When Gaby Aghion founded Chloe in 1952 she also coined the phrase ‘prêt-à-porter." You see prior to the House of Chloe, it was either Haute Couture or copies of Haute Couture for fashionable women. The ready to wear market was really invented by Aghion and soon thereafter her Couture colleagues developed more accessible and immediately available collections (Givenchy University and most famously Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche -- fourteen years later). My ultra-chic Berlin born and bred friend's mother modeled for Karl Lagerfeld in the 1970s when he was designing Chloe. Every time I visit Berlin she opens her closet a wee bit for me to take some of her choice pieces that Kaiser Karl personally selected for her. I think I am particularly drawn to Chloe because Lagerfeld was so vintage-inspired particularly by his muse at the time, the late Anna Piaggi. Piaggi, in addition to being a fashion icon, was a great vintage fashion collector (way before it was socially acceptable). This is why the looks you will see from Karl's tenure are so retro: inspiration from the 20s to 40s. This particular chiffon dress is what I might call a tea gown. With a flutter sleeve, attached necker-chief, delicate lace trimmed slip, and charming horticulture print, I wouldn't be surprised if a Piaggi flea market find from the 30s inspired Karl.
Chloe chiffon"tea gown" dress, c. 1970's. Modern size 4 to 6. SOLD
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