Chanel
History
Original 2.55
The bag 2.55 made its debut in February 1955 with a diagonal hand stitched leather & soft jersey.
Chain & clasp
The small rectangular 2.55 was suspended from a leather shoulder strap featuring braided gilt chains.
Colours
Originally the bag was only produced in 4 colours
black navy beige and brown.
Chanel original style
Image Drapers
The early genius of Karl
Early days
Karl Otto Lagerfeld was born in Hamburg Germany in September 1933. The inspiration came from French artists, he finished his secondary school at the Lycee Montaigne in Paris where he majored in drawing and history.
Career
In 1955 he moved to Paris and worked as an assistant for Pierre Balmain for three years. In 1958 Lagerfeld became the artistic director for Jean Patou.
1967 Fendi
Image GQ
Fendi
Lagerfeld was originally hired by Fendi to modernise their fur line. His innovative designs proved groundbreaking. Lagerfeld designed the double F logo which stood for Fun-Furs…he remained as creative director till he died in 2019.
image Elle
In 1982 Karl Lagerfeld was hired by Chanel which was considered a “near-dead brand” at the time, after the death of designer Coco Chanel a decade prior. Lagerfeld revolutionised the brand having a huge success by revamping its clothes and accessories lines.
Karl Lagerfeld
1983 -2019 Chanel
The genius of Karl
Influence
Chanel grew from a cherished & influential name in to a $10 billion global fashion machine revamped, desired, a dominant luxury label.
Ready to wear
Lagerfeld managed to preserve Chanel’s image continuing the use of boucle jackets, pearls, perfume and the double C logo ..which he revolutionised as the most famous and recognisable initials in the world.
Interlocking Cs
Gabrielle Chanel’s interlocking C logo, designed in the 1930s, was used in various ways including handbags clasps.
Celebrity style
Sarah Jessica Parker Grazia
Celebrity style
Alexa Chung Vogue
Adding colour
Sizes and styles
Colours and clasps
Pop culture caricature
With an instantly recognisable look that he maintained over the years with a powdered white ponytail, dark sunglasses and fingerless gloves dripping in rings.
Virginia Viard
Virginie Viard
The new creative director for Chanel since February 2019.
image WWD
My style
The Deauville tote
Hitting the catwalk in SS12, it has since appeared in different shapes and a variety of colours and finishes. The name is taken from Deauville, one of Coco Chanel’s favourite beach resorts. It’s a great size if, like me, you carry magazines and like a slouch, comfortable style.
Quilted style
Patent finish
Sunday lunch at The Serpentine restaurant in Hyde Park with Cody. I rarely wear my Chanel quilted bags the first one I owned was stolen on a night out.
Calf leather
Dinner at Hurlingham Club
Vintage
1982
This bag is very delicate the leather has worn and it has been stored with the chain across the C. Purchased from the Vintage Fair in Kings Road Chelsea.
Only buy vintage when you know the dealer or seller Chanel is one of the most counterfeit brands …I Never buy online.