The Chanel 2.55, named for its birth date

A bag named after the month it was born, with a convent orphanage stitched into its lining. The Chanel 2.55, the bag that freed a woman's hands.

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The post, as it ran

01IN FEBRUARY OF 1955 GABRIELLE CHANEL RELEASED A QUILTED SHOULDER BAG AND NAMED IT FOR ITS BIRTH MONTH: THE 2.55. THE QUIET REVOLUTION WAS THE STRAP, A CHAIN THAT LET A WOMAN CARRY A BAG AND KEEP BOTH HANDS FREE.

02UNTIL THEN A HANDBAG WAS A CLUTCH, HELD IN THE HAND OR UNDER THE ARM. CHANEL HAD WATCHED SOLDIERS SLING SATCHELS ACROSS THE BODY. SHE SAID SHE WAS TIRED OF HOLDING HER PURSES AND LOSING THEM, AND ADDED A STRAP.

03THE DETAILS READ LIKE A DIARY OF HER LIFE. THE BURGUNDY LINING IS THE COLOUR OF THE UNIFORMS AT AUBAZINE, THE CONVENT ORPHANAGE WHERE NUNS RAISED HER. THE CHAIN ECHOES THE KEYS THE CARETAKERS THERE WORE AT THE WAIST.

04INSIDE SITS A CONCEALED FLAT POCKET. THE STORY THE HOUSE TELLS IS THAT CHANEL TUCKED HER LOVE LETTERS THERE. THE DIAMOND QUILTING HAS BEEN TRACED TO JOCKEYS' COATS, THE STAINED GLASS AT AUBAZINE, AND HER PARIS FLAT.

05THE RECTANGULAR CLASP IS THE MADEMOISELLE LOCK, NAMED BECAUSE CHANEL DID NOT MARRY. SHE WAS 71 WHEN SHE DESIGNED THE 2.55, NEWLY RETURNED TO WORK AFTER THE WAR. THE BAG WAS HER CASE THAT ELEGANCE AND USE BELONG TOGETHER.

06IN 2005, FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, THE HOUSE REISSUED AN EXACT COPY AND CALLED IT THE REISSUE. SEVENTY YEARS ON, THE 2.55 IS STILL THE BLUEPRINT: THE BAG THAT FREED A WOMAN'S HANDS AND HID HER SECRETS IN THE LINING.

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