Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld red sport cropped tracksuit, fw 2003
View Similar Items
Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld red sport cropped tracksuit, fw 2003
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. 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.
- 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 Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for 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
- Dolce & Gabbana coral cropped jacket and mini skirt suit, ss 1992By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GB▪ Dolce & Gabbana coral cropped jacket and mini skirt suit ▪ Viscose, silk and elastane blend ▪ Textured surface ▪ Cropped single-breasted blazer jac...Category
1990s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Dolce & Gabbana red stretch-satin coat and skirt set, ss 1999By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GB▪ Dolce & Gabbana coat and skirt set ▪ Red stretch-satin ▪ Mid-length coat with a two-button closure at the bust ▪ Notched lapels ▪ Matching knee...Category
1990s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Vivienne Westwood red and cream Harris Tweed corseted skirt suit, fw 1995By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBVivienne Westwood red and cream checked Harris Tweed three piece skirt suit comprising: halter-neck waistcoat with sixteen button fastenings, built-in corset and large lapels, equestrian style jacket with padded shoulders, large lapels and two button fastenings attaching to waistcoat, and above-the-knee pencil skirt. 'Vive La Cocotte...Category
1990s British Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Etro Red Silk Straight Leg Trousers LBy EtroLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Veronica Etro's impeccable craftsmanship and detailed tailoring are seen in these trousers. These pants are tailored from lustrous silk- blend in a loose, straight-leg silhouette and...Category
2010s Italian Trouser Pant Suits
- Chloe Burgundy Velvet Trouser MBy ChloéLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Chloé's velvet trouser is made of quality materials and features a comfortable waistband with tie fastening, two pockets, and ankle cuffs. Dress it up with a sleeveless top or T-shir...Category
2010s French Trouser Pant Suits
- Alaia High Waisted Skirt and Crop TopBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Austin, TXAlaia High Waisted Skirt and Crop Top 100% cotton Condition: Very good, some all over wear 26" bust, 23" waist, 30" hips, 25.5" length Sz SCategory
1980s French Skirt Suits
- 1970s Jean Louis Couture 3pc suitBy JEAN LOUIS COUTURELocated in Capri, IT1970s Jean Louis Couture trio made by a cardigan, skirt and a shirt.Category
1970s American Twin Sets
$244 Sale Price54% Off - Luisa Spagnoli fucsia wool skirt suitBy Luisa SpagnoliLocated in Capri, ITLuisa Spagnoli fucsia wool skirt suit totally made in italy in size 44Category
1990s Italian Skirt Suits
- DOLCE GABBANA red wool crepe logo button fitted blazer skirt set IT42 MBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Hong Kong, NTDOLCE GABBANA red wool crepe logo button fitted blazer skirt set IT42 M Reference: GIYG/A00049 Brand: Dolce Gabbana Material: Wool Color: Red Pattern: Solid Closure: Button Ext...Category
2010s Italian Skirt Suits
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.