This February marked the 55th anniversary of the classic Chanel 2.55 bag. Named so for the time it was created (February of 1955), the two-five-five represents so much that is Chanel - luxury, class, elegance and status.
The intrepid Madamoiselle Coco invented the bag for the same clever and selfish reason she invented the little black dress and her famous suit cut - for utility and comfort. Until then, women carried their purses in their hands. Coco immediately recognized the need for a woman to freely move her gloved hands, and thus was born the 2.55. Its quilting and chain are instantly recognized around the world.
Each piece of this famous purse was designed with a specific use in mind. The pocket inside the flap was the perfect hiding place for secret love letters. The chain was a nod toward her childhood growing up in an orphanage - the nuns and caretakers would carry their keys on a similar chain. The pocket on the back could carry extra cash and the unique burgundy-brown lining matched the colour of her school uniforms.
In 2005, Karl Lagerfeld designed the Reissue, a 50th anniversary commemorative version of the 2.55. He replaced the interlocking Cs - which are of his own design and not that of Miz Coco - with the original lock, a simple rectangle, and replaced the metal and leather chain with the original all metal version.
In its half-centry of existence, the 2.55 has become one of the most sought-after bags in women's fashion, famous among celebrities and socialites alike.
a 1960s version of the 2.55.jpg)
stylish women in the 50s and 60s sought after the bag as much as they do today.
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