ok, so from various sources, i try to conclude :
2.55 is the category of bags generally that have a flap and chain strap.
Coco Chanel introduced the bags in Feb ( happen to be the month i was born :p ) 1955 (and no, this is not the year i was born LOL) so that is where that name came from.
and so, both the classic flap and the reissue is considered a 2.55
the "reissue" name comes from the fact that it is a copy of the original classic Chanel that was released in 2.55 (Feb. 1955)
the lock on the reissue is the original, it's called the Mademoiselle lock as Ms Coco Chanel is never married, the CC lock was introduced to the classic flaps only in the 1980s by designer Karl lagerfeld.
Over the years there have been many variations to the original design of the 2.55 including the leather/fabric, the chain - metal vs. interwoven leather, single flap vs. double flap, and the closure - mademoiselle vs. interlocking CC.
The 2.55 refers to ALL FLAP STYLE BAGS including variations of the original.
The term CLASSIC FLAP commonly refers to the flap with the interlocking CC closure and the leather interwoven chain.
In February 2005 Karl Lagerfeld re-made the 2.55 - exactly as Coco Chanel had made in 1955 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 2.55. It came to be known as the REISSUE. Technically the term REISSUE should only be used for the bags that were made to commemorate the original - so only those in 2005.
However, it has become convenient to call all 2.55s that resemble the original 2.55s as REISSUE and all 2.55s that have the interlocking CCs as CLASSIC FLAPS.
the history of the 2.55 Reissue
some of the facts are really interesting and may not be well known (most people do know that "2.55" refers to Feb. 1955 when the bag first was issued) Coco Chanel grew up in an orphanage/convent, therefore, the double chain shoulder strap comes from when, in the orphanage, the children's caretakers there would dangle keys from their waists with the same type of chains as on the Reissue.
also, the zippered compartment on the inside of the front flap of the Reissue is where Coco sequestered her love letters, as she was having an affair.
The brownish red color of the inside represents the color of Coco and the rest of the children's uniforms (the nuns' were black with white trim: thus, the packaging on Chanel parfum/eau de parfum/eau de toilette).
The back outside flap of the Reissue represents where Coco would stash extra money
The major difference between reissue 2.55 in the classic flap 2.55 are:
1. closure/locks
the classic has the double CC turn-style lock
the Reissue has the MM lock which means its a rectangle shape and not the double cc
2. the handle
the classic has leather interwoven between the chain links
the reissue has an all chain handle
3. leather
Reissue has a different type of leather, that is distressed calf-skin
4. flap
I think all the reissues have a double flap, whereas the only the small and medium classic have double flaps
5. size
the sizes on the reissues are different than the sizes on the classic flaps
the classic has 4 sizes:
• mini
• small 9" W x 5.5" H x 2" D
• med/large 10" x 6" x 2.5"
• jumbo 12" x 8" x 3"
and i also believe there's an east west. Chanel also produced an XL jumbo that's discontinued now.
the reissue depending on the color i think have been made in 4 or 5 different styles
• 224 or the baby 7.5 W x 5.75 H x 1.75 D
• 225 or the small Small 9.75" x 7.06" x 2.16"
• 226 or Medium 11" x 8" x 2.5"
• 227 or Large 12.25" x 9.18" x 2.5"
• 228 or X-Large aka Jumbo 14.2" x 9.8" x 3"
all 5 reissue
ok, now back to tabloidtalk request as he wrote this :
dear baaagaholic,
long time no talk. im looking to purchase a new bag. id love some information on the chanel jumbo black caviar classic flap bag. in specific, the one lauren conrad and ashley tisdale has. its oversized but not vintage. it would be such a help to me if i could get a picture of the bag by itself, not in a picture, like totally alone, and maybe some information on the bag itself.
i trust you, your always reliable.
love, tabloidtalk
so, if i'm not wrong, i think this is the bag u mean?
it's a black caviar jumbo classic flap 12" x 8" x 3"
if i'm not mistaken, the retail price to this date this blog posted is $2650
here some of the bags alone that i borrowed from lovely PF member PrincessDD & a pic of the black & white caviar jumbo classic flap (not the vintage one) along with a reissue i found from PF member lulilu
i would also like to point between the difference on the vintage and the latest one.
i happen to have the vintage jumbo from 1994 or 1995 that i dear so much :)
i love that the flap is "straighter" than the new "curvy" one now.
definitely recommend you to buy the caviar because as you can see from my over than 10 yrs old caviar jumbo, it's still so pretty and i've been using it a lot and i'm not giving it an "easy" job either LOL.
the one on the bottom is my vintage jumbo.
so dear tabloidtalk, please let me know when you have decided what you buy ok :p
love,
bagcraze
note : all info are based on the date this blog posted