Chanel 2.55

The Chanel 2.55 (including Flap Bag 2:55 or only 2.55) is a handbag that is produced by the fashion house Chanel since 1955, partly in modified form to this day. In addition to the Birkin bag and the Kelly bag by Hermès, the 2:55 is one of the fashion icons among handbags (so-called arm candy - sugar cubes for the arm ).

History

Coco Chanel is said to have been made ​​in the 1920s thought about practical shoulder bags with shoulder strap. The 2:55 was granted in February 1955 the market after Coco Chanel began its activities as a fashion designer after the war in 1954 again. The bag has been named after this publication date.

Until then, elegant ladies handbags were usually fitted with a short handle and were carried by hand or on the forearm. Shoulder bags, however, were of rather ordinary purposes in use and were mostly of men, such as Soldiers used. The ladies handbag with shoulder strap meant that the modern bearer of the bag hands -free and had not ran the risk of losing the case, as these did not have to constantly stopped and resumed. When the 2:55 was newly unveiled in 1955, it is therefore regarded as a sensation. While this original design to functionality had set the goal of the Chanel 2.55 has become the epitome of luxury item that is not bought because of its practical design, but to adorn the wearer as an expensive accessory. Many legends have grown up about what Coco Chanel may have served as inspiration for their design. Thus, colors and materials with Chanel's growing up in a run by nuns orphanage to be associated - the colors are to either remember the habit of the nuns or at Chanel's own school uniform, where the nuns had the chain for a strap on chains attached to their keys. For the diamond pattern of the clothes jockeys should have served as a model, as well as the shoulder belt should go back out that Chanel umhängte during a visit of horse racing, the binoculars on a similar belt.

The bag was redesigned by Karl Lagerfeld in the 1980s. Since then, two variants exist ( " Classic Flap Bag " is the new development of Lagerfeld and " Re-Issue " in 2005 for the 50th anniversary of newly launched original shape ). Each year about 30 new models appear in different sizes, shapes, colors and materials, sale prices start at around 3,000 EUR ( in 2013 ). There are models of all types of leather, but also denim, tweed, terry cloth, decorated with all kinds of decorations. The most expensive and most luxurious 2:55 was produced in 2008 - made ​​of white alligator leather with buckle diamond-set white gold. From this model, only 13 pieces were produced.

Design

Typical elements of Chanel 2.55 are the basic rectangular shape, the double rollover and a small slip pocket with crescent-shaped top (also called " Mona Lisa Smile "), and which is located on the back. Constructive gets the double rollover by a "pocket in the bag". On the inside of the outer rollover a zippered pocket is attached to the inner rollover the Chanel logo from the intertwined initials embroidered, inside the case can be found in addition three bellow pockets. The upper material of the bag is quilted diamond shaped ( mattelassé - stitch pattern ). The bag is carried on two interwoven leather straps with metal chains, which are connected by four loops on the top with the bag.

The diamond pattern by stitching as well as the use of metal chains as a carrying strap and handle have now become independent typical features of Chanel bag collections which are the 2:55 used since the introduction up to today in a wide variety of models and over again.

The original design was in 1955 initially only available in brown and black leather, combined with wine red lining. When closing the so-called " Mademoiselle " lock was used a pocket castle, in which prevents a rotatable latch that opens the rollover.

The new development of Karl Lagerfeld from the 1980s can be seen at first sight by the use of another castle. Instead of " Mademoiselle " lock sets Lagerfeld one a castle that the intertwined initials of Coco Chanel, the Chanel logo quoted. Lagerfeld varies the original model in a variety of colors, sizes and materials. Even if he thereby waives single of the typical elements of the original design, the bags still have a high recognition value.

Production

The 2:55 is partly made up by hand today. From pattern to the finished bag around 180 individual working steps are necessary. Bag makers in the house of Chanel may make the model until at least five years of professional experience. The numerous counterfeit Chanel bags 2:55 fall on mainly because of the little careful processing. A real Chanel bag has a symmetrical arrangement of the stitching and the seams of the fitted half-moon pocket on the back to go without a break in the lines of the bag body over. The leather lining sits smoothly and without wrinkles in the case.

Value

The Chanel 2.55 is sold from about 3000 € New price, elaborate decorations and luxurious materials can also lead to a much higher price. Achieve Older specimens if they are good, so are resale prices that exceed the original price many times over.

Reception

In addition to the numerous references to the design of 2:55 can be found in the bag collections of Chanel and other designer who pick up on the style elements 2:55 in their designs, such as Marc Jacobs, of his Stam bag also endowed with diamond-shaped stitching and metal chain for a strap. The reference goes so far that even Jacobs Stam Bag brought a Classic shortly after the first appearance of Stam Bag on the market, a reinterpretation of the original Stam Bag, which is now offered in every season in a new modification. As with the Chanel 2.55 so that's referred to as Classic model in reality not the original model but the versatile designer playground.