Few fabrics express timeless elegance like tweed. While Chanel is the most famous tweed designer, other luxury brands like Christian Dior and Gucci create Chanel-inspired tweed. Over the years, patterns like houndstooths and checks have become symbols of sophisticated style. In this post, we will look at the most popular types of tweed and how Chanel’s tweed has influenced ultra-luxury styles.
The Origin of Tweed
We can’t talk about tweed without talking about the beginning of tweed in ultra-luxury fashion. What started in 19th-century Scotland transformed in the mid-1920s when Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel started working with tweed to create the first suits that set the groundwork for the iconic Chanel jacket. Just like Chanel colors, tweed is extremely unique to each seasonal collection and rarely released again (which means you can only buy them on the resale market). Season after season, the storied French house launches a new series of gorgeous creations. Today, Chanel is famous for incorporating tweed throughout its handbags, shoes, and ready-to-wear pieces. Tweed is an essential part of Chanel’s brand DNA.
What Is Tweed?
Tweed is yarn predominantly made of wool woven between other fabrics, such as cotton thread, velvet, lace, denim, and leather. Chanel’s mastery of tweed lies in its innovative approach to texture, color, and embellishments, creating unique, luxurious fabrics. Here are a few of our favorite iconic tweed creations:
Chanel’s Iconic Pink Tweed
Pink tweed has become a Chanel icon, forever associated with Jackie Kennedy’s 1963 Chanel-inspired suit. Pink is one of Chanel’s most popular tweeds of all time. Every generation of fashion lovers has a different memory of the Chanel tweed suit. Mine is Marge Simpson’s $90 pink Chanel suit. The Simpsons episode “Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield” aired in 1996—in it, Lisa finds a hot pink Chanel vintage skirt suit set with black trim, modeled after the Chanel suit that First Lady Jackie Kennedy wore on November 22, 1963.
Houndstooth Tweed
Houndstooth, usually in bold black-and-white, features a jagged checkerboard in a tessellation pattern that exudes classic sophistication. Chanel has elevated this heritage motif by experimenting with oversized houndstooth for a dramatic, modern effect and shrinking it into petite, intricate variations for a more understated elegance. By reimagining this pattern in their collections in a variety of bag, shoe, and accessories styles, Chanel continues to make houndstooth relevant.
Plaid Tweed
Plaid is a hallmark of Scottish tweed design, but Chanel’s interpretations play with proportions and colors, making the traditional pattern feel more modern. Chanel experiments with various colors to create stunning plaids, from soft pastel plaids for spring/summer collections to deep tones for fall/winter combined with leather and classic CC logos. Plaid certainly makes a bold statement in any outfit, showcasing the brand’s ability to reinvent a heritage pattern for today.
Fantasy Tweed
Chanel’s iconic Fantasy Tweed is quite unique and intricate in nature. Unlike traditional tweeds made from wool, Chanel’s Fantasy Tweeds incorporate unexpected materials like ribbons, metallic threads, sequins, and embroidery. Metallic threads or contrasting textures within the weave add a dynamic, three-dimensional effect.
Boucle Tweed
Boucle tweed—characterized by its looped or curled yarns—adds a rich texture with a luxurious, tactile feel. The textured feel of the boucle adds three-dimensional depth. Chanel popularized this stunning fabric, but many other brands use boucle tweed in their bags, like these beauties from Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, and Balenciaga:
Other Ways to Wear Tweed
Chanel tweeds aren’t just for runways or country clubs—they’ve become staples in everyday fashion. Add an edge to your outfit by pairing tweed with leather. Accessorize with a tweed handbag or a tweed Chanel brooch for subtle elegance. For a full Chanel-inspired outfit, try a tweed skirt suit with Chanel ballerina flats or espadrilles. Chanel sunglasses with a subtle tweed detail and CC logo add the perfect finishing touch.
The appeal of tweed lies in its versatility. Whether in neutral tones or bold colors, tweed’s ability to adapt ensures it stays relevant every season. The reinvention of tweed has made it a favorite for fashion lovers–especially if they’re into Chanel.
