Blogmas is always an interesting time for Style File Friday. If I am covering holiday party ideas, that needs to go live in November because holiday party season starts earlier and earlier every year. And although my red and green fashion history posts have been very popular, it is not the easiest task to find on-theme post ideas. Enter: vintage coats! Here in the middle of Canada, we are already covered in snow. Proper warm coats are a necessity- no fashion puffers here. Today I am sharing the best vintage coats for winter inspiration!
Givenchy, 1959
A white coat is a bold choice. Maybe you are a competent adult and wearing white is not asking everything to spill on you, but that is rolling the dice. In any case, I will bet that the woman who was wearing this in 1959 looked incredibly chic. If this design looks somewhat familiar to you, Audrey Hepburn wore a similar design in orange in Breakfast at Tiffany‘s.
1959 was an important year for the House of Givenchy. Hubert de Givenchy founded his fashion house in 1952, but it was in 1959 that he moved the firm into the gorgeous mansion at 3 Avenue Georges V in Paris.
Schiaparelli,1938-1939
I will never say no to an impeccably tailored black jacket. And I expect nothing less than impeccable from Elsa Schiaparelli. Schiap’s designs can really run the gamut; many of them include truly bizarre and shocking elements, and it is unsurprising given her artistic friends and community. However, this perfectly tailored jacket is quite sedate for a Schiaparelli piece. The collar and button details elevate what might otherwise be a boring jacket.
Much like the Givenchy coat above, this piece also has celebrity connections. This coat belonged to none other than Marlene Dietrich. Dietrich was a loyal Schiaparelli client, and wore several iconic pieces from the Italian designer.
Dior, 1952
The Ulysse coat from the Autumn-Winter 1952 Christian Dior collection (the Profilée line) is absolutely stunning in person. The vibrant red makes what might be a simple garment stand out in a room full of incredible (Dior) pieces. (Like Schiap, Dior knew how to use specific elements…) This has got to be at the top of my list for favourite vintage winter coats. Not only does it work perfectly for the holiday season with its scarlet colouring, the silhouette allows you to wear literally anything underneath. Looking at the difference between this collection in 1952 and his premiere New Look collection in 1947 (an incredible range), it is easy to see why Dior’s early death was such a loss.
This coat now belongs in Hamish Bowles’ collections! As Vogue global editor at large, it seems fitting that he would now own it.
What coats would you have on your list of the best vintage coats for winter?
Cheers,
The Historian
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