1989 Caroline Charles Documented Black Velvet Long Jacket

After working for Mary Quant, in 1963 Caroline Charles founded her eponymous fashion brand. She became hugely popular at the height of the Swinging Sixties, with her clothes being worn by celebrities from Lulu, Marianne Faithful, Mick Jagger and later on, Diana, Princess of Wales. Emma Thompson wore a Caroline Charles dress to receive her Best Actress Oscar for Howard’s End in 1993.

The Caroline Charles Studio pieces were limited edition and the collections focused on evening wear, made of luxurious fabrics, many of which were embroidered and beaded by hand. This elegant long jacket was designed by the British brand circa late 1980s and a very similar example was worn by Claudia Schiffer in British Vogue, December 1989. It is tailored from thick black cotton velvet which has been embroidered all-over with tonal floral embroidery in a glittering metallic charcoal grey. These vines and blooms form horizontal waves across the coat. The jacket has an open-collar and narrow lapels. It fastens down the front with four elaborately engraved flower-shaped buttons. The edges of the collar, the cuffs and the front hem are detailed with twisted black grosgrain ribbon - a beautiful example of the label’s great craftsmanship and eye-for-detail. The jacket is cut to an A-line swing style and falls to below the knee. It is lined with luxurious black silk-satin throughout.

The jacket is in fabulous vintage condition, with no marks or flaws to note. Made from 90% Rayon, 10% Silk with a lining of 100% Silk. It is labelled a UK size 14 but vintage size vary hugely so please check the below measurements as we think it better suited for sizes up to a UK 10-12 or US 6-8. The fabric has no stretch.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 40 in. (102 cm)

WAIST - 35 in. (89 cm)

HIP - 44 in. (112 cm)

LENGTH - 37 in. (94 cm)

SHOULDERS - 17 in. (43 cm)