The Flap Bag continued to evolve under Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld, who debuted the Chanel Double Flap Bag in 1983. Distinguished by its leather-woven chain strap and Double C turn-lock closure, the bag has become one of the house’s most recognisable designs.
Lagerfeld also introduced modern icons including the Chanel Boy Bag (2011), the Chanel Gabrielle Bag (2017) and the Chanel 19 Bag (2019). With its structured, rectangular silhouette, the Boy Bag offered a sharper, more androgynous take on the classic flap, while the slouchier Gabrielle featured a relaxed, spacious design and became the house’s first unisex bag. The Chanel 19 was the last major handbag designed by Lagerfeld before his passing, defined by its chunky chain top handle and adjustable strap featuring multi-tone hardware.
Under Lagerfeld — and later Virginie Viard — Chanel regularly introduced seasonal reinterpretations, runway exclusives and limited-production handbag designs. As a result, certain styles become rare collector’s pieces over time — in 2025, a Runway Silver & Black Lambskin Leather Shopping Basket Bag established a new auction record for a Chanel handbag at $152,400.
Today, the house's designs remain coveted for their meticulous craftsmanship, signature quilting and interlocking CC motif, making Chanel handbags synonymous with fashion heritage.
A BLACK LAMBSKIN BAG
BY CHANEL
A NAVY BLUE QUILTED FLAP BAG
BY CHANEL
A BLACK QUILTED LEATHER DOUBLE FLAP BAG
BY CHANEL
A CHANEL BALLGOWN, CAPE, SHOES AND MATCHING CLUTCH BAG
LABELED 'CHANEL', WITH CANVAS TAG STAMPED '32449', 1960S
A LIME GREEN CROCODILE CLASSIC DOUBLE FLAP BAG
CHANEL, 2011
A RUNWAY BLACK LUCITE & CRYSTAL ROCKET SHIP EVENING BAG
CHANEL, FALL/WINTER 2017
A CHANEL PINK AND WHITE WOOL BLEND SUIT WITH A CHANEL NAVY LEATHER CLASSIC FLAP BAG
THE SUIT LABELED 'CHANEL BOUTIQUE' AND THE HANDBAG LABELED 'CHANEL', BOTH PROBABLY 1980S-1990S
A RUNWAY WHITE LAMBSKIN LEATHER LARGE HULA HOOP BAG WITH SILVER HARDWARE
CHANEL, SPRING/SUMMER 2013
A SHINY BLUE ALLIGATOR SMALL CLASSIC FLAP BAG WITH GOLD HARDWARE
CHANEL, 1996-1997
TWO QUILTED 'CLASSIC FLAP' BAGS,
CHANEL, LATE 20TH CENTURY,
AN AUBERGINE LIZARD FLAP BAG AND AN OVAL MAROON LEATHER BAG
BOTH LABELED 'CHANEL', THE LIZARD BAG CIRCA 1989-1991, THE LEATHER BAG PROBABLY 1970S-1980S
A WOOD & BLACK LAMBSKIN LEATHER CRUISE TRUNK BAG
CHANEL, 1996
A RUNWAY BLACK LUCITE GLOBE EVENING BAG WITH BLACK HARDWARE
CHANEL, FALL 2013
~A PURPLE WOOL FELT COAT AND A VIOLET LIZARD SKIN CLUTCH BAG
THE COAT UNLABELED, THE BAG LABELED 'CHANEL' AND CIRCA 1980S