The twin of this dress walked the runway for Fall 1975. Chloe was headed by Karl Lagerfeld at this time making it a historically important piece of fashion history. The evening pieces in this collection were a hit with the press. The Los Angeles Times even said they were "collectors items". On the runway, the dress was worn with a thin gold belt that matches the gold colour on the inside of the back floating panels. I love that this shows you that you can wear it either way and it looks equally fantastic.

The dress is made from a light scarf weight black silk and the back panels are made of the same and then those are completely lined in a darker gold metallic silk lame. The neckline is piped with the same silk and the fabric is gathered softly into it. The neckline is cut slightly wide across and then the dress falls from there to skim over the bust, waist and hips to the floor. It gradually widens out to be quite wide by the hem.  The back dips into a low V above hidden set snaps to close it. I love how this gives you a glimpse of bare skin behind the panels when you move a certain way. The two long panels that hide that open back are are attached along the back neckline and then fall loose to the floor. They are very wide by the time they reach their ends. Each one opens up a full 29" across the bottom. They are lined in a beautiful deep gold metallic lame that has an almost copper tone feel to it. The lame has a horizontal weave to it which gives it added texture. When this is on and moving, these billow out and float behind you. It is utterly fantastic. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

The dress is unlined and closes with a back hidden set series of hooks at the base of the V at the back. There is also a hook behind the neck. Hand finishes throughout. The easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. I see one small area near the bottom of one of the panels on the black side where the fabric is just a tiny bit lighter. It is very minimal and I could not catch it on camera.

Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 56" from top of shoulder to front hem, 62" to the longest point of the back panels

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5012

Reference Photo: Fall 1976 Chloe Runway.

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After much research I believe this to be from the Spring 1979 collection for Chloe by Karl Lagerfeld. In this collection he moved away from 1940s as his inspiration into the sex appeal of the 1950s, said the book 'Chloe Catwalk'. The silhouettes were based on the hourglass. In that same book there was a very similar floral pattern shown that is on this piece. Gathers emphasized hips, which this has, and the waist was emphasized. Feathers and the rooster were a part of both the prints and the accessories. Lagerfeld said of the collection to the press "Frivolity is important. I want shape and sensualness."

The dress is made from one of his signature feather light silks of this time period for Chloe that feel like magic on. It is screened with a custom print that mixes an ivory, pastel coral and a pale lavender purple. The entire dress is unlined and this is what helps to keep the dress so light in weight. An interesting detail is that the labels are on the side of the dress that I think is the front. The side that has the deep plunge is longer in length at the hem so I believe that should be the back. I have seen other dresses with this label placement from around this time period and when the back is plunged like this, so it is not unusual to see. I have photoed it both ways for you, with the plunge at the back and the front. You could potentially wear the plunge at the front if you don't mind the longer hem at the front. Much like that Lacroix dress from me that was worn to the Met Gala a couple years ago when they turned it around backwards. The sleeves are long and it skims over the bust to the waist. The back plunges into a low V to just above the waist. As mentioned above, it is possible that you could wear it either way around. It is incredibly sexy worn either way. The waist is seamed and the dress comes with it original striped screened silk belt that hooks into place around you. The stripes on the belt pick up the stripes that are on the end of each sleeve and circle around the hem. The skirt curves over the hips and there is a gathering of the silk there for added shape. It falls to the floor from there with the back cut longer then the front for a slight trained effect. You get the most fantastic movement as you walk. The dress is in its original uncut length. Excellent overall condition with a note below.

Unlined and closes with a back zipper. Hand finishes throughout. There is light fading to the fabric here and there at the top of the shoulders and edges of the hems where there is the purple in particular. This all looks to be hand dyed and or screened and it presents perfectly once on. The belt hooks to close. It is amazing.

Sleeves: 22.5" and are 11" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16.5" from neck to waist
Total length: 60" from neck to front hem, 68" to the back hem with about 2" turned under the hem

Belt: 2.5" wide x 27" long where the hooks currently sit. 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5008

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

The Stella McCartney era at Chloe has since become extremely collectible. The fall 2001 show was fantastic. This was the opening look for the show and in Vogue's review they specifically mentioned the faux coats that were treated so glamorously with added details saying; "Stella McCartney continued with her exploration of grown-up, couture-inspired silhouettes for Chloé, without forgetting about the youthful, fun-loving basics that are the label's bread and butter. McCartney's forte is her ability to glam up casual street clothes. Her fitted jeans and corduroy trousers with zipper pockets, face-stenciled T-shirts and pearl-encrusted draped tops all had an air of insouciant cool to them; so did the faux furs with shaved bits that accommodated clusters of silver flowers." This was one of the strongest looks from the show and a true piece of fashion history.

The twin of this coat was the opening runway look and was worn by Angela Lindvall. The show had several piece sin this faux fur but this coat is the hardest to find. You will often see the shorter version that was made of this coat or the shrugs or collars but the actual coat is very rare. These had a pretty hefty price tag and not as many were made. They were only sent to certain stores and were a limited production piece. The coat is a 3/4 length and is made from a thick and soft faux fur. The cut is loose and easy and it widens out as it nears the hem for a bit of a swing coat feel. It has hidden fur hooks to close the top part of the front and then swings open under that. There's a hook at the top of the collar so you can wear it folded down like how I photoed it for these photos to give it a more loose and easy feel or you can close that top hook so that it wraps around the neck like how it was worn on the runway. The sleeves are cut extra long and they are gathered along the inside of the wrist. This gives them a curve so that they follow the curve of the arm and it also lets you wear them up a bit so they get that bit of a gathered slouchy feel you see in the runway pics. The inside is lined in a men's wear shooting fabric that she often used. There are two zippered pockets in the interior that have little chains attached to the zipper pulls. On the exterior there is a pocket hidden along each hip. It is meant to feel a little big and slouchy once on and I love that. The best part about is of course that extraordinary detailing done on the shoulder and collar on the one side of the coat. Fine silver metal strips have been applied to the coat to create a series of medallions. Swirling beads and sequins sit over those to create this fantastic design that goes across the top of the arm. under the shoulder at the front and then runs up and into the collar and around to the back. Its just brilliant and an amazing piece of fashion history. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

Fully lined with two interior pockets as described above. It closes with hidden fur hooks at the front. Pockets on each hip. Tagged a vintage Chloe 40

Sleeves: 28"
Shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: 18-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 47" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4454

Reference Photos: Fall 2001 Chloe Runway, Look 1. Model Angela Lindvall.

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.