OntarioAuthentic Hermes Taurillon Novillo Victoria II 35 in rouge garance. This stylish tote is crafted of fine Taurillon Novillo leather in red. It feature...Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
- 1980s Mark Cross Black Nylon Bucket BagBy Mark CrossLocated in Toronto, OntarioVery cute Mark Cross double handle bucket bag from the late 1980s. Black nylon with Mark Cross logo embroidered at centre front. Black leather handles, trim and base. Contrasting gold tone hardware and small gold MC engraved charm...Category
1980s American Top Handle Bags
- Mark Cross Chestnut Brown Small Grace Box BagBy Mark CrossLocated in Toronto, OntarioAlways classic and timeless, the Mark Cross Grace box bag is named after Grace Kelly in 1954 film Rear Window. This box bag is chestnut brown rigi...Category
Early 2000s Italian Top Handle Bags
- 1990s Italian Matte Beige Croc Effect Top Handle HandbagLocated in Toronto, OntarioJust stunning matte beige croc effect handbag made in Italy for high end Canadian retailer Davids in the 1990's. Great shape and size, slightly rounded with top handles. This bag loo...Category
1950s Italian Top Handle Bags
- 1990s Italian Reptile Effect Matte Grey HandbagLocated in Toronto, OntarioJust stunning supple matte grey reptile effect handbag made in Italy for high end Canadian retailer Davids in the 1990s. Great shape and size, slightly rounded with top handles. This...Category
1990s Italian Top Handle Bags
- 1960s Taupe Reptile Effect HandbagLocated in Toronto, OntarioDarling taupe reptile texture ladies hand bag from the 1960s, made in France for luxury Canadian retailer Holt Renfrew. Structured with a triangle shape and double handles. Envelope ...Category
1950s French Top Handle Bags
Sold$650
- Céline Orange Crocodile Luggage Bag With Gold H/WBy CelineLocated in London, GBCeline Crocodile Handbag with Goldtone Hardware in beautiful crocodile leather in the most beautiful rich orange colour with tonal orange stitching. ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- VALENTINO red leather VRING LARGE TOTE BagBy ValentinoLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Valentino large VRING tote bag in red leather featuring gold-tone metal logo plaque attachment at the front that is decorated with a matching red leather trim keyring ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Hermes Birkin 30 Capucine Bag Gold Hardware Togo LeatherBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers an Hermes Birkin 30 bag featured in spicy Capucine. Togo leather with rich gold hardware accentuates the beautiful colour of this Birkin bag. This beauty will take ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- Hermès 25 cm Bougainvillea Red Epsom Birkin with Palladium HardwareBy HermèsLocated in Palm Beach, FLThis authentic Hermès 25 cm Epsom Bougainvillea Birkin is in pristine condition. A vibrant pinky red, Bougainvillea adds excitement to any ensemble. Ver...Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
- NEW LOUIS VUITTON Rare Fuchsia Runway Cartoon Art Firebird Limited Edition BagBy Louis VuittonLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLThe extremely rare LOUIS VUITTON Fuchsia Cartoon Firebird, the most luxurious of them all. One of a kind and only a few were released Worldwide in 2008! Cartoon Limited Collection ba...Category
Early 2000s French Top Handle Bags
- Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Red Lambskin Woven Leather BagBy Bottega VenetaLocated in West Hollywood, CABottega Veneta intrecciato red lambskin leather bag , dark metal hardware. Minor wear on corners , snap closure. Comes with original dust cover.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Top Handle 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.