A part of the Left Bank intellectual crowd who shared her mother’s fondness for fashion, Chloé cofounder Gaby Aghion was inspired to empower independent working women to break from the conservative dress of the 1950s and don more free-spirited, feminine designs that were appropriate for both work and social life.
Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Aghion established her fashion house in Paris in 1952 with her business partner Jacques Lenoir to develop her own source of income, separate from her husband’s. She was one of the first designers to embrace the concept of luxury prêt-à-porter as a middle ground between haute couture and off-the-rack for the masses.
In 1964, Aghion hired a fledgling Karl Lagerfeld as a designer. The pair would bring Chloé into the international spotlight with their easy yet glamorous lines that drew such fans as Jacqueline Kennedy. Lagerfeld became the staff creative lead at Chloé in 1974 and stayed with the brand until 1983, during which time he became known for his romantic silk dresses that continued Aghion’s feminine vision and were a favorite of the “rich hippie” set. In 1988, then-unknown designer Martine Sitbon took the helm of Chloé for several years before Lagerfeld returned as creative director from 1992 to 1997, drawing all of the iconic 1990s supermodels to his runway.
After his second departure, Chloé tapped yet another early-career designer to lead the label: a punky 25-year-old Stella McCartney, who earned the position not because of her famous lineage (she’s the daughter of Paul and Linda McCartney), but because of her fashion education at Central Saint Martins and work experience on London’s Savile Row and at Christian Lacroix. Following McCartney’s exit to launch her own line in 2001 — not long after introducing the diffusion label See by Chloé that year — Chloé named Phoebe Philo to the post.
Under Philo’s leadership, Chloé expanded from women’s clothing to an accessories line — including handbags — and debuted the legendary Paddington bag in 2005. The padlocked satchel, notorious for weighing a hefty three pounds while empty, became one of the “It bags” of the decade (the brand’s double-handled Marcie holds its own in that regard); the entire 8,000-bag initial production run sold out via preorders.
Philo left Chloé in 2006; her successors include, among others, Clare Waight Kelle and Natacha Ramsay-Levi, who announced that she would be departing the house in late 2020. Part of Chloé’s decades-long lasting influence — which we’d like to speculate would appease Aghion greatly — is the brand’s dedication as a career-launching platform for newbie designers, particularly women.
Browse an extraordinary inventory of vintage Chloé handbags, day dresses, shoes and more on 1stDibs.
CHLOE red multicolor cashmere blend STRIPED FRINGED KNIT MUFFLER Scarf
By Chloé
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Chloé striped long shawl in red, yellow, blue, salmon, baby pink and brown cashmere (93%), wool (5%), alpaca (1%) and polyamide (1%) panels with fringed trims. Has bee...
Chloe, gold metal pendant
By Chloé
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
Chloe, gold metal pendant. The item is in good condition.
HERMES silk BINGATA Twilly Scarf Scarf Vert Noir Saumon Moutarde
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Hermès Bingata twilly by Natsuno Hidaka in Vert Noir (sage green), Saumon (salmon) and Moutard (mustard) silk twill (100%) with de...
HERMES chocolat & cognac silk BOLDUC AU CARRE 90 Twill Scarf
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Hermes 'Bolduc au Carre 90' scarf by Caty Latham in chocolat brown silk twill (100%) with details in cognac, white, orange beige and white. Has been worn and is in exc...
GIVENCHY Riccardo Tisci pink olive green wool silk rose print fringed trim scarf
By Riccardo Tisci, Givenchy
Located in Hong Kong, NT
GIVENCHY Riccardo Tisci pink olive green wool silk rose print fringed trim scarf Reference: VACN/A00132 Brand: Givenchy Designer: Riccardo Tisci Material: Wool, Silk Color: Pink, Gre...
Hermes pink CIRQUE MOLIER 140 Scarf silk Mousseline
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Hermès Cirque Molier 140 scarf in dusty pin silk (100%) with details in light rose, pale petrol, white, beige, light brow, light grey, gre...
HERMES eggplant silk UN SIECLE DE COURSES A DEAUVILLE 90 Twill Scarf
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Hermès 'Un Siecle de Courses a Deauville 90' scarf by Hubert de Watrigant in beige and orange silk twill (100%) with eggplant border and details in lilac, blue and gre...
HERMES oatmeal cashmere silk CAVALCADOUR 140 Scarf
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Hermès 'Cavalcadour 140' shawl by Henri d'Origny in ivory cashmere (65%) and silk (35%) with details in yellow, brown, dark green and olive. Has been worn and is in excellent condition. Story Behind: Cavalcadour is a joyous cavalcade of reins which twist and turn like ribbons. Decorated with delicately worked fleur de lys buckles and the crown of France, they are inspired by the buckles worn by the horses of the Count of Chambord. He was the grandson of Charles X, son of the Duke of Berry and last in the line of the senior branch of the Bourbons. The designer borrowed these reins from the Emile Hermès collection and dreamt up bits and spurs...
Salvatore Ferragamo Scarf in Signature Giaguaro or Jungle Leopard
By Salvatore Ferragamo
Located in valatie, NY
Salvatore Ferragamo Scarf in Signature Giaguaro or Jungle Leopard. Giaguaro is the Italian noun for the animal jaguar, the large South American cat. Trent Fashion is a high-end vinta...
ISSEY MIYAKE Brown Orange Stripe Wool Scarves
By Issey Miyake
Located in San Francisco, CA
Issey Miyake scarf expertly crafted in Japan, showcases a bold striped pattern in warm brown and orange made from premium wool. Very Good Pre-Owned...
Hermes La Tour Eiffel S'envole Chiffon Silk Shawl 135cm
By Hermès
Located in Glasgow, GB
Designed by Sefedin Ibrahim Alamin in 2004. In 1997 during civil war, after his parents were killed, a 14 year old Sudanese boy found his way to a camp run by Doctors Without Borders...
Unavailable|$425
Hermes Vintage Memoire d'Hermes Silk Scarf, circa 1990s
By Hermès
Located in Philadelphia, PA
TIMELESS Hermes Vintage Memoire d'Hermes Silk Scarf in excellent condition. Original silk screen design c1992 by Caty Latham features an artistic rendition of portrait of Hermes founder...
Chanel Camellia Croix Bijoux Gripoix Silk Print Scarf circa 1980s
By Chanel
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Chanel Camellia Croix Bijoux Gripoix Silk Print Scarf from the circa 1980s is a stunning example of vintage luxury and craftsmanship. This exquisite piece features a vibrant silk pri...
HERMES green silk FERRONNERIE 90 Twill Scarf
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Hermès Ferronnerie 90 scraf by Caty Latham in green and gold with details in ivory, grey, white and beige. Has been worn with a small stain on the outer frame. Overall...
Printed scarf CHLOE
By Chloé
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Printed scarf. No fabric composition tag but it's probably in silk. SIZE 160cm X 22cm