Chanel Draped Panel Little Black Silk Dress
View Similar Items
Chanel Draped Panel Little Black Silk 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.
- Alexander McQueen 2010 Black Butterfly Detail DressBy Alexander McQueenLocated in San Francisco, CAAlexander McQueen black pencil dress with multi-toned black satin, mesh and sheer panels at bust creating a butterfly. Nude lining. Back zip and hook and eye closure. 50% viscose, ...Category
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Karl Lagerfeld Vintage 1980s Ballerina Dancer Embellished Black DressBy Karl LagerfeldLocated in San Francisco, CAKarl Lagerfeld vintage 1980s black wool long sleeve dress with embellished rhinestone/crystal ballerina at front and great seam detailing at bodice. Leg of mutton sleeves with rhines...Category
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
- 2008 Alexander McQueen Black Silk with Sheer Side Panels DressBy Alexander McQueenLocated in San Francisco, CAAlexander McQueen fitted black silk dress with sheer mesh teardrop shaped panels at sides with nude lining beneath. The unexpected panels add just enough edginess to a classic black dress...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 1990s Moschino Couture It's All So Simple Black Sleeveless Shift DressBy MoschinoLocated in San Francisco, CAVintage 1990s Moschino Couture black and white sleeveless sheath dress with "It's all so simple" embroidery at front. Back zip. 52% acetate, 48% rayon. Fully lined in 60% acetate, ...Category
1990s Italian Casual Dresses
- 1990s Gianni Versace Couture Black and White Tweed Dress with Blue Lace TrimBy VersaceLocated in San Francisco, CAVintage Gianni Versace Couture black and white herringbone tweed dress. 90s slip dress style in an unexpected suiting fabric. Bright robin's egg blue ...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Unworn Alexander McQueen Cape Back Black and Red Floral Poppy Print Silk DressBy Alexander McQueenLocated in San Francisco, CAAlexander McQueen black silk crepe dress with red poppy floral print. Sweeping back cape is attached at the side seams. Short sleeve with a wide ruffle hem. Back zip is concealed by ...Category
2010s Italian Casual Dresses
- Prada structured black strapless bustier corset mini dress IT 40By PradaLocated in Paris, FRPrada black strapless bustier mini dress Structured form Boned upper Concealed back zip Size: IT 40 with stretch Composition: 70% Polyamide 2...Category
2010s Italian Mini Dresses
- Christian Dior Spring 2007 black silver metal chain hoop sleeveless dress FR 36By Christian DiorLocated in Paris, FRChristian Dior Look 28 from the Spring 2007 runway collection Black short sleeve dress with silver chain hoop detail to the arms, body and hem...Category
Early 2000s Italian Informal Dresses
- 1980s Mr. Beene Geoffrey Beene Spaghetti Strap Cocktail DressBy Geoffrey BeeneLocated in Beverly Hills, CAGeoffrey Beene Black and Gold Stripe and polkadot spaghetti strap cocktail dress Size: Small Bust: 32 inches/ Waist: 26 inches/ Dress length: ...Category
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
$1,116 Sale Price20% Off - 1960s Galanos Black Matte Jersey Cocktail DressBy James Galanos, GalanosLocated in Beverly Hills, CAVintage Galanos from Amelia Gray Black matte jersey dress with draping and zipper. Size: 4Category
1960s American Evening Gowns
- 1970s Bill Blass Black Lace and Silk Tafetta Maxi DressBy Bill BlassLocated in Beverly Hills, CAVintage 1970s Bill Blass Black Lace long sleeve dress with silk taffeta skirt and black ribbon sash. Perfect for black tie event. Size: Medium B...Category
1970s American Evening Gowns
- 1980s GIVENCHY Haute Couture Black Silk with Multi Color DotsBy GivenchyLocated in Beverly Hills, CARare 1980s Givenchy haute couture black silk matelassé cocktail dress with asymmetrical neck line with multi color, irregular shaped dots in yellow, red, purple and green. On the fr...Category
1980s French Cocktail 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.