THE REAL FIREWORKS OF 2009

How do you celebrate the arrival of 2009? Can the Cristal. Ban the Beluga. Mush to the midnight smooch. The real way to celebrate is with Chanel.
These two vintage necklaces are the stuff that fireworks are made of -- dramatic necklaces that are amazing conversation pieces and unlike anything available at Chanel today.

The first necklace detailed is a shades-of-light-amber Lucite Egyptian style bib necklace that hangs around the neck seductively. From the Spring/Summer collection of 1999 (which isn't that vintage, we admit, but they don't make necklaces likes these anymore), this really does look like golden fireworks. The necklace attaches via two connecting gold curved bars at the back of the neck and a swag of "rock crystals" cascade from the adjustable hook closure.

The dramatic second necklace is a tremendous showcase of Gripoix ruby-hued poured glass four-leaf clovers that decorate your neck and then three variations of the clover medaillons drop down and blue aqua marine crystals enhance the entire necklace. This is a real showstopper.

The original owner of both necklaces and many of the recent Chanel pieces we have posted lived between Paris and London in the 1980s and 1990s. She was married to a "James Bond"-type and became a darling of the Couture houses (we are hoping to acquire some of her Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel Haute Couture clothing, too). Well, it's good to be a darling when you are able to acquire these stellar examples from the Chanel Bijoux Fantasie work rooms!

Chanel unuusal light amber crystal Lucite big necklace, Spring/Summer 1999. Length approximately 16 plus " (adjustable). Longest strand approximately 4"SOLD

Chanel Gripoix ruby clover aquamarine poured glass neckalce, A/W 1994. Length is 19". Drop approximately 5" SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Tote a Tote

For those of you who did not get what you wanted this holiday season, may we suggest you give yourself an amazing Chanel tote. These bags will surely brighten up anyone's holiday!

Both bags are the same except for the color; one is black and the other is caramel. The signature braided leather and gold strap is adorned with a leather charm and classic gold CC logo. Chanel has been kind enough to include leather pads to ensure maximum comfort for your elegant shoulders. The classically shaped bag fastens with two gold snaps and the bottom is crafted from quilted lambskin. Both bags were just re-conditioned and are in lovely condition, but the black is superior to the caramel as the dark color shows less flaws.

Chanel classic black tote bag, c. late 80's. Size 12 x 3 x 10

SOLD!

Chanel classic caramel tote bag, c. late 80's. Size 12 x 3 x 10 SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

RING in the New Year

with one of five fabulous Chanel earrings!

There is a pair here for everyone and anyone. If you like sparkle the first pair of earrings are "bananas!" The top portion is a gold quilted diamond shaped medallion covered in crystals, with a huge cushion cut crystal in the center. Hanging from that is a large four sided gold charm covered with four large rectangular crystals.

For those of you that go for a more classic look, we have three pearl/gold pairs of earrings. The second pair in the post is a classic oversized circular pearl with a gold CC logo in the center. Hanging from the main portion is a large tear drop pearl. The third pair is a circular pearl set in a pillow shaped gold backing. Hanging from the pearl is a convex quilted gold medallion. The fourth pair of earrings is a shoulder duster strand of pearls, bookended by two circular gold CC emblems.

The last pair of earrings in this post is a colorful one. The earrings consist of two convex gold medallions with inverse of the double C logo punched out. The first medallion has three points with various colored small glass beads on each point and one in the middle. The second medallion is larger with four points, also with various colored glass beads around a central bead.

Chanel gold crystal covered quilted earrings, c.1980's. 2" long

Chanel pearl tear drop logo earrings, c.1980's. 2" long

SOLD

Chanel pearl and gold quilted logo earrings, c.1980's. 3" long

Chanel shoulder duster pearl and gold earrings, c.1980's. 5" long SOLD

Chanel logo punched out gold and multi color bead earrings, c.1980's. 3" long SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Faux Halston

Q: Ever wonder what a ballerina wears after the show?

A: This, because it is black, pink, and sexy all over.

This gown is made from black and pink silk jersey. The shape is a classic one shoulder Grecian style gown, very reminiscent of Halston. Streaming down the one shoulder is a panel of black jersey backed with pink jersey. The panel can be used as a shawl or can train behind the wearer. This shape will never go out of style, it is a "forever" piece.

This is not an original Halston, it is simply "in the style of." The creator of this gown is unknown.

Anonymous black and pink one shoulder gown, c.1970's. Contemporary size 4.

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

THE REAL MCCOY

We love Halston so much at Decades that it hurts sometimes! There is something so brilliant about the simplicity of the designs and the excitement of a Halston coming alive when worn by someone fashionable. It's a lot harder to design a clean and timeless design than a dress with bells and whistles. That is the genius of Halston. No distractions from a flawed design, but rather the confidence to wear something simple, sexy, and stylish -- because you are enough.

The deep sea blue bugle bead Halston from 1981 is a classic wrap design with a large satin obi sash at the waist. It doesn't re-invent the wheel, but it does represent everything we love in a timeless dress. We wanted to share an interesting fact-oid about the Halston hand-embroidered dresses of the 70s and 1980s. They were made by the parents of designer Naeem Khan in India. As a matter of fact, Mr. Khan interned for the intimating Mr. H in the late 1970s, too. This could be the ultimate New Year's Eve dress, couldn't it? The iridescent bugle beads and sequins will light up any room. But it is ultimately you in a fabulous vintage Halston that will light up the room and make sure 2009 starts out so right.

Halston silk wrap dress with hand iridescent embroidery and black silk sash, 1981. Modern 4 to 6 SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Dusty?

If you shoulders have been collecting some dust, take care of it immediately with these Chanel shoulder dusters. No one should have to suffer through dusty shoulders when there are perfectly useful earrings that will do the job for you.

