A brand synonymous with luxury, with high-end products and with some of the biggest celebrity followings in brand history, Chanel has expanded its repertoire over the years to encompass everything from fragrance to fashion and beyond.
As one of the most coveted brands at Love Luxury, the investment potential of a Chanel handbag, in particular, is high – but what made the brand what it is today, and how did the designs of a single fashion designer become such a world-renowned concept?
What is Chanel?
Chanel is a designer brand which has always focused on the coveted concept of simple but elegant fashion – with wearable clothing and genuinely functional and practical yet still immensely stylish accessories and handbags.
Throughout its history, Chanel has become famous and taken on the role of icon for a number of different concepts – namely the Little Black Dress in the fashion world, Chanel No. 5 perfume, and the rise of the Chanel handbag. Today, the Chanel handbag collection is among the most coveted, high investment pieces in the market – with each model available on the preloved market at a considerable mark-up.
Where did Chanel begin?
The brand was founded by a young woman who came from a modest background, but whose taste for standout fashion took her from a simple hat merchant to a multi-store-owning fashionista, designer, and creator for women everywhere.
To place the success of Chanel on a single moment, we cannot pass over the story of a simple jersey dress that CocoChanel herself made, in an effort to stay warm in the long winters. Enough people around her asked where it was from that she then began to make more to sell to other women. Her taste for fashion had begun, and demand only increased from there.
Famous for her elegant and feminine take on the fashion and accessories world, Chanel’s name lives on – with the brand shaping many of the styles and concepts we take for granted today.
How has Chanel changed over the years?
Built on the simple foundations of women’s elegance, femininity, and practical fashion that serves the everyday woman, Chanel remains one of the most innovative and revolutionary brands of the century – and yet over the years, it has seen some significant change in the way it operates.
First conceived as a brand in 1909, with the very first store selling primarily hats to Parisian women, it’s not just the product lines that have changed but the creative angles through which Chanel approaches design and change.
Karl Lagerfeld is now considered a leading influence in how the brand is run and operated, understanding the need to bridge the gap between accessibility and elite design, and ensuring that the brand retains its status while listening to customers and making sure that products suit the everyday needs of women.
Through this lens, Lagerfeld has spearheaded several changes to the famous Chanel handbag line – introducing different sizes and features that tie into everyday use.
What are Chanel’s most famous fragrances?
So named because it was the fifth fragrance presented to Chanel in 1921 when she decided to launch a feminine perfume line, Chanel No. 5 has remained not only the original but the most popular and well-known scent in the Chanel fragrance line – if not in the entire perfume industry.
What are Chanel’s most popular bags?
You cannot talk about Chanel’s success and not recognise the incredible corner of the market that Chanel occupies in terms of designer handbags. Regarded as both highly coveted accessories and high-value investment pieces, some of the most popular Chanel handbags include the iconic flap bags, the Chanel Boy bag, the Chanel grand shopping tote, the Chanel Hobo bag, and the 2.55 bags which were the original flap bags and sparked a revolution in the women’s bag sector.
The History behind Chanel’s Popular Flap Bags
There is now a wide assortment of diverse flap bags available under the Chanel brand, with varying sizes and finishes for all customers and buyers. However, the flap bag was first introduced in 1955 and was named the 2.55 because of its release in February of that year.
The bag was designed by Chanel as a way for women to carry a bag while remaining hands-free – with a number of features built in to suit her own preferences and to satisfy her own needs, including a hidden pocket which was deemed suitable for hiding love letters.
Following the launch of the original flap bag, the designs have continued to delight buyers and grow in popularity – with the price increases making these the perfect pieces for investment buyers.
What makes Chanel so unique in the designer handbag market?
One of the major selling points of Chanel’s handbags lies not just in the quality craftsmanship and the luxury materials, but in the details and unique features which elevate these bags to aesthetic and practical status.
Chanel was the first to launch a shoulder bag which could be worn while leaving both hands free for other uses, instantly giving Chanel a coveted historical place in the market. Beyond that, the limitations on supply and the investment of time under which each bag is produced means that demand always outweighs the supply of Chanel handbags. Thus, there are always captive buyers waiting to get their hands on a Chanel handbag.
Which Celebrities wear Chanel Handbags?
Chanel is one of those brands that is often seen out and about in the arms of A-listers – with popular fans including the likes of Paris Hilton, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Eva Longoria, and even Marilyn Monroe.
Are Chanel handbags a good investment?
With any high-demand-low-supply product, the investment value is high. When it comes to Chanel, while each season sees the release of new colours and models, the timeless design of each bag means that they are always in high demand across preloved companies like ours. Provided you receive a formal valuation and evaluation of the quality and authenticity of a Chanel bag, you should find that most of the popular models increase in value – or at least retain their value – over time.
