vintage Chanel fur coat - authentic? Too messed up?

I couldn't get at the Chanel 60s suit I got from you Deborah because its buried in the museum's off-site storage right now, and I didn[t have a photo of the label, but I could have sworn it had a rectangular label - but I acquiesce to your observation on that.
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Yeah, it's got the folded corners. In fact, the label is in our label resource - the one for "chezmov" my old name. Hard to see that the labels are folded in the small shot because of the black on a dark navy lining, but they are:

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The numbered label behind it also looks like the one on the fur coat above and is consistent with the other Chanel couture label examples we have
from the same period.

I guess then its a style of label that existed before and after because I know I have seen it in 1930s dresses, not 20s, but 30s. If the label is original to that coat, one thing we know for sure is it can't date between Spring 1940 and fall 1953 because Chanel wasn't in business.
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A label from the 30s - 1936 to be exact - in the resource. It's square:

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Not sure what type of garment it came from though or if there was a number behind it.

I guess she used both types of labels in the 30s. Too bad we don't have a folded back corners from the 30s to compare.
 
Just to mix things up a little more, I will add this: The coat bears a strong resemblance to a maxi coat my older sister wore circa 1968-1969. Hers was a very slender silhouette, tight to the body with small shoulders and narrow sleeves, and was made of a very realistic looking, black faux lamb fur. My first thought looking at the coat was it reminded me a great deal of her coat.

It does, however, have a 1930s silhouette also.
 
Rue_de_la_Paix said:
Just to mix things up a little more, I will add this: The coat bears a strong resemblance to a maxi coat my older sister wore circa 1968-1969. Hers was a very slender silhouette, tight to the body with small shoulders and narrow sleeves, and was made of a very realistic looking, black faux lamb fur. My first thought looking at the coat was it reminded me a great deal of her coat.

It does, however, have a 1930s silhouette also.
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That does mix things up a little more because there were coats similar in design right around that time. I would expect the sleeves at that time on a coat like this to be bracelet length and I would expect the collar to either be a small standing collar or a large shawl collar.

Melissa, can you please tell me the length of the sleeve from the shoulder seam to the cuff and the height of the collar from the neck seam to the top?
 
That is interesting to hear about a 60s coat looking similar.

I do know for sure the fur is real. And I am now 90% sure the fabric lining is rayon because I have compared it to another dress from the 40s I have that is definitely rayon. I am not sure about the sleeve lining although it seems quite old.

The measurement from the shoulder seam to the cuff is 24". And for the collar measurement I am not sure I really understand -- it is about an inch high when wearing it from where it hits bottom of the neck up but do you mean measuring from the neck out? 8 or 9 inches from neck by shoulder out to tip of collar.
 
If this is an authentic Chanel coat, if could be worth a lot of money. You may want to take it to someone who can see / handle it in person, such as an appraiser that is familiar with Chanel.
 
Melissa Lynn said:
That is interesting to hear about a 60s coat looking similar.

I do know for sure the fur is real. And I am now 90% sure the fabric lining is rayon because I have compared it to another dress from the 40s I have that is definitely rayon. I am not sure about the sleeve lining although it seems quite old.

The measurement from the shoulder seam to the cuff is 24". And for the collar measurement I am not sure I really understand -- it is about an inch high when wearing it from where it hits bottom of the neck up but do you mean measuring from the neck out? 8 or 9 inches from neck by shoulder out to tip of collar.
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Alright. I am right back to what I previously thought..lol. If the lining is original I think it is 30s. It's the Rayon and cotton lining, the full length sleeves, the wing collar style in the front that is smaller in the back, what appears to be a more fitted waist with a slightly flared bottom, and the length.

If it were a late 60s coat I would expect this type of sleeve to be a bit shorter, 21" or shorter being bracelet length and I would expect the collar to either be a large shawl collar or a small pointed collar, mandarin, or stand up collar that was that was even all the way around.

I am not making my determination in anyway based on the label. I am making my best guess on dating based on the features of the coat itself.
 
Hi Melissa,
I would also recommend ( as sMarie has) that you take this fur to a specialist who can authenticate your fur and determine its value.
The VFG team is doing a brilliant job here of helping with your enquiry, but to move forward and avoid a circular conversation- perhaps this option would be worth considering?.
Cheers
Gayle.
 
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