Forever young classic - Chanel 2.55

Work has been taking up ALL of my time these days - working in publishing is not really all glamour and glitz *sigh*... like, I can't even wear heels to work now because I need to run up and down the stairs like ten times a day to get the photos/text ready before the deadline. But well this job will open a lot of doors in the future so I must persevere! Also, sincere apologies for my lack of entries these days. I will NOT stop blogging though in case you wonder hehe :)

A while ago I received an email from a reader asking me to post about the classic Chanel 2.55. I replied "sure!" but for some strange reason I kept putting it off. Anyways, procrastinating no more! Today I'm going to do a short post about this classic bag of all time - Chanel 2.55.

According to fabsugar.com, "launched in February 1955, the Chanel 2.55 is as stylish today as it was 50 years ago. The bag features a double chain shoulder strap that allows a woman’s hands to be free, something common in downmarket products, but rare in luxury circles at the time. Chanel saw nothing unfeminine about keeping her hands busy, and she created clothes and accessories that matched her vanguard lifestyle. To celebrate its 50th Anniversary, the Chanel 2.55 was re-released in Fall 2005. The new version has a turn clasp instead of the CC clasp, which makes it more discrete and perhaps even more appealing."

And according to Wikipedia, this bag "became so popular the first year, Coco Chanel had to decline numerous requests due to the lack of time to painstakingly manufacture each one by her skilled artisans. The bag is known in industry shorthand as the 2.55, after the month and year it was introduced".

Personally speaking, I'd prefer the original version any day of the week. It probably has something to do with that classic CC logo clasp. I somehow believe that Chanel 2.55 would have been so different without this CC logo clasp. Anyways, after being carried on the arms of the likes of Mischa Barton, Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie, this classic has suddenly become one of the hottest bags in town again.

The original (I love the yellow color!)

Still the original (white is cute too!!!)

The classic Chanel 2.55 with a modern twist - these are made of washed lambskin. The washed lambskin adds a little edge/shabbiness/slouchiness to this otherwise very proper and structured style. And did I mention the colors? They remind me of marshmallows :)

The original Chanel 2.55 in exotic material - ostrich skin. The off-white is so gorgeous!

The ad campaign of the 2005 re-release featuring Daria Werbowy

On the runway

Off the runway

The new version in croc skin - with the shoe to match too!

A model modeling the classic Chanel bag in 3 different sizes

This one is definitely my favorite out of the entire newly released Chanel 2.55 range. It has tiny little Chanel badges scattering all over the bag... the bag looks so young, hip yet still sophisticated. (But the price is... I remember it's to the tune of US$5,000-$5,500? *sigh*)