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Ever wondered what is a Chanel 2.55 and what is a reissue? Is a Chanel Classic Flap the same as a 2.55?

Coco Chanel designed her first bag in 1929. In February 1955 she changed handbag history. "I was fed up with holding my purses in my hands and losing them, so I added a strap and carried them over my shoulder" Coco is reported as saying in Coco Chanel by Justine Picardie. For the first time it was considered acceptable for a woman of considerable social status to carry a bag on their shoulder.

The bags were made with the mademoiselle lock, so named because Chanel never married, and the double CC lock didn't appear until the 80's, under Karl Lagerfelds watch. 

So, what's what?!

2.55: Coco Chanels original design with Mademoiselle lock and metal chain.

Reissue: 2005 special edition that Karl lagerfeld reinstated as an exact recreation of the original to celebrate Chanels 50th anniversary (most people refer to all 2.55's as Reissue, but it correctly refers to only those manufactured in 2005).

Classis flap: flap bags with CC lock and metal & leather strap that follow the designs of Karl Lagerfeld from the 80's.

Want a brief resumé?

1910: Gabrielle Chanel opens her first shop in Paris Rue Cambon selling hats

1925: Coco Chanel designs the interlocking cc logo

1929: Coco Chanel designs her first handbag with chain straps and jersey quilted fabric for herself

1955: Aged 70 Chanel releases the first 2.55 flap bag for sale with quilted leather and metal straps

1971: Coco Chanel dies

1983: Karl Lagerfeld joins Chanel as artistic director and designer of ready to wear, haute couture and accessories

1984: Karl Lagerfeld redesigns the CC lock, creates the 'Classic' flap bag with an interlocking CC turn lock and woven/chain straps

1986: serial numbers are added to all bags

2005: Chanel releases the original 2.55 for it's 50th anniversary and calls it the reissue 2.55 

Want one?! Have a look at our Chanel bags.

 

You know those cool women, you know, the ones who exude coolness from their pores?! Well, we’ve only gone and bagged (get it?!) ourselves a pop-up with one of the coolest of the cool!

 

 

Katie Jones, of Ginger Kate Preloved has the most beautiful clothes for sale in her shop, which is a room in her super stylish home (seriously, it’s worth coming just for the interior inspo 😍) just 3 minutes drive from the town centre in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. She sells Isabel Marant, Alice Temperley, All Saints, Cos and Zara to name just a few.

 

 

And on Saturday 4th August we’ll be rocking up with a selection of our armcandy. Think Mulberry, Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton... 🙌

 

 

We’ll be there from 11am till 4pm. If you want the full adress get in touch with me, either by email, Instagram or Facebook. 

 

Bring a friend and come and have a peruse and a coffee with us.

 

You can follow Katie on Instagram here. 

Pleased as punch. That’s how we felt when super cool Boz said she’d host us for a pop-up in her cafe come homewares come upholstery studio.

 

 

So on Friday and Saturday 18th and 19th May we took our Guccis and Louis Vuittons and Mulberrys and set up camp in the studio part of her space. I love all of our pop-up hosts, but there is something quite special about the one that has a serious coffee machine a meter from my desk! 

 

 

in-haus stocks gorge pieces for your home - storage baskets, beautifully scented candles, cool glassware. And of course a menu board full of salads and smorgasboards and deliciousness. A soundtrack that mixes a bit of jazz with the occasional Steve Wright in the afternoon (although, we rather sneakily watched the wedding on the Saturday), and a plethora of homes and interior design magazines to leaf through, I dare you to visit and not wish that you lived in there!

 

Find in-haus on Instagram and Facenbook

We’re at the Home of Awesome, Lily Loves Shopping in Market Harborough on Friday & Saturday 27th & 28th April. 

 

You can have a good look at our armcandy and shop for gorgeous homewares at the same time, result.

Winner of last years Muddy Stilletoes Best Gift Shop category, they have an awesome loyalty card scheme. Get a stamp with each purchase and receive 15% off your 6th purchase. 

                 

 

Pop in and say hi, but if you can’t get in you can shop Jodies fab stuff here: Lily Loves Shopping

Have you entered yet?! 

 

We’re giving one of our Instagram followers the chance to win this gorgeous Radley messenger bag, you’re welcome 😉.

 

In excellent condition and with original Radley dustbag, it’s worth £55 and is an awesome bag to win!

 

 To enter follow us on Instagram here: Armcandy Bag Co and tag a friend. Each tag must be a seperate comment and there is no limit to how many comments you leave. Each comment counts as an entry. The competition ends Sunday 15th April at midnight... may the best person win!

