5 Things to Know About Chanel Handbags
Chanel never goes out of fashion – not even at our auctions, where more and more people have begun to buy the coveted handbags. Our specialist in designer handbags, Emma Marie Huus-Thomsen, gives you five things you need to know about the greatest fashion icon of them all.
1. The Story of ChanelChanel is a French fashion house founded in 1910 by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. In 1910, she opened a hat boutique under the name "Chanel Modes" at 21 Rue Cambon in Paris, and two years later she opened the first Chanel store in Deuville, France. In 1915, she designed her first Haute Couture collection, and in the subsequent years many new stores followed, and several collections were presented – including perfumes, make-up and skin care. Gabrielle Chanel passed away in 1971, and in 1983 Karl Lagerfeld was appointed chief designer of the company. He focused both on keeping Chanel's signature, but also modernizing the brand by experimenting with different styles. |
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2. Chanel Flap BagIn 1955, Gabrielle Chanel created the iconic quilted handbag with a gold chain, called “2.55”. There was a particular focus on comfort in the design of the handbag, as women in the 1950s typically had handbags that they carried in their hands, but with this design they could now carry the handbag over the shoulder. The original 2.55 handbag has been redesigned many times since, with the most significant redesign coming from Lagerfeld in 1983. He changed the lock on the handbag from the square lock – known as either the "Mademoiselle lock" or the "Reissue lock" – to the iconic CC lock that we know today. The modern Flap bag has a number of recognizable design features, including an external back pocket, four internal pockets and the revolutionary double chain strap. |
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3. Leather and Quilted LookChanel uses many different types of leather and other materials for their products. When it comes to their iconic handbags, it is primarily lambskin and caviar leather, which is treated calfskin that is very durable and can withstand water. Both of these classic types of leather are available in a wide range of colours, and the leather typically has the iconic quilted look. They also use special materials, such as plastic, cotton or tweed, which is known from the iconic tweed jackets. Before 2009, Chanel handbags were made with genuine 24k gold hardware, but since 2008 they have primarily used either gold or silver toned hardware and sometimes rose gold or champagne gold hardware. |
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4. Hard to Get a Hold ofThere is an extremely high demand for Chanel handbags. Therefore, it can be difficult to buy a handbag in one of Chanel's stores, and in some cases, you have to be put on a waiting list instead. This is especially true if you are looking for some of the most sought-after models, such as the Classic Flap or the popular mini handbags Mini Rectangular Flap or Mini Square Flap. Availability also depends on which colour combination you are looking for, as especially the classic black handbag with gold-toned hardware can be difficult to find. |
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5. The Price Goes Up Every YearChanel raise their prices every year – typically twice a year – due to high global demand. The Chanel handbag 2.55 was first sold in 1955 for approx. DKK 1,500. Today, the same handbag costs more than DKK 70,000 in stores. The Classic Flap bag, designed by Lagerfeld in 1983, sold for approx. DKK 6,800 in the 1980s. The same handbag now costs over DKK 70,000. This year, the prices of the Flap bags have already increased by 16%, which clearly shows the value of a Chanel handbag only increases in price. It is primarily the classic models that are in high demand and will continue to be so in the future. At the same time, Chanel regulate their supply, which means that the amount of new Flap bags is limited. This gives you another potential reason to buy at auction, where you can often find a large selection of different handbags. |
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For further information, please contact:
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Emma Marie Huus-ThomsenEmma Marie Huus-ThomsenSpecialist / Designer Handbags & Fashion / København |