1986 Runway Chanel Gold Black Silk Dress with Detachable Puff Sleeves

This runway documented 1980s Chanel dress is an amazing example of how the chic French fashion house adapted to the era of excess. It walked the runway as part of the brand’s fall 1986 collection, in the early years of Karl Lagerfeld's tenure as creative director. The dress itself is crafted to a deceptively simple strapless style with a sweetheart neckline. Tailored from a lustrous black silk-mix taffeta patterned with zig-zagging stripes of gold, the bodice is ruched diagonally across the chest and around the back. The dress fastens at the back with a hidden tonal black zip and nine polished gold-tone buttons, each engraved with a bottle of Chanel No. 5 detailed with a black double-C logo. Internally, it is boned the whole way around the chest and is lined with matte black silk. The skirt is tailored to a pencil fit.

The dress has two theatrical leg of mutton sleeves that are detachable. Due to the nature of the silk and the tulle lining, they hold their shape well and add billowing volume to the shoulder, before giving way to slim sleeves from the elbow down. Angular cuffs fall over the back of the hand. Due to the slim tailoring, the cuffs can be opened with a black tonal zip on the underside of the wrist. The sleeves are also lined in black silk satin. The inside label reads 'Chanel Boutique' alongside the double-C logo.

Archival Chanel at its best and in fabulous vintage condition, with no marks or flaws to note. It is made from 44% Silk, 56% Polyester with a lining of 100% Silk. It is labelled a French size 36, UK 8 or US 4. The fabric has no stretch.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 32 in. (81 cm)

WAIST - 28 in. (71 cm)

HIP - 37 in. (94 cm)

LENGTH - 28 in. (71 cm)