- Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel began her fashion career between 1909 and 1910. After opening a small shop in Paris in 1909, this marked the beginning of a fashion empire. Chanel started as a fashion designer of elegant gowns and suits. It wasn't until later that she designed handbags and her classic fragrance, Chanel No. 5.
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The OriginalThe original Chanel handbag was called the 2.55. The name comes from the month and year it was created: February, 1955. After that date, Karl Lagerfeld, who collaborated with Chanel and took over the business in 1983, reintroduced the same handbag in 2005. It has the same exact details as the original handbag. - The original Chanel 2.55 handbag can be identified in various ways: the lining is brown and is representative of the uniforms Chanel wore in a convent where she grew up. The inside has a zippered compartment where Chanel apparently concealed her love letters. There is a back pocket or flap where Chanel hid extra money. The shoulder strap is made of a gold chain, resembling the chains on which nuns at the convent where she grew up hung their keys. The front lock with the CC logo, called the Mademoiselle Lock, is the most popular of the trademarks.
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The original has evolved and is now more subdued in style. Although it still has the chain shoulder strap, the CC logo is not easily identified. The shape and size is similar but those without a discerning eye might not recognize the updated "Re-Release" of the original 2.55 as a Chanel.
- Although the original Chanel handbag was a French novelty, Chanel is now in many boutiques worldwide. Replicas are also found, often times made of good quality leather, but do not compare to the high-quality leather and materials of a Chanel. Replicas are made in a few places, including China, Vietnam and New York, but can be purchased almost everywhere (including online).
