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The Archivary The French Edit November 2026

The Edit

The French Edit

Pieces from the French houses: Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Ungaro, from city guides to jewellery.

Pieces
62
Every piece
Examined, dated and documented by The Archivary
Plate I
1980s Miss Dior for Saks Fifth Avenue Check Silk Dressing GownView the piece
62 piecesPage 2 of 6 · Next page
Louis VuittonNo. 13

2003

Paris, 2003

Paris in 2003, seen through Louis Vuitton's City Guide and drawn by Rubén Toledo: a portrait of the city at the turn of the millennium.

The French Edit

The 2003 Louis Vuitton City Guide to Paris, Volume I, published by Louis Vuitton Malletier in English and illustrated by Rubén Toledo. The guide explores the French capital through its cultural institutions, architecture, restaurants, hotels, boutiques and neighbourhoods, from the grand boulevards and historic quarters to galleries, independent bookshops and the addresses of the fashion and art worlds. Read today, it is a portrait of Paris at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Louis Vuitton has published its City Guides since 1998, written by independent authors rather than by the house itself. This copy has never been used and is in very good condition.

Provenance
Louis Vuitton Malletier, 2003. Private Collection.
Condition
Very Good, Never Used
Authenticated by
The Archivary

2003 Louis Vuitton City Guide Paris

Rs. 2,300
Emanuel UngaroNo. 14

1980s

Flowers at the Waist

Painted flowers, strung twice and held by a red enamel buckle: a belt made like a piece of jewellery, in the colourful spirit of Ungaro's 1980s.

The French Edit

A 1980s Emanuel Ungaro Paris jewellery belt, made of a double strand of hand-painted floral glass beads with frosted gold-tone accents, fastened at the front by a red and gold enamel buckle with gold filigree. Emanuel Ungaro opened his Paris house in 1965, after six years with Cristóbal Balenciaga and a period with André Courrèges. Colour, pattern and ornament were central to his work, and the 1980s were the decade in which his style came fully into its own. It measures 85 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, with a 6 x 4 cm buckle, and closes with a dual hook. It is in very good vintage condition, with minor light surface wear on the reverse of the enamel buckle, not visible when worn.

Provenance
Emanuel Ungaro, Paris, 1980s. Private Collection.
Condition
Very Good Vintage
Authenticated by
The Archivary
Christian DiorNo. 15

1980s

Dior in the Studio

Footless tights, the uniform of the 1980s exercise studio, sold under the Dior name. They show how quickly the fitness look was taken up by the couture houses.

The French Edit

Christian Dior footless tights from the 1980s, in mixed colours, from the house's licensed hosiery. Cut to end at the ankle, they belong to the aerobics and studio dressing of the decade. Hosiery was among Dior's first licensed categories, beginning with stockings in the United States in 1949. In the 1980s exercise became a fashion subject: Jane Fonda's first workout video appeared in April 1982, and leotards, leg warmers and footless tights moved into everyday dressing. The tights are footless and in mixed colours. One size, with measurements given on the packaging. They are in excellent vintage condition.

Provenance
Christian Dior, 1980s. Licensed hosiery. Private Collection.
Condition
Excellent Vintage
Authenticated by
The Archivary

1980s Christian Dior Aerobic footless tights

Rs. 10,900
GivenchyNo. 16

Circa 1985–1995

A Gleam in Blue

A sheer leg with a gleam, in a shade named Blue Dahlia. Givenchy hosiery from the last years of Hubert de Givenchy's direction.

The French Edit

Givenchy Body Gleamers pantyhose, Style 157, in the shade Blue Dahlia, from the late 1980s or 1990s. Body Gleamers was Givenchy's sheen-finish hosiery line. Hubert de Givenchy opened his Paris house in 1952. The house was acquired by LVMH in 1988, and the founder retired in 1995, so hosiery of this period belongs to the final years of his direction. The packaging identifies the line, style number and shade: Body Gleamers, Style 157, Blue Dahlia. Size C. Never worn, in the original sealed packaging.

Provenance
Givenchy, circa late 1980s–1990s. Licensed hosiery. Private Collection.
Condition
Never Worn, Sealed
Authenticated by
The Archivary
The French EditFrom the archive

Ferré and Galliano

In 1989 Gianfranco Ferré, trained as an architect in Milan, became the first Italian to lead the house. His Dior was built on structure: sculpted volumes, precise tailoring and the white shirt reinvented as couture. In 1996 John Galliano succeeded him, and his first couture collection, shown in January 1997, marked the fiftieth anniversary of the New Look. For fifteen years he brought theatre, bias cutting and a romantic sense of history to the house.

