Chanel created the 2.55 handbag in February 1955.
The name is a date code: “2” refers to the second month of the year, and “55” refers to 1955. Coco Chanel designed the bag to give women freedom of movement, using a long chain strap so it could be worn over the shoulder rather than carried in the hand. The design’s quilted surface, burgundy lining, flap construction and front clasp became enduring Chanel signatures.
Its details are often connected to Chanel’s life. The burgundy interior is associated with the uniforms at the Aubazine convent where she grew up, while the chain has been linked to the chains used by convent caretakers. The quilted pattern has been variously associated with equestrian clothing, stained glass and cushions in Chanel’s Paris apartment.
The 2.55 is sometimes confused with the Chanel Classic Flap. The latter is a later interpretation that commonly uses the interlocking CC clasp, whereas the original 2.55 traditionally used the rectangular Mademoiselle lock. Chanel reissued an exact copy in 2005 for the bag’s 50th anniversary.