Chanel is a woman who transformed the fashion and luxury accessories industry, introducing the concept of shoulder bags with longer straps and convenience, designing the now iconic Chanel No.5 perfume, and creating the first Little Black Dress – now a styling staple. She was a revolutionary in the world of luxury style, and was long committed to the idea of empowering women with handbags and accessories that were (and continue to be) stylish as well as functional and practical for everyday life.
Her handbags in particular have gone down in history as some of the most coveted and in-demand products from the accessories market, with the innovations of Karl Lagerfeld continuing to elevate the brand when he became Creative Director in 1983 and breathed life back into some of the timeless concepts first dreamed up by Coco Chanel.
In this blog, we’re looking at some of the most famous and iconic Chanel handbags from the brand’s history, and discussing some of the features and reasons why they never seem to go out of style.
What Makes Chanel Such an Iconic Brand?
Chanel as a brand owes its name and reputation to the founder, Coco Chanel, who spearheaded many of its innovative and revolutionary designs and styles. The Chanel handbag has long been a staple of the brand, though it was not until 1955 that Coco Chanel decided to launch a bag which combined her feminine style with the convenience of a soldier’s satchel from the war. The resulting bag, the 2.55, became a staple that continues to this day in the form of the Chanel Flap Bag – demonstrating just how much history is integrated into even the most modern of designs.
Beyond the 2.55, Chanel has created, launched, and successfully marketed a whole host of subsequent handbags and handbag collections – including the Chanel Boy Bag, various Tote bags, backpacks, waist bags, and more. This demonstrates, more than anything else, an ability to fit the market and to adapt to customer demand and to what buyers want – something which served Chanel herself, and has continued to serve the brand, exceptionally well in establishing and retaining a good reputation.
The Most Famous and In-Demand Chanel Handbags
When discussing the most coveted designer handbags, Chanel is never very far from people’s minds. The Chanel 2.55 is a timeless investment from a vintage perspective, while a more modern Chanel Flap Bag embodies the twisting double-C latch, which was designed by Karl Lagerfeld.
But, when discussing luxury style and accessories, it’s not just the classic designs themselves which become iconic – in fact, no conversation about Chanel’s timeless style would be complete without touching on some of the more standout collaborations.
Collaboration is something that has long been a part of Chanel’s history, with celebrity endorsements and partnerships evident in the brand’s marketing activity from as early as the 1970s. When Karl Lagerfeld was brought on board in 1983, having ended his contract with rival luxury brand Chloe, he breathed new life into Chanel’s products by creating more partnerships between the brand and its famous clientele.
To look at Chanel’s marketing strategy is to look at the power of a brand that knows its audience intricately – and uses partnerships and strategies which empower and appeal to them. Chanel is a movement as much as it is a luxury brand, with everything from its handbags to its No.5 perfume designed exclusively to make women in particular feel special.
All of this combines to make Chanel not only a timeless designer but a timeless brand that knows its audience and is willing and able to adapt to meet that audience’s expectations. While every new release is limited in numbers, delivering exceptional quality across a small range of individual products, the demand remains incredibly high, and the quality never fades.
Chanel as an Investment: Will the Brand Ever Go Out of Style?
You need only look at how the Chanel brand has adapted and changed its style over the years to see that, while fashions and trends change, the underlying design of each Chanel bag is very much the same as it was when it was first brought to life.
The Chanel 2.55 handbag, which was designed by Coco Chanel herself, for example, became the Chanel Flap Bag with some tweaks and adjustments by Karl Lagerfeld – retaining the overall structure and standout features of the bag, while adding a few of his own. Similarly, many of the collaborations and limited edition collections that have been created and released by Chanel follow the same design and structure as their classic models, but with unique and vibrant designs and colour palettes.
As such, it seems fair to conclude that Chanel is a brand that adapts to the market, and which injects new and modern energy into its existing pieces with incredible ease and success. When you buy a Chanel bag, whether a vintage piece or a newer model, you are buying a piece of history with great investment potential, as proven by the endless assortment of Chanel bags that sell at much higher prices on the second-hand market.
How to Buy a Chanel Handbag
Finding the perfect Chanel handbag for you means combining your lifestyle and preferences with your personal style – taking into account everything from the size of bag that you need and want, to the colour palette that best compliments your everyday style.
Here at Love Luxury, we have an ever-changing collection of Chanel and other luxury bags in stock, with sellers bringing new pieces to our door every day. As part of our reputable service, we always ensure that handbags are authenticated and valued prior to purchase and subsequent sale, and will always ensure that buyers have the right paperwork to support their investment. Come and visit us in store or online to find your perfect Chanel investment handbag, and to become a part of the Chanel story.