#armcandyauction has launched!! We're having soooo much fun over on Instagram and Facebook, are you joining in? 

We're auctioning off a bag a day, a different bag on each social channel. And it's so easy to play along. Each bag is given a starting price and a buy it now price. All you have to do is leave a comment with a £ value and that's your bid (first bid can not be below the starting price). Alternatively you can comment "buy it now for £" and add the buy it now price. 

As always you can check the bag review on YouTube so that you know the features and condition of each bag. 

We’re auctioning Gucci, Moncler, Vivienne Westwood, Mulberry, and more. Is there a bag you'd like us to auction? Email, insta message or Facebook message us and let us know.

Follow us on Instagram here

and Facebook here

and YouTube here. 

Why buy preloved?

It seems to me that people buy preloved for all sorts of reasons. For some it's a pragmatic, cost effective way to buy. Or maybe a case of lemonade money and champagne taste.

For others it's about the thrill of the chase, the thrill of the search, of one off pieces of beauty waiting to be found amongst other less desirable objects.

And then there are those who are a sucker for a story. Sentimental. For whom a precious piece that has already been treasured, means life has been infused into it, and increased its worth. 

Add to this the desire to reduce our negative impact on our beautiful planet. A little bit of reusing can make a huge difference.

I fall into all of these categories. I have always loved nice things, always loved shopping and always had a clear idea of the look and style that I wanted. I still have every cinema ticket stubb for every film I've ever been to, so I guess that's the sentimental box checked.

                                    

When I first started my preloved store, 21 years ago, the phrase 'preloved' had yet to be coined, and second hand is how it was described. Over the years it outgrew it's sad connotations and became something to be proud of, a trophy. 'Look at my Chanel scarf and Vivienne Westwood shoes, I found them in this cute little 'new to you' boutique and they look fab with my last season Zara skirt' was starting to be what everyone strived for. Head to toe in one designer was now considered passé and mixing it up was the new black. For lot's of us this has always been our look, and how wonderful to be able to look to fashion magazines to be inspired instead of inhibited.

Our Armcandy venture is in an era of a new word - preowned. This aptly describes the bounty you will see here. Our bags show little or no sign of wear. They have all been checked for authenticity. And what you get is a luxury bag for a fraction of the original cost and the knowledge that your gorgeous 'new to you' has been 'preloved', is not costing the enviroment and can settle into your existing life and wardrobe, where it's story can continue.

                                   

Chloé is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1952. Over the years it's talented creative directors have included Karl Lagerfeld, Martine Sitbon, Stella McCartney, Phoebe Philo, Clare Waite Keller, and is currently under the helm of Natacha Ramsay-Levi.

The name Chloé is a feminine name which means 'blooming' or 'fertility', which aptly fits the fluid and feminine asthetic of the brand. For the spring/summer 2018 ready to wear Ramsay-Levi said of the Chloé woman 'she's very real, she's in the street, she's not in a fantasy world!'. Cue more of the soft, feminine Chloé we all know and love, but with a very 21st century attitude.

 

 

• Chloé Claire
•  Removable strap
• Magnetic stud closure
• Excellent condition
• Now sold

 

 

• See By Chloé Berty
• Magnetic stud closure
• Shoulder epaulette
• Excellent condition
• Only this one available

 

 

• Chloé Cate
• Removable/adjustable strap
• Zip top closure
• Excellent condition
• Only this one available

Shopping awesome homewares and preowned designer bags with a cream laden hot chocolate in your hand... is there a better way to spend a weekend?!

It's that time of year again. We leave the house in the dark, we need boots a size too big to fit 3 pairs of socks on, we walk past shops and houses who tease us with signs of warmth when we're trudging by outside in the cold, and then it's dark again before we have our afternoon coffee.

Apparently there are people who love this sort of thing. They love the contrast of the bleak walk from the tube station to their centrally heated flat. The reward of a hot chocolate after an icy toes dog walk. Bringing quilts downstairs to avoid hypothermia while watching Blue Planet. 

For the rest of us there's this Louis Vuitton. 

If like me you long for sundrenched beaches, toes free of woolly wrappings and cocktails whilst bikini clad and watching the sunset in Ibiza, then this might just cheer up your winter.

Featuring Yayoi Kusamas iconic Infinity Dots pattern, this limited edition Lockit is a guaranteed (almost) S.A.D lamp replacement. You're welcome 😎.