We are returning to Chanel today to celebrate the Chanel Gabrielle bag collection.

The Gabrielle, launched by Karl Lagerfeld in 2017, was Chanel’s first major new bag since the debut of the Boy in 2011 and it is reimagination of a 1955 design by Coco Chanel.  She envisaged the original bag to free up women’s movements while still being beautiful and stylish.

The Gabrielle mimics this vision, emphasising both comfort and flexibility in the form of a chain that can be worn multiple ways. You could throw it over your shoulder as is, wrap the chain so it’s a handbag, or loop the leather fixings to create a belt bag. The bag was launched as a collection and came in three shapes: a backpack, a large hobo-style shopper, and a smaller hobo-meets-shoulder bag, as pictured in this article.

Whilst Karl Lagerfeld took inspiration from Coco, the Gabrielle Bag is really made for the future. It’s said that the bag is inspired by Virtual Reality Goggles and vintage binocular cases that men wear at the racecourse.  The last part matches perfectly to the philosophy of Coco Chanel, because the quilting on the 2.55 Bag was also inspired by quilted jackets of jockey players - Coco knew very well how to get inspiration from men’s fashion.

With that in mind, the Gabrielle collection was actually promoted as a unisex collection and Pharrell Williams was part of the campaign launch.  Fun fact – he was the first man to be featured in Chanel’s advertising campaigns in 108 years!

We firmly believe that the Gabrielle is an icon and was a collection that took inspiration from history yet was so forward thinking in its design and vision.  Let us know what you think in the comments…do you agree?

Check out our stunning Gabrielle Small Hobo in Nude/Black Calfskin.  A bag in very good condition, with minimal signs of wear, this is a fantastic opportunity to own this iconic piece for only £2750.