The first pair are ruby red Gripoix poured glass beads surrounded by gold links in a diamond pattern. Each earring is a series of four diamond shaped tiles that get progressively smaller from the top down.

The second pair is also Gripoix poured glass, this time in yellow, blue, red, and green. The grouping of beads is doubled, and the second panel has a large teardrop faux pearl dangling from it.Chanel red poured glass shoulder dusters, c.1980's. 5" long

Chanel multi color poured glass shoulder dusters, c.1980's. 5" long SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

NYE

This vintage Mr. Blackwell Custom design white crepe gown with elaborate rhinestone and bead embroidery from the very early 1960s might be the ultimate NYE gown. We all know Mr. Blackwell for his famous Best and Worst Dressed lists and he passed away this past October. Many of you man not be aware that he was an actor and segued way into fashion design in the late 1950s. He had a myriad of clients, including Nancy Reagan, Yvonne Decarlo, and Jane Mansfield. He also recognized the needs of larger sized women and was the first designer to offer his creations in plus sizes.

Now there is nothing plus size about this dress! The silhouette is classic Mad Men Season Two and the floral and leaf motif embroidery manages to be subtle and sophisticated as it is in a single shade of platinum.

We always crave a great white dress and this is such a chic and sophisticated example of vintage white evening done right -- the type of dress that will surely get you on The Best Dressed List!

Mr. Blackwell Custom white crepe evening dress with platinum embroidered floral, leaf, and bow motif, c. early 1960s. Modern 4 to 6

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Need your Stockings Stuffed?

Both of these Chanel gold earrings are the perfect size to place in a stocking. The first pair of earrings are large double CC Chanel logo inside a large gold ring. The second pair of earrings are the same classic Chanel logo hanging on a bird swing, surrounded by a gold birdcage.


Chanel gold double CC earrings in gold circle, c.1980's. Size 3" long SOLD

Chanel gold double CC birdcage, c.1980's. Size 2.5" long SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

DECORATE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE WITH CHANEL

It would be so chic to decorate your Christmas tree with either of these fantastic runway Chanel earrings from the 1980s. Truth be told, these are the ultimate ornaments for a tree or your ears! The first earrings cost $2,300 back in the day and are one-of-a-kind runway earrings. The original owner's husband was floored when he discovered his wife spent so much money on costume jewelry earrings, rather than Bulgari or Boucheron 18K. The second earrings are also from the 1980s and are most likely runway earrings, too. However, we can't confirm they are one-of-a-kind, but they are fantastic, nonetheless.

Chanel runway one-of-a-kind pearl with gold drops and pearl trim earrings, c. 1980s. 2" plus long. SOLD

Chanel runway pearl with black drops and pearl trim earrings, c. 1980s. 2" plus long. SOLD
For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Collier for Christmas

Finally, a collier de Chien that you can wear on the hips. Both of these belts are Hermes Collier de Chien, and in excellent condition.

The first belt is an Hermes orange with gold hardware from 1992. The second belt is black with a very unique turret design in the gold plating. Both are large enough to wear on the hips rather than the waist.

Hermes Collier de Chien orange belt with gold hardware, 1992. Marked size 75. SOLD

Hermes Collier de Chien black belt with gold hardware, c.1980's. Marked size 80. SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

GET TWISTED

It's December 24th and we have a feeling many of you are feeling twisted and are in knots. The Holidays are stressful! We have had so many lovely clients stop by the store just to vent a little. Decades often serves as a place to decompress for many of you. Sit on the Phillip Johnson sofa with Knoll fabric, have a Pellegrino, and enjoy a little retail therapy. We are here for you! Well if you do feel like you are twisted and your neck is in knots, don't buy this dress! However, if you are already somewhere peaceful and relaxing (i.e., you have completed all your Christmas gift shopping and you are officially on vacation), buy this dress!

It's an Oscar de la Renta Boutique black jersey dress with a very cool halter-neck detail that twists around your neck. Very 1970s streamline chic. We've given it a bit of edge with a vintage Hermes collier de chien belt from the 1980s. The belt is sold separately and will be posted in the next few days along with a coordinating orange leather dog collar belt, too. Actually, we are currently photographing around 35 pieces of Chanel jewelry from the 1980s, too; including a stunning Gripoix necklace, many Chanel shoulder-duster earrings, runway earrings that are one-of-a-kind, and great gold gilt medallion necklaces. These will post between Christmas and New Year's Eve in our "What I really wanted for Christmas" week of posts!

Back to this Oscar dress, it has a plunge back and the waist is small, so this one is for our elite petite clients.

Oscar de la Renta Boutique black jersey twisted neck and knot halter dress, c. early 1970s. Modern size 2. Hermes belt sold separately. DRESS SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

SMOKE GETS IN YOUR BLUE EYES

Well, you don't have to have blue eyes to work this 40s style Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche silk charmeuse evening dress, but this dress would sure highlight some gorgeous blue eyes. And what a blue it is! It's really a smoky blue or so one of the members of Team Decades asserted, but maybe smoke was in his eyes! This evening dress is classic YSL doing 40s old Hollywood glam. The modified Joan Crawford-shoulders (no shoulder pads, we promise) and wrap style are very flattering on many a figure. Plus, it's the right time of the year to have some sleeves on your arms. There is nothing wrong with not freezing and looking elegant at the same time. The dress does not come with the YSL belt photographed at the waist, but we think it looks nice with it (although we choose to shoot the belt backwards as it looks very sharp and clean).

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche smoky blue silk charmeuse 40s style gown, c. early 1980s. Contemporary 4 to 6. Belt sold separately. SOLD
For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.