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I agree with Sadie. I've never seen the label or mention of the company in ads for Chanel copies.

My workshop is comparing Chanel originals and copies. It's next week 5-24. Here is the youtube address for the jackets I compared early: I'll try to do a youtube on the skirt and another pair this summer.

Jonathan, it's worth joining--just to save time. The timed entrances worked and the exhibition was not crowded, but the wait time was very long. I went 2 days and spent 6-7 hours. The title is deceptive. They got 22 new pieces to include.

Maggie, the photos are good, but they don't provide any descriptions.

This is a quick overview of the Met exhibit: The photos in the overview came from the Met. They are high res and, unfortunately, I was not allowed to make any changes of enlarge details. The bird dress is stunning with the sequin birds and the embroidery on the 17th century is fabulous. I...

Fun!

Costume Society meets next week in DC. I have bought from Hoboken; he might be interested. He's in NJ. Hindman would be interested in the better pieces.

I'll check. I have a McCardell dress. Do you want just a label? Any specifics? I'll check back tomorrow.

I just finished a You Tube video that you might find interesting: Haute couture vs RTW vs Home sewing. Here is the link: Claire

Anna, I don't think this is a Chanel copy. Davidow was an old suit company and made lots of traditional suits. nsweezie, The cream suit is a great copy. I think the pink suit is a combination of Chanel ideas. The Jackie suit has a notch collar and the lapels are trimmed with navy taffeta. I...

Marsha, your response was very helpful for me to see how mid-fifites designs had changed from late 40s to early fifties. Thank you. C

I'm not the best person for dating, but I'm probably the only one who was a teen-ager in the fifties. The dresses I had were strapless and fitted at the waist with full skirts of lace or net. The Bonwit Teller label indicates a better than average garment and the dress is much more...

Thank you for your help. It is a pretty gown and a good example of lovely, but not couture. I'll make some more photos and write about its construction in the near future. Again, many thanks, C

As you know, dating is not my expertise. I've had this dress a long time. I don't remember when or where I bought it. It's definitely not couture, but the use of embroidery stitches is interesting. I would appreciate your looking at it and helping me to date it.

Here's an update. The fashion show was fun. I did a very short YouTube. Here's the Link: I learned something from VFG labels; I wasn't familiar with Paganne and didn't know that Malcolm Starr was not a person but just the business name. The Paco Rabanne pieces were fabulous; but I have one...

Diana, Please let me know when you are coming to PS. There's shopping tomorrow. I'm going late. I don't need to buy anything. and the fashion show isn't until Sun. Barbara, ok plan a day soon. Both of you. There's a great pub near by. I have a Cardin adorable dress.

Jen, the suits I have have cream instead of yellow. I wonder if that was a 5 m sample in a different colorway that Chanel didn't buy. The fabric houses used to make short lengths for couture at the beginning of a season; the designers used what they liked and returned the rest. Needless to...

There is a James Bond fashion show scheduled for this Thurs. in Palm Springs as part of Modernism Week. Anyone want to joint me? Vintage shopping is on Sat. I'm going late to avoid too many temptations. I'll work on photos. I even have a dress--black with big red heart pockets. Claire

Jen, the quality of the copies varied. Early on--late 50s, some were dirt cheap. One of the things I learned at the Chanel exhibition in London was that Elle printed two issues with directions for how to sew a copy. Perhaps fabric was available for the hobby seamstress. Several months ago, one...

Jen, I wonder if that was a copy. I have a copy of the suit in the same fabric. Thanks for posting. C

As you probably know, the Chanel exhibition in London has been extend a few more weeks. I have finally finished my YouTube videos of the exhibition--I think there are 6; I can only count to five. The garments in the early years were all new to meet since my couture research is post WW II. I...

I'm looking for copies of 1960s Chanel suits --particularly copies of original Chanel suits which I own. Davidow was the largest manufacturer but many suits had only store labels. I'm teaching a professional development workshop for Costume Society in May. This YouTube -- -- shows most of...

Probably purchased when on vacation.

The other end of the belt needs eyelets. Since your belt has 4 prongs, you need at least one vertical row of 4 eyelets. If you want the fit of the belt to be adjustable, you need several vertical rows. If you don't sew, ask a friend or prof. who does alterations to make the belt for you. It can...

You can access Vogue Archive without charge. I found the info I wanted but could not actually read the article. I'll work on the access again, but today is too busy.

First, NO--absolutely do not wash it! It's a lovely dress. The fabrics have two names: the fiber content and the type fabric. The taffeta is the type and the fiber is probably acetate or rayon. The "chiffon" could be nylon or polyester. Generally, when we think chiffon, we think silk; but it...

Here's a little more info about Boutique designs. At some houses, the garments were made in the couture workrooms, but they were not made for the customer's measurements. Most houses would alter the garment as needed for the customer. Some houses had separate workrooms that utilize less...

An iron shoe is used by many sewing professionals instead of press cloths. I like a variety of press cloths --linen-a plain linen napkin works very well, tissue paper also works, a wool scrap next to wool eliminates shine. If you have a large budget a gravity flow iron is my favorite...

If you look at it with a magnifying glass, you might be able to figure it out. There is a little microscope that I use that helps with faded numbers.

Stelle, The VFG cannot authenticate a design for you or provide a value. That said I can provide some info about the label. It is a Christian Dior couture label. I can't see the last digit on the date. Christian Dior was the designer from 1947 until his death 1957. The corselette is typical...