Chanel Nude Caviar Leather Cerf Tote - GHW - 2004
View Similar Items
Chanel Nude Caviar Leather Cerf Tote - GHW - 2004
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.
- Jimmy Choo Tan and Silver Perforated Suede Shoulder BagBy Jimmy ChooLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Jimmy Choo shoulder bag has a bottom silver leather layer with a tan perforated suede layer on top. The bag has silver hardware and a leat...Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Shoulder Bags
- Lambertson Truex Wicker and Brown Leather HandbagBy Lambertson TruexLocated in West Palm Beach, FLLambertson Truex Wicker and Brown Leather Handbag. This adorable wicker bag by Lamberston Truex is in good condition. The inside material shows some f...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Top Handle Bags
- Judith Leiber Deep Red Lizard Top Handle Handbag - SHWBy Judith LeiberLocated in West Palm Beach, FLJudith Leiber Deep Red Lizard Top Handle Handbag - SHW Circa 90's This beautiful structured handbag in a beautiful deep red lizard color, is in excellent condition. It has an art dec...Category
1990s American Top Handle Bags
$600 Sale Price25% Off - Nancy Gonzalez Beaded Raffia & Orange Croc HandbagBy Nancy GonzalezLocated in West Palm Beach, FLNancy Gonzalez Beaded Raffia & Orange Croc Handbag. This bag is in good condition with a few beads being loose and some minor bottom wear. The beads are ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Colombian Top Handle Bags
$950 Sale Price29% Off - Larisa Barrera Beaded and Stone Pink Evening BagLocated in West Palm Beach, FLLarisa Barrera Beaded and Stone Pink Evening Bag This small yet elegant bag is in excellent condition. The bag is completely covered in sequins, beads,...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Top Handle Bags
- Marc Jacobs Beige Python Leather HandbagBy Marc JacobsLocated in West Palm Beach, FLAnother of Marc Jacobs beautiful handbag designs, this Beige Python leather beauty. The inside is lined in maroon and the bag features gold hardware ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Shoulder 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
- Hermes Birkin 30 Biscuit Togo Leather Palladium HardwareBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers an Hermes Birkin 30 bag featured in warm Biscuit. Togo leather with fresh palladium hardware accentuates the beautiful colour of this Birkin bag. This beauty will take you year round. Comes with the lock and keys in the clochette, sleepers, raincoat and signature Hermes orange box...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle 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
- LOUIS VUITTON Gold Monogram Mirror Gold Hardware Top Handle Travel Tote BagBy Louis VuittonLocated in Chicago, ILPre-Owned Vintage Condition From 2009 Collection Vinyl Gold Tone Hardware Woven Lining Measures 13.75" W x 15" H x 3.5" D Handle Drop 4.5" Includes Dust Bag 100% Authenticity Guarant...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Tote Bags
- Louis Vuitton Sunshine Express Speedy Bag Limited Edition Khaki MonogramBy Louis VuittonLocated in Torre Del Greco, ITCrafted from sequin-embroidered wool with the Monogram pattern and a leather trim, the Sunshine Express Speedy bag is perfect for an evening out. This head-turning limited edition Speedy has round handles with reinforced metal bases, but provides a playful yet sophisticated twist with brushed silvertone hardware and leather trimming. This Speedy has a larger zipper opening than classic Speedy bags...Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Birkin 40 Blue Flag Toile / Barenia Leather Bag Permabrass Limited EdBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLMightchic offers a rare limited edition Hermes Birkin 40 Flag bag. Criss Cross toile with Blue center stripe. Fauve Barenia leather with signature bone topstitch. Permabrass hardwa...Category
21st Century and Contemporary 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.