CHANEL suit with retailer AND couture label

[Deborah Miller]

I have what appears to be a 1960s Chanel suit with a retailer label at the back neck (Chicago Stanley Korshak) and a couture label on the inside side seam. Has anyone every seen a couture label stuck over there and the retailer taking prominence at the center back?

Might Korshak's Chanel boutique have done couture fittings? Thanks so much for any input.

 

[Jonathan]

My understanding is that Chanel suits were demi-couture and sold through high end shops around the world. I know they were sold through Holt Renfrew and Eaton's French Room here in Toronto. They were fitted for the client at these shops, through the side seams and waistband, as needed. The suits are only semi-fitted anyway, so as long as the shoulders fit, everything else can be adjusted accordingly.

 

[Deborah Miller]

Thank you Jonathan. I was thinking it was something like that. So in all likleyhood it might be demi-couture with an honest to goodness couture label. Drives me buts this blurring of the definition of couture! but which is what might explain the fact that no client tag was felt under the couture label. (which has been secured all around)

 

[Jonathan]

Demi-couture is essentially high end ready to wear that requires a fitting - Haute Couture boutiques are an equivalent - its the next step down from couture.