CHANEL Large 31 Crumpled Leather Tote Bag
View Similar Items
CHANEL Large 31 Crumpled Leather Tote 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.
- Chanel Coral Tweed tote BagBy ChanelLocated in Paris, FRChanel coral tweed tote bag = Collector bag Condition: very good condition Country of manufacture: Italy Collection: shopping bags gender: female Materi...Category
2010s Italian Tote Bags
$10,079 - LOUIS VUITTON Large White "Forte Dei Miami" Tote BagBy Louis VuittonLocated in Paris, FRLarge Louis Vuitton tote in white cotton. It comes from the TRAVEL ARTICLES Collection, created for the opening of the boutique located in the Italian seaside resort of Forte dei Mar...Category
2010s Spanish Shoulder Bags
- FENDI Peekaboo Gold Grained Leather BagBy FendiLocated in Paris, FRWe no longer describe this Fendi tote bag created by Silvia FENDI, which has become the brand's iconic bag. It is in good used condition. It can be carried by hand with a handle or o...Category
2010s Italian Shoulder Bags
- CHANEL Tote Bag in Silk Scarf and Black Smooth Lamb LeatherBy ChanelLocated in Paris, FRChanel tote bag in black, light gray and white silk scarf and black smooth lamb leather. Zipper. Hardware in palladium silver metal. The interior is in black satin with 3 pockets inc...Category
2010s Italian Tote Bags
- LANVIN Tote Bag in Blue, Purple, Black Printed FabricBy Lanvin ParisLocated in Paris, FRLanvin tote bag printed blue, purple, black fabric with black satin cotton canvas lining and two pockets, one zipped. Worn by hand or on shoulder. On th...Category
2010s Spanish Tote Bags
- CHANEL Tote Bag in Navy Blue Quilted SuedeBy ChanelLocated in Paris, FRChanel tote bag in navy blue quilted suede. Palladium silver metal hardware. Double zipper (missing on a closure). The interior is lined in black canvas with 3 pockets, one zipped. ...Category
2010s French Tote Bags
- Chanel large CC coated canvas beach toteBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLNever worn As seen on Sex and the City the movie Has a large detachable interior pouch insert XL shopping tote with rope detail perfect for travel or vacation Very spacious tote th...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Tote Bags
- CELINE black & olive CALF HAIR MINI LUGGAGE Tote Shoulder BagBy CelineLocated in Zürich, CHCéline 'Mini Luaggabe' tote in olive calf hair with black calf hair gussets and black leather details. Zipper pocket on the front. Closes with a zipper on top. Lined in black leather...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags
$3,512 Sale Price20% Off - Chanel 2007 Vintage Calfskin Leather Large Jumbo CC Logo Black Shopping ToteBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel 2007 Vintage Calfskin Leather Large Jumbo CC Logo Black Shopping Tote black lambskin diamond quilting signature interlocking CC logo top zip f...Category
Early 2000s French Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel 2006 Classic Flap Braid Quilted Small Black Distressed Lambskin BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Lady Braid Quilted Distressed Quilted Lambskin Small Classic Flap Bag 2006 {VINTAGE 17 Years} Silver hardware Soft diamond quilted distressed lambskin leather Top handle is ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel 1997 Graffiti Floral Tropical Towel Beach Pool Resort Quilted Tote BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel 1997 Graffiti Floral Tropical Towel Terry Beach Pool Resort Quilted Tote Bag 1997 {VINTAGE 24 Years} Gold hardware CC logo hardware details T...Category
1990s French Tote Bags
- Chanel 1991 Vintage Classic Flap Rare Quilted Black Lambskin Shoulder BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Rare 1991 Vintage Lambskin Quilted Classic Flap Bag 1991 {VINTAGE 31 Years} Gold hardware CC Turnlock Closure Texturized stud hardware Classic flap back pocket Quilted Leathe...Category
1990s French 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.