Chanel: the story behind the legendary two-tone shoe

The first two-tone shoe, now a signature of the Chanel house, appeared in 1957. After designing timeless little black dresses, tweed tailoring, and quilted bags, Gabrielle Chanel completed her wardrobe essentials with these versatile and well designed shoes to wear from morning to night.

“They are the last point of elegance.” 

Gabrielle Chanel et Serge Lifar en 1937

Jean Moral / Brigitte Moral / Courtesy of Chanel

In 1937, almost 20 years before their official launch, the famous shoes had already appeared on Coco Chanel‘s feet, in a signature black and white silhouette, pictured here with the Ballets Russes star Serge Lifar, whom she befriended after meeting him in 1924, on the set of Train Bleu.

“You leave in the morning with beige and black, you dine with beige and black, you go for a cocktail with beige and black. You’re dressed from morning to evening!” she affirmed when presenting them for the first time.

Gabrielle Chanel and Serge Lifar in 1937

Jean Moral / Courtesy of Chanel