1970s Chanel Jacket

I was told years ago by a Chanel collector that that after Coco's death her nephew (who may have been her son) took over operations and employed her workers to use up all the fabrics and findings, recreating her famous designs. His intention was to close up the house when the inventory was cleared out, but the demand for Chanel remained strong and the label endured until Karl took over in the early 1980s. This label is not always desirable as some of the fashions were designed by the house staff, but the ones that were fashioned from Coco's designs will always be in demand.

This jacket is one that was obviously fashioned from one of Madame's 1960s jacket patterns. The fabric is simply superb and also may have been a remanent of Coco's reign. I believe it is silk, covered in tiny tufts of silk velvet. The look is a cross between boucle and chenille. The buttons are also a throwback to the original Chanel jackets, with brilliant gold lion heads on matt black buttons.

The style is the classic boxy cut, with the high pockets that scream Chanel. The nehru collar and stripe of black velvet that travels up the arm and down the side really works to make it very unique and elegant. The jacket is lined in silk and the lining is pieced like the classic Chanel lining. It is an absolutely couture quality jacket, with lots of hand finished details and hand sewn buttonholes. It is a medium to light weight jacket.