Chanel Vintage Gold Leather Oval Evening Clutch
View Similar Items
Chanel Vintage Gold Leather Oval Evening Clutch
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Palm Beach, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU102816571121
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.
- Chanel Gold Tweed Couture Collection Kiss Lock Mini BagBy ChanelLocated in Palm Beach, FLThis authentic Chanel Gold Tweed Kiss Lock Bag is in excellent condition. Petite and feminine, this mini features a silver frame with kiss lock clos...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Chanel Black Vintage Beaded Mini Box Evening BagBy ChanelLocated in Palm Beach, FLThis authentic Chanel Black Beaded Mini Box Bag is in excellent vintage condition from the late 1990's. A rare and stunning evening bag for any collectio...Category
1990s Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Chanel Plexiglass No. 5 Perfume Bottle BagBy ChanelLocated in Palm Beach, FLThis authentic Chanel Plexiglass No. 5 Perfume Bottle Bag is a runway piece in excellent condition. Extremely rare, it is a must have piece for any colle...Category
2010s Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Chanel Beige Satin Applique Frame BagBy ChanelLocated in Palm Beach, FLThis authentic Chanel Beige Satin Applique Clutch is in excellent condition. Very unique ornamentation combines beautifully with edgy silver accents. B...Category
Early 2000s Italian Clutches
- Chanel Vintage Black Resin Evening BagBy ChanelLocated in Palm Beach, FLThis authentic Chanel Black Resin Evening Bag is in excellent vintage condition from the late 1980's A rare piece that is a must have for any collect...Category
20th Century French Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Chanel Vintage Brown Leather Box Purse WristletBy ChanelLocated in Palm Beach, FLThis authentic Chanel Brown Leather Box Purse Wristlet is in excellent vintage condition. This very rare piece is exquisite; a must have for collectors. Dar...Category
Early 2000s European Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Judith Leiber Gold Filigree Swarovski Crystal Box Minaudiere evening bag clutchBy Judith LieberLocated in Philadelphia, PAStunning Judith Leiber Vintage gold box minaudiere in very good vintage condition. Gold structured box exterior trimmed with clear swarovski crystals...Category
1990s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Chanel 1990s Vintage Rare Rucksack Gold Lambskin Leather BackpackBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLCirca 1991-1994. Vintage Chanel quilted leather backpack features gold tone hardware, dual leather and interwoven chain straps, front patch pocket, front flap with a CC turn lock clo...Category
1990s Italian Backpacks
- TYLER ELLIS Jamie Clutch Small Gold Ostrich Leg Gold HardwareBy Tyler EllisLocated in Los Angeles, CAThe Jamie Clutch is a structured square clutch with an optional cross-body chain and interior pocket. It features our slide-lock closure and signature Thayer blue satin lining. Siz...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Clutches
- Burberry Metallic Gold Quilted Leather Brooke HoboBy BurberryLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Catch admiring glances when you swing this Brooke hobo by Burberry. Crafted from leather, it is styled with quilting all over. The flap closure opens to a spacious nylon-lined interi...Category
2010s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
- CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA Precious Pouch gold Kitty print tan leather drawstring bagBy Charlotte OlympiaLocated in Hong Kong, NTCHARLOTTE OLYMPIA Precious Pouch gold Kitty print tan leather drawstring bag Reference: SNKO/A00160 Brand: Charlotte Olympia Collection: Kitty Material: Leather Color: Brown Pattern: Solid Closure: Drawstring Extra Detail: Metallic gold coated...Category
2010s Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Laura Biagiotti Attributed Gold Leather Handbag, 1970'sBy Laura BiagiottiLocated in Atlanta, GAGlamorous gold ... Italian style! This gold nugget is a 'carry anywhere and with everything' bag. It is ostensibly an evening accessory but the effortlessly chic leather design wou...Category
1970s Italian Top Handle Bags
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.