Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Lacroix, Saint Laurent, Valentino… A Haute Couture Wardrobe

Online sale from 11 to 25 January | Public viewing from 19 to 25 January.

From 11 to 25 January, for Paris Fashion Week, Christie’s will present an online selection of the 115 most beautiful Haute Couture pieces from the V.W.S. Collection – From Beijing to Versailles, whose section dedicated to Decorative Arts was put up for auction at Christie’s France on 13 and 14 December. Two pieces of this set have already been sold during The Exceptional Sale, an anticipation of this top-quality collection curated by an art lover. One of them achieved a world record for Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld.

Alongside designers Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld, other great 20th-century masters will be showcased: Christian Lacroix, Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, Jean-Louis Scherrer, Valentino, etc. The collection made up of pieces dating back mainly to the 1970s, 80s and 90s, highlights the exceptional know-how, creativity and glory of Haute Couture as some of these creations may be considered true artworks.

Collectors and Haute Couture lovers will be enthused by the diversity of the pieces featured in this selection, including cocktail dresses, day dresses, evening outfits, embroidered garments, skirt or trouser suits… as well as the exceptional variety of materials, styles and designs. The enticing estimates, between €400 and €4,000, will allow everyone to give themselves a treat, more than 5% of the sale’s total proceeds will be donated to the Arts Décoratifs Museum in Paris, as requested by the family.

This selection, brimming with discoveries, colours, elegance and drama, will be presented in a dedicated setting, created in partnership with the architect and founder of the Culture in Architecture studio, Aline Asmar d’Amman.

The Haute Couture section, with several pieces embroidered in particular by Maison Lesage, is reminiscent of the interconnection of cultures and civilisations highlighted in From Beijing to Versailles, the V.W.S Collection. Starting from the Chanel Maison, which, under Karl Lagerfeld’s direction, distinguishes itself with a remarkable Hurel violet velvet dress entirely embroidered with “Tudor” motif pearls – Autumn-Winter 1988-1989 collection (€4,000 – €6,000).

The Yves Saint Laurent Autumn-Winter 1984-1985 and Jean-Louis Scherrer Autumn-Winter 1985-1986 collections respectively present a stunning short jacket in suede and fur embroidered with braids and crystals by Lesage (€4,000 – €6,000), and a magnificent long evening dress in brocade with cashmere motifs enhanced with embroideries by Vermont (€800 – €1,200).

The creativity and sumptuousness of this Haute Couture garment selection are embodied by evening pieces or cocktail outfits, such as a jacket in velvet crepe embroidered with sequins, gemstones and creased golden leather from 1987-1988 by Yves Saint Laurent (€3,000 – €5,000) or an evening dress in satin and muslin with entirely embroidered sleeves – Autumn-Winter 1989-1990 collection by Valentino (€800 – €1,200). Adorned with red satin mouths, the black velvet ensemble dating back to 1979 by Hubert de Givenchy pays tribute to Elsa Schiaparelli (€800 – €1,200).

The sale has a wealth of pieces combining at once elegance and modernity, like the many creations blending black and white. A Yves Saint Laurent short evening dress in shot silk and black and white velvet – Autumn-Winter 1984-1985 collection (€1,000 – €1,500) – converses with a Chanel white grosgrain and black skirt ensemble – Spring-Summer 1991 collection (€2,000 – €3,000).

Givenchy Maison’s know-how is particularly showcased by two pieces embroidered in the Lesage workshops: a long evening dress in ivory crepe and black sequin embroidery from the Spring-Summer 1983 collection (€800 – €1,200) and a white silk gabardine jacket by Abraham adorned with a sumptuous embroidery on the back – Autumn-Winter 1984-1985 Hommage à Bérard collection (€1,000 – €1,500).

Colour and exuberance are also intrinsic to this selection, as demonstrated by many Christian Lacroix embroidered evening ensembles, in particular a skirt suit in cream brocade with large lapels and organdie ribbons – Spring-Summer 1994 collection (€800 – €1,200) – and a long evening ensemble in orangey tweed and wild silk – Spring-Summer 1996 collection (€1,000 – €1,500).

Alexander McQueen with a magnificent coat in almond green satin and black lace from 1997-1998 (€1,000 – €1,500), Yves Saint Laurent with a wrap dress in tricolour Moroccan crepe – Spring-Summer 1985 collection (€800 – €1,200) – or even Chanel with a long evening dress in organza and black and fuchsia dotted Swiss fabric – Spring-Summer 1988 collection (€2,000 – €3,000) let colour take centre stage while revealing it in striking combinations.

Aline Asmar D’Amman

Born in Lebanon, Aline Asmar d’Amman is an architect and the founder of Culture in Architecture. Based in Paris and Beirut, the studio connects cultures while forging a link between past and present. For each project, Aline Asmar d’Amman cultivates powerful narrative statements born from intricate dialogues between the raw and the precious, heritage and innovation, poetry and materiality.

Culture in Architecture carried out several emblematic interior layout projects worldwide, including the renovation of the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, and the interior design of the iconic restaurant Le Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower. The studio is currently involved in the transformation of Palazzo Dona Giovannelli – one of the historic gems of Venice – into a future Orient Express hotel.

The architect also joined forces with the great designer Karl Lagerfield for his decorations in the Hôtel de Crillon and a collection of functional sculptures, ‘Architectures’, for the Carpenters Workshop Gallery.

In 2022, she created the architectural set design of the Lebanon Pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale and launched her furniture collection, including the already legendary ‘Georgia’ conversation salon and the 2nd chapter of the “The Memory of Stones”, functional sculptures in slabs of brutalist stone.

Aline Asmar d’Amman’s style is cross-disciplinary, ranging from interior architecture to art direction and set design all over the world, with a contemporary style committed to promoting knowledge and cultural exchanges.

Christies

editor

Christie’s, the world's leading art business, had auction sales in the first half of 2019 that totalled £2.2 billion / $2.8 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and international expertise. Christie’s offers around 350 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectables, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War & Contemporary, Impressionist & Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery.