1990s Chanel Blue Tweed Dress Coat
View Similar Items
1990s Chanel Blue Tweed Dress Coat
About the Item
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, she 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 introduced in 1955 with its gold-chain shoulder strap that freed up a woman’s hands. Chanel's collarless jacket reacted against the constricting styles of Christian Dior's New Look, replacing them with a design that was timeless, an instant classic. The 1957 two-tone slingback pumps had a practical heel height while offering a bold statement in the black tip of the shoes.
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. 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.
- 1990s Catherine Walker Chelsea Design Co White Cotton DressBy Catherine WalkerLocated in London, GBCatherine Walker founded her namesake couturier label in 1977 with a focus on eschewing trends and designing bespoke gowns for clients. She went on to extraordinary success, creating gowns for Princess Diana, Darcey Bussell and Queen Noor of Jordan. Designed in the late 1980s or early 1990s for The Chelsea Design Co...Category
1990s Wedding Dresses
- 1950s Harrods Navy Double Breasted DressBy HarrodsLocated in London, GBThis dress is the epitome of elegance. Designed for iconic London department store Harrods in the late 1950s, it gives the illusion of a two-piece suit made up of a double-breasted j...Category
1950s Formal Wear
- 1940s Novelty Ship Print Pastel Coloured Rayon DressLocated in London, GBThis charming 1940s pastel toned shirt dress is in beautiful vintage condition and has a feminine, contemporary aesthetic. The light rayon fabric has an impressionist style novelty print depicting riverside scenes with sailing boats and pasture land in soft grey, pale lilac, jade and turquoise. The calf-length dress is long sleeved with a low plunging wrap over bodice, a wide set lapel collar and forwards facing yolk on the shoulders under which the fabric is gently gathered. It is a loose fitting shift cut with a seam to mark the waistband, and could be worn loose or drawn in with a belt if desired. There is no lining and a zip fastening at the centre reverse. This lovely dress is superbly adaptable and could transform as evening wear with the correct accessories. Would fit up to a US size 8, UK size 12...Category
1940s American Formal Wear
- 1987 Yves Saint Laurent Pink Cotton Braque Dove DressBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in London, GBInspired by artist Georges Braque's dove lithographs and often sketched by Yves himself, the dove of peace has long been a signature motif of the Saint Laurent fashion house. Flying ...Category
1980s Casual Dresses
- 1950s Jonelle Orange Rose Print Cotton Maxi DressLocated in London, GBFounded in 1937, “Jonelle” was the trade name of textiles created by Cavendish Textiles and was a quality affair with fabric supplied to the top department stores and fashion houses ...Category
1950s Maxi Dresses
- 1970s André Courrèges Haute Couture Polka Dot Cotton DressBy André CourrègesLocated in London, GBIn 1961, after ten years honing his craft under Cristóbal Balenciaga, Andre Courrèges launched his own fashion house. Today his namesake brand is being revived under the creative dir...Category
1970s Casual Dresses
- Adolfo Tropical Silk Jersey Strapless Dress with Half CapeletBy AdolfoLocated in New York, NYAdolfo strapless dress with bold green, indigo and white tropical floral print. Wonderfully tailored, with fitted bodice and draped open tulip front slit above the knee for movement...Category
Late 20th Century American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Comme Des Garçons Button-up Black Chiffon Shirt DressBy Comme des GarçonsLocated in Berlin, BEComme Des Garçons Button-up Black Shirt Dress Brand: Comme Des Garçons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Collection/Year: 2000s Fabric: Cotton / Chiffon Color: Black Size: XS Japanese desig...Category
2010s Japanese Casual Dresses
- SAINT LAURENT BY HEDI SLIMANE 2014 Black Leather Mini DressBy Hedi Slimane for Yves Saint Laurent, Saint LaurentLocated in Berlin, BEThe most incredible leather mini-dress by Saint Laurent from 2014, designed by Hedi Slimane. This exceptional sleeveless mini dress is made from a soft lamb leather and features gor...Category
2010s French Mini Dress
- Vintage LACOSTE DAVID CRYSTAL FASHION Stripe Collar Polyester SCOOTER Dress M/LBy LacosteLocated in Asheville, NCLacoste, David Crystal, Blue Dress, Red and White Stripe, Iconic Alligator, Zipper Front, Polyester, No Size Measurements Laying Flat (has stretch) Bust 20" (Armpit to Armpit) Waist...Category
1960s Casual Dresses
- Vintage 1920's Gold Beaded Sequin Dress Flapper Dress UK 6-8 US 2-4Located in Cheltenham, GBFull of opulent original details, rendered in the most luxurious fashion, this rare 1920's piece is a beauty to behold and never again find. The rounded neckline of the dress, is fr...Category
1920s European Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage 1960's Iridescent Cream Sequin & Beaded Wool Dress UK 8-10 US 4-6Located in Cheltenham, GBThis breathtaking 1960's cream knitted wool dress, embellished in its entirety with cream iridescent sequins, and finished with floral beaded details, is the perfect piece for a spar...Category
1960s Unknown Cocktail 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.