1950 Chanel Dress

The Chanel Ford dress was a calf-length black dress designed by Coco Chanel in 1962. Vogue magazine referred to the look as Chanel's Model T Ford, comparing it to the automobile made by Ford because, like the vehicle, the simple design of the garment was appealing to women from many social classes. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Chanel dresses.

To tell if a Chanel dress is real, examine small details. Embossed and painted motifs on buttons should be even and crisp, and all stitching should be tight and straight. Replicas often have imperfections that you can spot with a careful inspection. Experts suggest working with a professional in the field of vintage fashion when it comes to determining the authenticity of a Chanel dress. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Chanel dresses from vetted sellers all over the world.

In the 1950s, a Chanel bag was priced between $200 and $300. The iconic Chanel 2.55 bag cost $220 when first introduced in February 1955. Accounting for inflation, that works out to around $2,536 in today's money. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Chanel bags from some of the world's top boutiques.

What makes the Chanel little black dress so special has everything to do with what the garment symbolized and the era in which it materialized. Legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel revolutionized women’s wear, introducing a more casual, less constricting look for the early 20th century, and debuting uncomplicated skirts and jackets made of a cloth-like fabric called jersey that was considerably unconventional in the world of couture fashion. She set the fashion world alight in 1926 with an elegant but versatile black dress, which was simple and spare compared to other Jazz Age garments (and quite bold, as black was reserved for mourning). Importantly, the dress was affordable during a time of great financial difficulty and aimed at the broadest possible market. Find vintage Chanel dresses on 1stDibs.

Coco Chanel first made the little black dress popular in 1926. That year, Vogue magazine referred to the dress as Chanel’s Model T as a way to describe how the approachable design was something the average woman could wear, just as Ford’s Model T automobile made it possible for more everyday people to own a car. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Chanel dresses.