Over
the past century, Chanel has played a major role in modernizing high
fashion. In the early 1900s, Coco Chanel stunned the world when she
introduced alternatives to out-dated fashion staples like constricting
corsets, changing the course of women fashion from then on. Chanel’s
clothing introduced comfort, elegance and femininity to a society
where men even dictated what a woman should wear. In the following
years, Chanel became a symbol status when high-profile celebrities
like Katherine Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor wore the
revolutionary attire. After Coco Chanel’s death, Karl Lagerfeld
took over and continued the company’s mission to be “audacious,
perfectionist, unique, passionate, and visionary,” while venturing
into the realm of fashion accessories, like handbags. Today, Chanel
handbags embody the elegance and sexiness that Chanel has defined
over the last century.
Chanel handbags come in a wide-variety of shapes and styles, including
hobo, clutch, and totes.
The hobo style is defined by its crescent shape and large capacity.
The long strap is designed so that the bag rests easily over the shoulder,
providing casual comfort for any outing and the bohemian style is
favored by fashion-conscious celebrities and debutantes. Chanel’s
Luxury line represents some of the most sought-after hobo bags, making
them the current “it” bags. Some examples of these popular
bags are the black flap bag, which is made from lambskin leather with
a burgundy interior, and the light flap bag, which is made of gold
goatskin and trimmed with a gold chain in the leather. Both of these
bags carry the “CC” mark that distinguishes elegance.
But not every occasion calls for carrying a ball and chain around.
Hobo bags are practical but you don’t want to be lugging your
life around while on an intimate date or during a fancy night out
on the town. In those occasions, clutch bags are the best option.
These are big enough to hold the essentials and snap open and close
using a clutch at the top, hence the name. Since there are no straps,
the wearer holds the bag in hand, bringing desired attention to the
elegant accessory. The quilted clutch is one of the most popular Chanel
handbags. The outside is made from caviar leather, with the signature
silver-tone “CC” on the clasp to top it all off. It even
comes in a variety of colors to highlight any formal occasion.
Tote bags are large bags with two handles instead of the single strap
of the hobo style. Totes have a square appearance and the wide opening
allows quick and easy access. Chanel offers many styles of these bags,
including a quilted tote that is made from the same material as the
quilted clutch. The clear vinyl tote is remarkably diverse in style:
its clear exterior is emblazoned with turquoise, leather lettering
to produce a handbag that epitomizes Chanel’s strive for originality.
These are only a few examples of Chanel handbags that have become
a standard in haut couture. From the very beginning, the company has
had a successful run of innovation and risk-taking that show through
in their fashion and handbags.