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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Fashion, Room 40

Look no 28

Ensemble
1965 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This classic Chanel suit and hat are from the Spring Summer 1965 haute couture collection. The suit features several Chanel hallmarks: a straight-cut jacket, contrasting lining fabric which matches the blouse of the dress, custom buttons that emulate the surface of the cloque suit fabric and a metal chain sewn into the inner hem to ensure the fabric falls perfectly as the wearer moves. Chanel suits like this were favoured by many of the world's most stylish and celebrated women and the Chanel suit would go on to become one of twentieth-century fashion’s most enduring and iconic styles.

Cocktail suits like this were produced by Chanel as eveningwear from the late 1950s onwards. They followed the same form as her day suits but were realised in richly decorative fabrics including gold and silver lamés, lurex and intricately patterned silks. The fabric featured in this cocktail suit and hat is a white cloque textured weave ‘Arnel’ fabric which was produced by French luxury textile manufacturer Maison Hurel. The fabric gives the illusion of being rippled or blistered and features a floral quilted pattern, creating an almost three-dimensional effect. At the time of its launch in 1965, variations of this suit design featured in a number of fashion magazines, including an advertisement for ‘Arnel’ fabric by Maison Hurel in Vogue France, March 1965 p85.

The navy satin silk evening bag dates from 1965. It features a metal turn lock fastening at the front, a stictched interlocking 'CC' motif on the inside flap and the signature diamond quilting which appears on many of the most iconic Chanel handbags including the 2.55. The handbag was originally designed for Spring Summer 1961 but continued in subsequent collections.
Gabrielle Chanel produced handbags in her collections from the 1920s onwards and were fundamental to her concept of a harmonious silhouette. They have continued to be one of the most successful lines produced by the House of CHANEL and, whether new or vintage, have remained highly sought after and collectable for some years.

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watch Unboxing a vintage CHANEL suit, hat and bag: ASMR Join Curator Stephanie Wood as she carefully unboxes a haute couture cocktail suit, hat and handbag designed by Gabrielle Chanel for her Spring/Summer 1965 collection.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 6 parts.

  • Dress
  • Jacket
  • Hats
  • Hat Pin
  • Hat Pin
  • Bag
TitleLook no 28 (series title)
Materials and techniques
Quilted cloque 'Arnel' cellulose triacetate fabric and silk lining and facing
Brief description
Ensemble of white 'Arnel' quilted fabric and navy silk dress, jacket and hat, Gabrielle Chanel for CHANEL, Paris, look n° 28 Haute Couture, Spring/Summer 1965.
Evening bag of navy quilted satin silk, Gabrielle Chanel for CHANEL, 1965.
Physical description
Ensemble of white 'Arnel' quilted fabric and navy silk dress, jacket and hat, Gabrielle Chanel for CHANEL, look n° 28 Haute Couture, Spring/Summer 1965. Evening bag of navy quilted satin silk, Gabrielle Chanel for CHANEL, 1965.

The dress features a navy silk blouse with a bow at the neck and a white 'Arnel' quilted cloque fabric skirt.
The straight-cut quilted cloque jacket is lined in navy silk to match the blouse and lining of the dress. It features two pockets that sit low at the jacket hem. The pockets, collar and cuffs have been faced in contrasting navy silk. It is single-breasted with three moulded plastic buttons which emulate the rippled surface of the fabric.
A metal chain is sewn into the inner hem of the jacket to ensure the fabric falls perfectly as the wearer moves.

The navy satin silk evening bag is envelope style with a metal turn lock fastening at the front flap and the signature Chanel diamond quilting on the surface fabric.
Production typeHaute couture
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'CHANEL' (White lettering woven into black tape inside jacket, centre back)
  • '27162' (Bolduc number handwritten on cream label tape behind the 'CHANEL' label)
Gallery label
[Fashion Gallery Label] Cocktail suit (jacket, dress, hat and bag) Gabrielle Chanel (1883–1971) Spring/Summer 1965 Easy to wear and chic in its simplicity the classic Chanel suit has been a fashion staple since it was first introduced in 1954. This cocktail ensemble was custom made for Antoinette Hirschel, the year she celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary. The signature straight-cut jacket features key Chanel hallmarks: contrasting lining, custom buttons and a metal chain sewn into the inner hem. Paris Cellulose triacetate, pongee, plastic and gilt metal Given by David Hirschel, Veronica Rosenberg and their families in memory of Sara Tauba (Antoinette) Hirschel Museum nos. T.81:1 to 5-2023(31/10/2023)
Credit line
Given by David Hirschel, Veronica Rosenberg and their families in memory of Sara Tauba (Antoinette) Hirschel
Object history
This ensemble was offered as a gift by the family of the late-wearer Sara Tauba (Antoinette) Hirschel following the press launch of the Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto exhibition in 2023.

The Patrimoine de CHANEL in Paris has confirmed that the suit, hat and bag were commissioned directly from the House of CHANEL in 1965 by couture client Sara Tauba (Antoinette) Hirschel. Antoinette was born in Poland, spent her childhood in Belgium and emigrated to London following the German invasion of Belgium in 1940. She remained fashion conscious until her death at the age of 101, dressing in Dior, Norman Hartnell, Chanel and Missoni.

Although she owned several Chanel ready-to-wear suits, this is the only Chanel haute couture suit tailormade for Antoinette. According to the wearer’s family, it was probably specially commissioned to celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary to husband Saul.
Summary
This classic Chanel suit and hat are from the Spring Summer 1965 haute couture collection. The suit features several Chanel hallmarks: a straight-cut jacket, contrasting lining fabric which matches the blouse of the dress, custom buttons that emulate the surface of the cloque suit fabric and a metal chain sewn into the inner hem to ensure the fabric falls perfectly as the wearer moves. Chanel suits like this were favoured by many of the world's most stylish and celebrated women and the Chanel suit would go on to become one of twentieth-century fashion’s most enduring and iconic styles.

Cocktail suits like this were produced by Chanel as eveningwear from the late 1950s onwards. They followed the same form as her day suits but were realised in richly decorative fabrics including gold and silver lamés, lurex and intricately patterned silks. The fabric featured in this cocktail suit and hat is a white cloque textured weave ‘Arnel’ fabric which was produced by French luxury textile manufacturer Maison Hurel. The fabric gives the illusion of being rippled or blistered and features a floral quilted pattern, creating an almost three-dimensional effect. At the time of its launch in 1965, variations of this suit design featured in a number of fashion magazines, including an advertisement for ‘Arnel’ fabric by Maison Hurel in Vogue France, March 1965 p85.

The navy satin silk evening bag dates from 1965. It features a metal turn lock fastening at the front, a stictched interlocking 'CC' motif on the inside flap and the signature diamond quilting which appears on many of the most iconic Chanel handbags including the 2.55. The handbag was originally designed for Spring Summer 1961 but continued in subsequent collections.
Gabrielle Chanel produced handbags in her collections from the 1920s onwards and were fundamental to her concept of a harmonious silhouette. They have continued to be one of the most successful lines produced by the House of CHANEL and, whether new or vintage, have remained highly sought after and collectable for some years.
Collection
Accession number
T.81-2023

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Record createdNovember 10, 2023
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