Chanel spring 1997 silk dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:PARIS, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3895222836972
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: Paris, France
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Chanel métiers d’art Paris Rome Pre Fall 2016 cashmere runway maxi dressBy ChanelLocated in PARIS, FRChanel métiers d’art Paris Rome pre fall 2016 runway cashmere maxi dress with a cape behind, new condition, cc logo number 5 and Chanel print, it doesn’t come with Chanel hangerCategory
2010s French Maxi Dresses
- Chanel spring 1997 silk dressBy ChanelLocated in PARIS, FRChanel runway spring summer 1997 silk dress, size 40 FR, in excellent condition, camélia print and logo Chanel coco sketch by Karl LagerfeldCategory
1990s French Casual Dresses
- Chanel spring 2010 faux pearl embroidery cashmere cardiganBy ChanelLocated in PARIS, FRChanel spring 2010 faux pearl embroidery cashmere cardigan size 36 FR but fits 2 US up to 8 US stretchy material and openCategory
2010s French Cardigans
- Chanel Runway 1993 jacketBy ChanelLocated in PARIS, FRRare Chanel Runway Spring Summer 1993 jacket in excellent condition size 42 FR 24k gold plated chain detailsCategory
1990s French Jackets
- Dolce & Gabbana runway 2011 pink sequined jacketBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in PARIS, FRDolce & Gabbana runway Fall Winter 2011 pink sequined jacket as seen on Beyonce performing for the MTV awards in 2011, fits perfectly for a size 36 FR and 38 FR, it’s a size 38 IT ve...Category
2010s Jackets
- Rare Fendi Runway 2019 Karl Kollage trench coatBy FendiLocated in PARIS, FRRare Fendi Runway 2019-2020 RTW men, Tribute to Karl Lagerfeld « Karl Kollage » trench coat belted size 50 IT unisex, its unisex, could be reversible, new condition, no hangerCategory
2010s European Trench Coats
- Salvatore Ferragamo Peach Cotton Knit Short Sleeve Shift Dress - MediumBy Salvatore FerragamoLocated in West Palm Beach, FLSalvatore Ferragamo Peach Cotton Knit Short Sleeve Shift Dress - Medium. This lovely dress is in excellent condition. It features a feminine peach cotton knit material, two pockets...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shift Dresses
- Missoni Vintage Earthtones Chevron Knitted Tunic-Style Dress - S - Circa 70'sBy MissoniLocated in West Palm Beach, FLMissoni Vintage Earthtones Chevron Knitted Tunic-Style Dress - S - Circa 70's. This adorable dress is in excellent vintage condition with only very slight pulls near the bottom. It ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses
- Chanel Black Dress with Silk Chiffon Top and Tweed Skirt - 38By ChanelLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Chanel dress features a black silk chiffon sleeveless top and a black tweed skirt. The skirt has pockets and has a Chanel logo detail on it. This dress is in excellent condition...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Day Dresses
- Dries Van Noten Taupe Silk Slip Dress - 42By Dries van NotenLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Dries Van Noten slip dress is taupe silk. It has spaghetti straps and a v-neck. This dress is in excellent condition. Measurements Bust: 34" Waist: 38" Hips: 43" Length (...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Day Dresses
- Oscar de la Renta Charcoal Wool Sleeveless Shift Dress - LBy Oscar De La RentaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Oscar de la Renta wool shift dress is a charcoal color. It is sleeveless and has a cutout in the front. This dress is in excellent condition. Measurements Bust: 39" Waist: 36" ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Day Dresses
- Black Oscar de la Renta Short Sleeve Dress Size US MBy Oscar De La RentaLocated in New York, NYBlack short sleeve dress by Oscar de la Renta. Ruffle trim. V-neck. Zip closure at center front. 32" bust, 32" waist, 37" length, 20" shoulder width.Category
21st Century and Contemporary North American Casual Dresses
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.