Vintage 1991-94 Chanel Quilted Leather Tote with Chain Handle
View Similar Items
Vintage 1991-94 Chanel Quilted Leather Tote with Chain Handle
About the Item
Chanel
In the years following the opening of her modest millinery shop, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel became a pivotal designer of both fashionable casual wear and Paris haute couture as well as an icon and arbiter of 20th-century style with her bob haircut and pearls. Today vintage Chanel handbags, jackets and evening dresses are among the most sought-after clothing and accessories for fashion lovers all over the world.
The first Chanel shop was established in 1910 in Paris on rue Cambon by the young milliner Gabrielle Chanel (1883–1971), who had picked up the nickname “Coco” while working as a club singer. The boutique drew the attention of the Parisian fashion elite who popularized her wide-brimmed Chanel Modes hats. Soon she added a sportswear store in the Normandy resort town of Deauville, where Coco set the tone for her defining sense of style — traditionally masculine garments reimagined for feminine shapes, made from simple jersey fabric.
Effortless and elegant, Chanel's designs promoted comfort and grace in women’s wear that had been dominated in the previous century by complicated layers of fabric and cumbersome corsets. She followed this success with a couture house, opened in 1915 in Biarritz.
But Chanel was not born into a life of glamour. Following the death of her mother, her father left her in an orphanage where she lived until the age of 18. It was there that she learned to sew as well as appreciate the classic pairing of black and white as worn by the nuns. In 1926, she introduced her first little black dress, reclaiming a color that had once been reserved for mourning and working-class women. That same decade, she debuted her perfume, Chanel No. 5, as well as the Chanel suit with a fitted skirt, inspired by the boxy lines of men’s clothing and employing a sporty tweed.
Chanel closed her fashion operations during World War II, then returned to the industry in 1954 to design for the functional needs of modern women. Structure and wearability endured in all of Chanel’s clothing and accessories, like the quilted leather 2.55 handbag introduced in 1955 with its gold-chain shoulder strap that freed up a woman’s hands. Chanel's collarless jacket reacted against the constricting styles of Christian Dior's New Look, replacing them with a design that was timeless, an instant classic. The 1957 two-tone slingback pumps had a practical heel height while offering a bold statement in the black tip of the shoes.
After Coco Chanel died in 1971, the brand underwent several changes in leadership, including fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who took over as artistic director in 1983. Over the years, the company has continued to innovate, such as expanding into ready-to-wear fashion in 1978 and, in 2002, establishing a subsidiary company — Paraffection — dedicated to preserving the heritage skills of fashion artisan workshops. The House of Chanel still operates its flagship on rue Cambon in Paris, where it all began.
Browse vintage Chanel bags, evening dresses, shoes, jewelry and other clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- Moschino Redwall Vintage Heart Stud HandbagBy Redwall, MoschinoLocated in Carmel, CAMoschino Redwall 1980's Black Leather Heart Studded Shoulder Purse Heart shaped Moschino leather purse in black featuring gold metal accent studs. Back po...Category
1980s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Lambertson Truex Croc ClutchBy Lambertson TruexLocated in Carmel, CALambertson Truex crocodile clutch in black with a gold-tone top clasp closure. Blue suede leather lining with one zipper pocket. Clutch is in mint cond...Category
21st Century and Contemporary South African Clutches
- YSL Yves Saint Laurent Vintage 1970s Matte Jersey Top/Skirt EnsembleBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Carmel, CAYSL matte jersey set includes: ruched strapless shell, waist tie/scarf, full gathered short skirt. Strapless shell has a zipper and hook-and-eye fastening a...Category
1970s French Skirt Suits
- 1950's Marabou Feather and Chiffon Cocktail DressLocated in Carmel, CA1950's Marabou Feather and Chiffon Cocktail Dress Excellent Condition Metal Zipper Snap at shoulder Panels of marabou trimmed chiffon make up the skirt Go...Category
1950s Unknown Cocktail Dresses
$635 Sale Price20% Off - Moschino Couture Question Mark Dress 1988-89By MoschinoLocated in Carmel, CAMoschino Couture Question Mark Dress 1988-89 Franco Moschino lifetime rare question mark dress from the late 1980's. Purchased at Ralph Davies in San Franc...Category
1980s Italian Cocktail Dresses
$1,120 Sale Price20% Off - Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons Dress 2005By Comme des Garçons, Junya WatanabeLocated in Carmel, CAJunya Watanabe Comme des Garçons Dress 2005 Dress is made from 100% lightweight wool and seams are coated with rubber to conceal the seam edg...Category
Early 2000s Japanese Aesthetic Day Dresses
- Chanel Bowling Bag 'PARIS-NYC' Burgundy CrocodileBy ChanelLocated in Paris, FRSublime collector CHANEL bag, model 'Bowling' from the Famous Collection Paris / New York in bordeaux crocodile leather. Aged silver plated hardware, aged silver plated closure, han...Category
Early 2000s Italian Top Handle Bags
- Chanel 2009 Jumbo Maxi Soft Lambskin Leather Classic Flap Shoulder BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Jumbo Maxi Soft Lambskin Leather Classic Flap Shoulder Bag Year: 2008-2009 Gunmetal hardware Black quilted lambskin leather Logo at front with magnetic snap flap closure Si...Category
Early 2000s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel Limited Edition Soho Glazed Calfskin Quilted Tweed Flight Travel Tote BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Limited Edition Soho Glazed Calfskin Quilted Tweed Flight Travel Tote Bag This is a limited edition bag with "SOHO 2010" engraved on the special plaque to commemorate the ope...Category
2010s Italian Tote Bags
- Hermes Purple Garden Party PMBy HermèsLocated in Philadelphia, PAHermes Purple Garden Party PM in excellent condition. Purple clemence leather exterior in signature garden party style. Top snap closure opens to h...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Tote Bags
- Chanel Vanity Case Rare Vintage Blue Mini Crossbody Black Denim Shoulder BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Rare Vintage Denim Blue Mini Vanity Case Crossbody Bag Year: 1996 {VINTAGE 26 Years} Gold Hadware CC Stitched Logo at front Top handle Detachable crossbody strap Zip around ...Category
1990s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel Vintage Rare Black Caviar Top Handle Classic Kelly Flap BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Vintage Rare Black Caviar Top Handle Classic Kelly Flap Bag Structured Leather Top Handle CC Turnlock Closure Interior Zip And Slip Pockets Cavi...Category
1990s French Tote Bags
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
With a Wink, Karl Lagerfeld Sent This Egg-Carton-Shaped Chanel Bag Down the Runway
For the brand’s 2014–15 ready-to-wear show in Paris, the designer was inspired by a most unexpected place: the supermarket.
This Vintage Chanel Fur Muff Is Après-Ski Chic
It might not be as practical as a pair of mittens, but for something that looks this good, practicality really doesn't matter.