Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
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.
21st Century and Contemporary Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
21st Century and Contemporary Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Yellow Gold, Steel
Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Antique Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
18th Century European Georgian Antique Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Gold, Silver
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
1910s Russian Belle Époque Vintage Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
1890s Austrian Victorian Antique Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Crystal, 14k Gold
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s German Belle Époque Vintage Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
1940s French Vintage Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1820s Swiss Antique Chloé More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
Chloé more objets d'art and vertu for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Chloé
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022The main difference between Chloé and See by Chloé bags is the vision behind their designs. See by Chloé is a brand geared toward the tastes of a younger audience, while Chloé bags have a more timeless romantic style that appeals to a broad range of ages. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Chloe bags.
- Where are Chloe sunglasses made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Chloe sunglasses are made in Italy by Kering Eyewear. The French luxury fashion house entered an agreement with the company to handle the production of their sunglasses in 2020. Kering also produces sunglasses for Cartier and Montblanc. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Chloe sunglasses.