1980’s Chanel Red Double-Breasted Boucle Skirt Suit
View Similar Items
1980’s Chanel Red Double-Breasted Boucle Skirt Suit
About the Item
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. 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. The 1957 two-tone slingback pumps had a practical heel height while offering a bold statement in the black tip of the shoes.
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. 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.
- 1980s Valentino Midi Skirt Suit with Red Jacket and Velvet DetailsBy ValentinoLocated in Toronto, Ontario1980s Valentino midi skirt suit with velvet details. The collarless jacket is made of a horizontally ribbed red fabric with two front pockets on t...Category
1980s Italian Skirt Suits
- 1960's Nina Ricci Haute Couture Red Wool Ensemble with Mink TrimBy Nina RicciLocated in Toronto, OntarioStunning 1960's Nina Ricci haute couture red wool dress and jacket ensemble with mink trimmed hem. The dress has sheer silk chiffon long sleeves and is fitted through the waist and b...Category
1960s French Dress and Coat Ensembles
- 1960's Molyneux Coral Wool Skirt SuitBy MolyneuxLocated in Toronto, OntarioAdorable coral suit by the designer Molyneux from the 1960’s. The fitted jacket has a mandarin style collar and fastens up the front with large matching plastic coral buttons. The sc...Category
1960s French Skirt Suits
- 1970's Pauline Trigere Red Wool Gown & Coat EnsembleBy Pauline TrigèreLocated in Toronto, Ontario1970's Pauline Trigere red knit jersey gown and jacket ensemble. Gown is empire waist with inverted pleats in the front. Skims the body beautifully, lined in red silk. The long line ...Category
1970s American Dress and Coat Ensembles
$1,500 Sale Price25% Off - 1990s Moschino Couture! Fuchsia Vest & Skirt EnsembleBy Moschino CoutureLocated in Toronto, OntarioFun and vibrant Moschino Couture! bright fuchsia ensemble from the 1990s. Ensemble features vest with v neckline, covered buttons and horizontal slit pockets. Skirt is a classic high...Category
1990s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- 1980s Geoffrey Beene Grey Long Sleeve JumpsuitBy Geoffrey BeeneLocated in Toronto, Ontario1980s wool jersey Geoffrey Beene grey long sleeve jumpsuit with black striped front panel detail. Round neckline, curved detail at the waist and s...Category
1980s American Jumpsuits
- Valentino Boutique Jacket and Dress 80sBy ValentinoLocated in Rubiera, REValentino Boutique vintage 80s Damask red silk with black polka dots dress suit 100% silk Size 12US Made in Italy The dress has a bodice with splints inside The jacket has padded sho...Category
1980s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
$538 Sale Price30% Off - 1990’s Vintage Moschino skirt suitBy MoschinoLocated in LAGNY-SUR-MARNE, FR1990´s Vintage 2 piece chromatic suit by Moschino cheap &chic, detailed with funny emojis buttons. This skirt suit was seen on Fran fine on the hit sitcom the nanny in season 4. It i...Category
1990s Italian Skirt Suits
- Gianni Versace S/S 1991 Orange silk paisley print blazer and skirt setBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Milano, IT- Designed by Gianni Versace - Sold by Skof.Archive - Gianni Versace Couture Runway - Runway Look 51 - Bright orange paisley silk blazer and skirt ensemble - Exaggerated pockets - ...Category
1990s Italian Skirt Suits
$1,565 Sale Price25% Off - Vivienne Westwood red and black equestrian style pant suit, fw 1994By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBVivienne Westwood equestrian style pant suit comprising: red wool jacket with accentuated waist, shoulder pads, large double lapel and gold orb button fastenings, high ride black vel...Category
1990s British Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Vivienne Westwood red wool back-to-front skirt suit, fw 1991By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBVivienne Westwood red wool back-to-front skirt suit with gold fox engraved button fastenings at the centre back opening and black velvet Peter Pan collar. Vivienne Westwood was photographed wearing this suit at various public events in 1991-1992, including the presentation of her fall-winter 1992 collection (March, 1992), photographed alongside Azzedine Alaia, Kylie Minogue...Category
1990s British Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld orange bouclé wool dress and jacket set, fw 1995By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, ChanelLocated in London, GB▪ Chanel orange bouclé wool dress and jacket set ▪ Designed by Karl Lagerfeld ▪ Mid-length sheath dress with v-neck ▪ Back vent with gold 'CC' buttons ▪ Silk lining ▪ Unlined ...Category
1990s French Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
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.