Chanel. If you are a fashionista, this word should make you vibrate. I can already see the stars in your eyes at the thought of owning a fake chanel bag piece one day. The Chanel bag is for women, in my opinion, the equivalent of the Rolex watch for men. Today I present to you the iconic Timeless Bag from the House of Chanel.
July 11, 2020, 3:45 p.m.: Entry into the Chanel boutique “just to see”.
July 11, 2020, 6:08 p.m.: Well wrapped in a large black bag, it is ours.
The Chanel house
Visionary, Gabrielle Chanel knew how to impose her style in a lasting way. A veritable language of elegance, Chanel’s style transcends time, inseparable from the codes that have forged its success, such as the Tweed jacket and the Icône bag, that everyday accomplice that has revolutionized women’s lives.
Timeless: an icon bag
The Classic Bag (or Timeless), an icon, has been attracting attention for more than half a century and is a myth in the history of fashion.
A small functional masterpiece, with the right proportions, Mademoiselle Chanel signs the Classic Bag with an elegant, sleek design that is still up to date. Never equaled, it defies time, seduces all generations. Identifiable at first glance, it meets all needs and cultivates its difference with luxury and intelligence.
Emblem of a House where everything is synonymous with luxury and know-how, the Icon Bag is treated with the respect due to its nature. From cutting to finishing, it requires 180 operations where everything is a matter of millimetres. The Classic Bag comes to life in the expert hands of the House’s leather craftsmen. Cultivating the precept of Mademoiselle Chanel for whom the interior must be as neat as the exterior,
the bag is mounted upside down and its lining, designed like a real bag within a bag. It is then turned over, delicately, so as not to break the fibers of the skin or the fabric.
The boutique experience of the Chanel house
When we arrived in the Cannes store, we were initially amazed by the beauty of the store and the pieces that were on display: leather goods, jewelry, fashion pieces. A real museum and a pleasure for the eyes.
We were looking for the Timeless bag, which we had never had in our hands. A saleswoman followed us from afar throughout our discovery of the store, so we contacted her when we realized that the Classic Bag was not on display. Only a few models were displayed in the shop, but the Classic Bags were kept well out of sight.
The presentation of the different models
We informed him of our choice to try the Timeless Bag.
At first we had in our hands the Lambskin bag which is a smooth leather, a real marvel. The very nice saleswoman told us about the Bag, its history and its design by “Mademoiselle”, which was very interesting.
Under his advice, we tried the Caviar version of the model, more resistant to scratches and everyday use thanks to its grained and not smooth leather.
She also introduced us to the 2.55 with her “jewel” chain, telling us her story and then the Boy model, which is more rock.
We were able to try the model in its classic “medium” size as well as the Jumbo model which is the size above, and which allows a “cross-body” carry (across the body).
The reflection
We were captivated by the Bag, its design, its history. But the price did not allow us to make a “coup de coeur” purchase. We had been talking about this bag for over a year, but we still had to think about it. We wanted to discuss it again, and make a decision. 2 hours later we returned to the shop to take it.
The choice of the Chanel bag
The model
Several models of bags exist at Chanel, the most common being: the 2.55, the Classic, the Boy.
The 2.55
This is the bag created by Mademoiselle herself in February 1955, hence its name 2.55. She wanted a bag that would revolutionize women’s daily lives, designed for them and created for them.
This bag is characterized by a “jewel” chain also called curb chain, made up of rows of flat links and a rectangular clasp. The bag is dressed in patinated calfskin with a vintage look.
The classic
Also called “Timeless”, this bag travels through time and is adopted by all generations. It is a timeless, a safe bet.
Redesigned by Karl Lagerfeld in 1988, it reinterprets the iconic 2.55 bag. It is to him that we owe the double “C” clasp and the leather strap intertwined in the chain. It gives a facelift to the 2.55 model by bringing it up to date. It is now one of Chanel’s must-have It Bags.
The Boy
Created in 2010 by Karl Lagerfeld, this bag owes its name to Boy Capel, the childhood sweetheart of Gabrielle Chanel. This bag is more rock and modern. With its rectangular shape, this bag is both masculine and feminine. This bag is characterized by a metal clasp engraved with a double “C” and a wide-link curb chain that affirms an androgynous silhouette.
Very rock, I have long preferred this model which broke the codes, but I would say that now my heart swings a little more for the Classic.
The size
Designed for every moment in life, the Icon Bag comes in several sizes. Three for the 2.55 model with the “Mademoiselle” clasp and four for the Timeless with the clasp signed with the double “C”.
Wallet on chain: Dimensions 12.3 × 19.2 × 3.5 cm
The configuration of this bag is broadly based on the design of the Classic Bag (double “C” clasp, leather strap intertwined in the chain) but it is rather what is called a “wallet on chain”. It is made up of a long chain which allows it to be worn cross-body so that it rests on the hips. However, it only has one chain and therefore does not allow it to be worn on the shoulder.
Classic bag: Dimensions 14.5 × 23 × 6 cm
Perfectly designed for carrying on the shoulder with a length of chain that allows the bag to be placed delicately under the arm,
the cross-body carry is however not suitable for everyone. Its short chain does not allow optimal wear across the body, it will go up a little high and will not fall on the hips but below the chest.
Its configuration makes this model a small bag. At first glance I found it smaller than I thought, but in my opinion it is the perfect size.
Large Classic Bag: Dimensions 19.5 × 30 × 10 cm
Also called Jumbo, the length of the chain being longer, the worn cross-body is more pleasant. However its larger size makes it a more imposing bag, the choice of size will be based on the use and the morphology so that it is proportional.
Classic Maxi Bag: Dimensions 23 × 33 × 10 cm
We didn’t try it as we already found the Jumbo size too big.
The leather
Today, the Classic Bag is multiplying and changing clothes. Originally, he chose dipped lamb, a material with a very pure grain. Both firm and ultra-supple,
it is cut in the heart of the skin and tinted in the mass by long baths which give it a beautiful sensuality. To accompany the active woman, he opts for grained calfskin. A supple leather with a tight grain, baptized caviar in the House, which displays a natural elegance and allows daily use.
Smooth leather
Smooth leather is sublime: soft, shiny, luxurious. A real favorite for this leather, but it has several disadvantages. Who says smooth leather says fragile leather… For an everyday bag it will be subject to nails, rings and can scratch easily. Also watch out for the weather! It is not a bag that you wear in the rain, it will leave indelible marks on the leather.
The smooth leather makes the bag less rigid, it tends to deform over time.
The choice of leather depends on the use made of it. If you already have several bags and just want to expand your collection, then moving towards smooth leather is no problem since it will “rotate” with other bags and will be less subject to all these attacks.
