Chanel 2.55

Chanel 2.55 is a forever classic handbags . Let’s have a look at the story behind this bag.
The 2.55 bag was first introduced in February 1955, which Coco Chanel originally designed for her own use.It caused a quick stir among the upscale fashion lovers because it was the first bag to have a strap. With the chain strap, women can have their hand free by easily slinging over the shoulder.
The 2.55 bag records the story of the life of Coco Chanel as she turned from rich to poor and back again.
Coco Chanel was the daughter of doctor and a lawyer. When she was very young, she had a richful contact with fashion through her mother and developed an interest in fashion. However her mother died of an accident. Coco’s father couldn't accept the death of his wife and committed suicide six months later leaving Coco to the care of an orphanage.
Coco's life in the orphanage had a big influenced on her future designs. The double chain design of the shoulder strap strap was inspired by her memories of the children’s caretakers in the orphanage who would dangle keys from their waists.
The brown/red colour on the inside of the 2.55 bag in fact represents the colour of the uniforms Coco and the rest of the children had to wear in the orphanage.
The 2.55 also has an secret compartment in the inside of the front flap and it is said that it is a place where Coco kept her love letters during an affair she had with Nazi spy, Hans Gunther von Dincklage.
In the outside flap at the back of the bag is another secret pocket. This is where Coco would keep extra money..
During World War II Coco closed all her wholesale handbags shops and lived in the Hotel Ritz in Paris throughout the war. When the war was over Coco struggled to revitalize Chanel in the fashion field.
After Coco's original design 2.55, many variations were introduced, including different colour leather/fabric, changes to the chain - metal vs. interwoven leather- and the fasten - mademoiselle vs. interlocking CC.
In 2005 Karl Lagerfeld revived the 2.55 design exactly as Coco had made it for it's 50th anniversary and the new edition was even more popular than the original one.
Although those Chanel 2.55 are designed by different designers,we can still spot a hint of Coco Chanel’s style.