Chanel 2011 Resort Sheer CC logo Pastel Chiffon Dress
View Similar Items
Chanel 2011 Resort Sheer CC logo Pastel Chiffon Dress
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.
- Vintage 1920s Blue and White Cotton Day DressLocated in London, GBA pretty and easy to wear vintage cotton day dress from the 1920s. In a blue and white print, the dress has a gathered collar with white trim and tie at the neck. It has a tie back ...Category
1920s British Day Dresses
- 1950s White with Red Polka Dot Day DressLocated in San Francisco, CA1950s white cotton day dress featuring a red polka dot print, puritan collar, bric-a-brac trim, front button closure, plastic buttons, and a matching pla...Category
1950s Day Dresses
$140 Sale Price20% Off - 1940S OMAR KIAM Dove Grey Cotton Elaborately Embroidered Summer Gown With ShoulLocated in New York, NY1940S OMAR KIAM Dove Grey Cotton Elaborately Embroidered Summer Gown With Shoulder & Waist TiesCategory
1940s Formal Gowns
- Vintage Hardy Amies Day DressBy Hardy AmiesLocated in London, GBA chic vintage Hardy Amies day dress in a ivory and black check. The dress has a double frill collar, and elbow length sleaves. Measurements: Bust ...Category
1960s British Day Dresses
- Missoni Silk Jersey DressBy M Missoni, MissoniLocated in London, GBA lovely dress for late summer by Missoni. In a silk jersey fabric, the dress has an ivory background with a blue , black , green and caramel colour print....Category
2010s Italian Day Dresses
- 1930s Pastel Floral Print Day DressLocated in Alford, MAFloral voile 1930s day dress in pastel colors. Sleeveless bodice has capelet effect with ruffle border and ties that fit through tab. Paneled skirt flares at sides. Slips over the he...Category
1930s American Day Dresses
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
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.
This Vintage Chanel Fur Muff Is Après-Ski Chic
It might not be as practical as a pair of mittens, but for something that looks this good, practicality really doesn't matter.