Fashionable Bags

The history of Chanel

Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was born in 1883, and first established the house of Chanel in 1909 when she opened the first millinery shop , called Chanel Modes, in Paris. She heralded new designs and revolutionized the fashion industry by going “back to basics”, incorporating elegance, class and originality. Coco Chanel held the title as ‘chief designer’ until her death in January 10, 1971.

The house of Chanel became an icon of elegance and from then on, the name”Chanel” became synonymous to elegance, wealth and elitism, as well as the ultimate sign of French high class, la coquettrie.

The first Chanel bags although Coco began with hats and clothing, designer handbags were a natural progression. Chanel handbags are an expansion of the Chanel fashions, with the same tradition being incorporated into the bags designs. In the 1930s, she created the first handbag that could hang on a woman’s shoulder. With the idea that freeing a woman’s hand movements would free her personality, the first shoulder bag was born. The Chanel shoulder bag had a slowly beginning, but really took of in the 1950s.

Today’s Chanel handbags have changed very little. The timeless fashion of a Chanel bag highlights the collection of many purse enthusiasts. Aspects of the original bags that have been maintained are:

• the original quilted leather
• the textured fabrics
• the chains
• the signature symbol of two CC’s.

Women all over the world currently have Chanel handbags in their closets, but there is always room for more purses and handbags.

Some famous quotes on Fashion from Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel

“A girl should be two things:” classy and fabulous”

“The best colour in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you!”

“There are people who have money and people who are rich”

“In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different”

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening”