Chanel Haute Couture - Part One

Here is the first part of our Chanel haute couture collection, a wickedly form fitting silk dress in a delicious and unexpected shade of fuchsia.  There is a pleated flyaway panel at the back of the dress which is something Karl Lagerfeld explored again in the last Chanel couture collection.  I confess to being obsessed with flyaway panels.  I loved it on our Christian Lacroix gazar dress and I love it all over again on this dress.  

This dress although very covered, follows the body and you just know that the woman whether she is French or not, understands what it means to be French.  To be ultra chic but in a relaxed sort of way.  Her hair is long and loose - not too controlled.  There is always something very natural about French style - never too done.  Always an element of cool even if she is doing a lady-like look.

I always hate the usual talk every season of why do we need haute couture, is it relevant, what is its value.  For one thing, it keeps a small amount of people employed who have extraordinary skills that very few people know.  Between the designer and the petites mains, pieces of fabric, bits of feathers, passementerie, horsehair and embroidery become a dream of making something almost impossibly beautiful and extraordinary.  Haute couture is an epic painting, ready to wear is the print.  We could not have one without the other.

And, of course, the details.

  

1980s Chanel haute couture silk dress.  Size 4/6.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273