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, Chanel 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 — a 1955 update of a 1920s-era design — with its gold-chain shoulder strap that freed up a woman’s hands. The 1957 two-tone slingback pumps had a practical heel height while offering a bold statement in the black tip of the shoes. Her collarless jacket reacted against the constricting styles of Christian Dior's New Look, replacing them with a design that was timeless, an instant classic.
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. His collections for Chanel displayed his knack for synthesizing old and new, high and low. Lagerfeld revived Chanel ballet flats and thoroughly embraced the classic logo's interlocking CCs, which took the form of a clasp featured on so many of the rare Chanel bags that are much sought after today.
Vintage Karl Lagerfeld designs for Chanel dresses, coats and other clothing of the 1980s, '90s and 2000s riffed on its iconography, accenting a lexicon of Chanel-isms with tastes of the moment. And as the 1990s have become associated with styles adopted by today’s supermodels and influencers, vintage Chanel bags of the 1990s are among the most prized of the brand’s offerings.
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.
$1,316Sale Price|30% Off
Size: 39
Unworn Chanel Black Leather Gold Chain "CC" Faux Pearl Sandals Heels
By Chanel
Located in Sheung Wan, HK
- Chanel black leather gold chain with "CC" faux pearl sandals heels. - Size 39. - Never been worn before. - Comes with dust bag. No box.
Chanel Black Leather Gold Chain Hardware Sandals
By Chanel
Located in Sheung Wan, HK
- Vintage Classic 90s Chanel black leather gold chain hardware sandals. - Open toes. - Size: 37.5. - Good vintage condition.
Chanel Black Quilted Lambskin Leather Chain T-Strap Charm Sandals 2022
By Chanel
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
The Chanel Black Quilted Lambskin Leather Chain T-Strap Charm Sandals from 2022 epitomize luxury and sophisticated elegance. Crafted from plush quilted lambskin leather, these sandal...
Black leather sandal with double flange Chanel Haute - Couture
By Chanel
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Black leather sandal with double flange and gold leather lining."Double C " ornament on the flange. Shoes Size 39 ( It) High of the heels = 8,5 cm
$717Sale Price|40% Off
Size: 39.5 C
Chanel Size 39.5 C Gold + Black Beaded Leather Logo CC Thong Sandals
By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic Chanel gold and black beaded leather thong sandals ! Only worn once, with slight wear to the soles. Gold seed beads up the center strap. Gold CC metal logo plate at center ankle. Adjustable leather straps. Black patent leather back with gold heel. In great condition, and only worn once. Comes with two original Chanel black dust covers. Can easily be dressed up or down. Pair with a dress, skirt, trousers, jeans or shorts. Made in Italy Marked Size 39.5C A striking pair of vintage Chanel sandals crafted in a glamorous combination of metallic gold and glossy black leather. These elegant T-strap flats embody the unmistakable sophistication of Chanel while offering a versatile silhouette that transitions beautifully from daytime resort dressing to evening occasions. The sandals feature shimmering metallic gold leather footbeds and slender ankle straps, contrasted by sculpted black patent leather heel counters. The T-straps are richly embellished with intricate gold-tone beading and finished with petite Chanel CC logo accents at the center, creating a jewelry-like effect across the foot. A low stacked heel with a metallic gold-tone finish adds subtle elevation while maintaining the comfort and wearability of a flat sandal. Adjustable ankle straps with buckle closures provide a secure fit. The combination of black patent leather, textured metallic gold and ornate embellishment makes these especially versatile with everything from a Chanel tweed suit or little black dress to silk trousers, caftans and resort wear. Marked Chanel size 39.5 C. Includes the Chanel dust bags shown. An elegant and increasingly collectible example of vintage Chanel footwear, particularly desirable for its highly recognizable CC detailing and glamorous gold-and-black color combination. Vintage Chanel sandals, Chanel shoes, Chanel size 39.5, Chanel 39.5 C, Chanel gold sandals...
Chanel CC Crystal Strappy Sandals Black Tan Leather Womens Size EU 38
By Chanel
Located in Roseburg, OR
Vintage Chanel CC Logo Crystal Embellished Sandal Heels Authentic Chanel From the 2002 Collection by Karl Lagerfeld CC crystal charm strappy sandals Black and tan leather Crystal-em...
$870Sale Price|20% Off
Size: Centimeter
CHANEL Sandals with the iconic chain straps in black leather, size 41.5, 2020s
By Chanel Boutique, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Stuttgart, DE
CHANEL SANDALS (Made in Italy), black leather, with 4 iconic Chanel straps, a strap across the heel and a fastening strap across the front. The sandal features a very comfortable bla...
Chanel 1993 24k gold plated chain black heels shoes
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Chanel
Located in PARIS, FR
Rare Chanel F/W 1993 collection 24k gold plated chain and black fabric Heels shoes. Worn by Claudia Schiffer on the runway. Worn once. Size 37
CHANEL black grained leather REV DAD Sandals Shoes 38.5
By Chanel
Located in Zürich, CH
These 100% authentic Chanel Dad sandals are crafted in black grained calfskin leather and feature a distinctive, laid-back silhouette. Two velcro straps across the front are adorned ...
Chanel gold leather and gold hardware chain slingback flats sandals
By Chanel
Located in Sheung Wan, HK
- This rare 90's Chanel gold leather slingback strap flats sandals is chic and can easily stand out from the crowd! - Featuring a gold hardware chain inverted triangle shaped in fr...
