Chanel Haute Couture ivory lace wedding dress, c. 1960s
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 63 in (160.02 cm)Marked Size: N/A refer to measurements (EU)Bust: 34 in (86.36 cm)Waist: 27 in (68.58 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU14029748382
Chanel
In the years following the opening of her modest millinery shop, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel became a pivotal designer of both fashionable casual wear and Paris haute couture as well as an icon and arbiter of 20th-century style with her bob haircut and pearls. Today vintage Chanel handbags, jackets and evening dresses are among the most sought-after clothing and accessories for fashion lovers all over the world.
The first Chanel shop was established in 1910 in Paris on rue Cambon by the young milliner Gabrielle Chanel (1883–1971), who had picked up the nickname “Coco” while working as a club singer. The boutique drew the attention of the Parisian fashion elite who popularized her wide-brimmed Chanel Modes hats. Soon she added a sportswear store in the Normandy resort town of Deauville, where Coco set the tone for her defining sense of style — traditionally masculine garments reimagined for feminine shapes, made from simple jersey fabric.
Effortless and elegant, Chanel's designs promoted comfort and grace in women’s wear that had been dominated in the previous century by complicated layers of fabric and cumbersome corsets. She followed this success with a couture house, opened in 1915 in Biarritz.
But Chanel was not born into a life of glamour. Following the death of her mother, her father left her in an orphanage where she lived until the age of 18. It was there that she learned to sew as well as appreciate the classic pairing of black and white as worn by the nuns.
In 1926, Chanel introduced her first little black dress, reclaiming a color that had once been reserved for mourning and working-class women. That same decade, she debuted her perfume, Chanel No. 5, as well as the Chanel suit with a fitted skirt, inspired by the boxy lines of men’s clothing and employing a sporty tweed.
Chanel closed her fashion operations during World War II, then returned to the industry in 1954 to design for the functional needs of modern women.
Structure and wearability endured in all of Chanel’s clothing and accessories, like the quilted leather 2.55 handbag — a 1955 update of a 1920s-era design — with its gold-chain shoulder strap that freed up a woman’s hands. The 1957 two-tone slingback pumps had a practical heel height while offering a bold statement in the black tip of the shoes. Her collarless jacket reacted against the constricting styles of Christian Dior's New Look, replacing them with a design that was timeless, an instant classic.
After Coco Chanel died in 1971, the brand underwent several changes in leadership, including fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who took over as artistic director in 1983. His collections for Chanel displayed his knack for synthesizing old and new, high and low. Lagerfeld revived Chanel ballet flats and thoroughly embraced the classic logo's interlocking CCs, which took the form of a clasp featured on so many of the rare Chanel bags that are much sought after today.
Vintage Karl Lagerfeld designs for Chanel dresses, coats and other clothing of the 1980s, '90s and 2000s riffed on its iconography, accenting a lexicon of Chanel-isms with tastes of the moment. And as the 1990s have become associated with styles adopted by today’s supermodels and influencers, vintage Chanel bags of the 1990s are among the most prized of the brand’s offerings.
Over the years, the company has continued to innovate, such as expanding into ready-to-wear fashion in 1978 and, in 2002, establishing a subsidiary company — Paraffection — dedicated to preserving the heritage skills of fashion artisan workshops. The House of Chanel still operates its flagship on rue Cambon in Paris, where it all began.
Browse vintage Chanel bags, evening dresses, shoes, jewelry and other clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Roberto Cavalli leather trained hourglass motocross biker dress, fw 2003By Roberto CavalliLocated in London, GB▪ Roberto Cavalli hourglass leather maxi dress ▪ Cut and decorated like a motocross biker jacket ▪ Red quilted leather panels at shoulders and hi...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gianfranco Ferre beige wool column dress, fw 1999By Gianfranco FerréLocated in London, GB▪ Gianfranco Ferre beige wool column dress ▪ Wide funnel neck with halter ▪ High leg slit at center-front ▪ Extra long skirt ▪ Fully lined ▪ IT 42 - FR 38 - UK 10 - US 6 ▪ Fall-Win...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vivienne Westwood pink floral printed maxi skirt and blouse ensemble, ss 2001By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBVivienne Westwood pink floral printed ensemble. Maxi skirt and draped blouse with asymmetric cut. Spring-Summer 2001Category
Early 2000s British Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Alexander McQueen striped cotton and lace dress with pleated skirt, ss 2005By Alexander McQueenLocated in London, GB▪ Alexander McQueen dress ▪ Constructed from a fine cotton-silk fabric in two colour-ways of red, cream and blue stripes ▪ Ivory lace inserts and trim ▪ Low-waisted skirt made up of...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Prada by Miuccia Prada brown silk chiffon slip dress, fw 1996By Prada, Miuccia PradaLocated in London, GB▪ Rare Prada evening slip dress ▪ Designed by Miuccia Prada ▪ Fine silk chiffon with geometric print in brown and cream ▪ Sold with a matching Prada nude silk slip dress to wear u...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Dolce & Gabbana pink floral printed silk dress, ss 1997By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GBDolce & Gabbana pink floral printed silk dress with attached nude bra. Spring-Summer 1997Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- DOLCE & GABBANA red & white silk ROSE FLORAL HALF SLEEVE SHEATH Dress 42 MBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Dolce & Gabbana rose print sheath dress in multi-color silk (92%) and elastane (8%) with a round neck. Closes on the back with a concealed zipper. Lined in silk (97%) ...Category
2010s Evening Gowns
- EMILIO PUCCI pink white orange cotton 2018 SLEEVELESS BOX PLEATED Dress 44 LBy Emilio PucciLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Emilio Pucci sleeveless box pleated dress in , white, ivory, pink, Orangel and brown cotton (100%). Features a two pockets on the side and two white buttons on the str...Category
2010s Unknown Cocktail Dresses
- Bob Mackie 1970s Stripes Size 4 Silk + Lace Vintage 70s Crop Top and Skirt DressBy Bob MackieLocated in San Diego, CAPretty vintage BOB MACKIE (late 70s) stripes silk and lace crop top and skirt ensemble! Features pleated silk with stripes printed in purple, pink and ivory. White lace cut-out at wa...Category
1970s American Skirt Suits
- Roberto Cavalli S/S 2005 Silk Floral Print Slip Evening Dress & Wrap 2 Piece SetBy Roberto CavalliLocated in Naples, FLRoberto Cavalli S/S 2005 Silk Floral Print Slip Evening Maxi Dress and Wrap Shawl 2 Piece Set IT 42 Wrap Approximate Measurements - 47" x 53"Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent YSL S/S 2003 Runway Cutout Silk DressBy Tom Ford for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Naples, FLTom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent YSL S/S 2003 Runway Cutout Silk Dress FR 40 Look 1 from the Spring 2003 Collection.Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Tom Ford for Gucci F/W 2003 Cutout Back Asymmetric Bodycon DressBy Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Naples, FLTom Ford for Gucci F/W 2003 Cutout Back Asymmetric Bodycon Dress Size IT 40 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @OPULENTADDICTCategory
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
From the Runway to Rihanna, These Chanel Pearl Sunglasses Are the Peak of ’90s Chic
This cheeky accessory is seriously fun.
With a Wink, Karl Lagerfeld Sent This Egg-Carton-Shaped Chanel Bag Down the Runway
For the brand’s 2014–15 ready-to-wear show in Paris, the designer was inspired by a most unexpected place: the supermarket.