GivenchyNo. 17

1977

The Monogram, Dated

Cream and black resin under a gold-tone monogram, stamped with its year. A Givenchy logo pendant that dates itself precisely to 1977.

The French Edit

A Givenchy pendant necklace signed and dated 'GIVENCHY 1977' on the reverse, with a round pendant split between cream and black resin under a raised gold-tone Givenchy monogram, on a box chain. Hubert de Givenchy opened his Paris house in 1952. By the 1970s the house offered costume jewellery under its name, and the monogram had become a design motif in its own right as visible logos entered luxury accessories. The pendant measures approximately 4.5–5 cm across, on a chain of approximately 60–70 cm. Good vintage condition, with light signs of wear and some discolouration to the metal, consistent with age.

Provenance
Givenchy, 1977. Signed and dated on the reverse. Private Collection.
Condition
Good Vintage
Authenticated by
The Archivary
LanvinNo. 18

1980s

Dots and Stripes

A red Lanvin silk scarf from the 1980s, with polka dots and a multicoloured stripe. Two classic patterns of printed silk, combined by a Paris house founded in 1889.

The French Edit

A Lanvin Paris silk scarf from the 1980s, printed with polka dots on a red ground, with a multicoloured stripe. Polka dots and stripes are long-established patterns in printed silk, and here they are combined in one design, with the red ground setting the tone. Lanvin was founded by Jeanne Lanvin in Paris in 1889 and is among the oldest French fashion houses still active. By the 1980s its name extended to accessories such as scarves.

Provenance
Lanvin, Paris, 1980s. Private Collection.
Authenticated by
The Archivary
ChanelNo. 19

1987

Chanel Looks Back, in Rome

Gabrielle Chanel's legacy, shown in Rome four years into Karl Lagerfeld's direction. The catalogue records the house presenting its history at the moment it was being redefined.

The French Edit

The catalogue of Hommage à Chanel, a retrospective of the house of Chanel held in Rome in 1987, published in Italian as a softcover. It appeared four years after Karl Lagerfeld became artistic director of Chanel in 1983. In 1987 the house also launched its first watches, and Lagerfeld photographed his first Chanel advertising campaign, with Inès de la Fressange. The catalogue covers archive pieces and tailoring alongside 1980s designs. Good vintage condition, with minor shelf wear to cover and spine.

Provenance
Chanel, 1987. Exhibition catalogue, Rome. Printed in Italy. Private Collection.
Condition
Good Vintage
Authenticated by
The Archivary
ChanelNo. 20

1980s

The Art of Travel-Size French Perfumery

A travel-format perfumery object from the world of classic French luxury beauty. Its restrained palette, bold typography and grey horizontal band make the packaging an integral part of its archival interest, preserving the visual identity of a vintage No. 19 presentation.

The French Edit

Vintage Chanel No. 19 Savon Étui Voyage travel soap, 75g, dating to the 1980s. Presented in its original cream-coloured carton with the distinctive grey band and black typography associated with the product's packaging. An evocative example of vintage French perfumery, combining personal care, travel and the visual language of luxury beauty. Selected for The Archivary as an archival object of fragrance and design.

Provenance
Chanel London SW1Y 6NP. Reportedly dating to the 1980s. The packaging identifies the product as Savon No. 19, Étui Voyage, 75g, with Chanel Paris branding. Private Collection.
Condition
Very good, sealed
Authenticated by
The Archivary Experts

1980s Chanel No. 19 Savon Étui Voyage Travel Soap

Rs. 9,600
The French EditFrom the archive

Lady Dior and the Saddle

In September 1995 Bernadette Chirac gave Diana, Princess of Wales, a new Dior handbag with cannage stitching and dangling D-I-O-R charms. Diana carried it so often that the house named it Lady Dior. The cannage quilting recalls the Napoleon III cane chairs on which guests sat at the 1947 show. A few years later Galliano added the Saddle bag, introduced with the spring 2000 collection, its curved silhouette inspired by a horse saddle.

CartierNo. 21

2000s

The Panther in Print

Panther markings across a matt cover, with the Cartier name in gold. A jewellery brochure printed for the house's Hong Kong clients.

The French Edit

A Cartier jewellery brochure from Hong Kong, dating from the 2000s. The matt front and back covers show a close-up of panther print with the Cartier logo in gilt, and the descriptions inside are in Chinese. It has 11 pages, in A4 format. Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847, and the panther has been one of its emblems since the early 20th century, closely associated with Jeanne Toussaint, the house's director of fine jewellery. It is in very good vintage condition.

Provenance
Cartier Hong Kong, 2000s. Private Collection.
Condition
Very Good Vintage
Authenticated by
The Archivary
UngaroNo. 22

1980s

Colour in the Palm

Pink ostrich, small enough to hold in the palm. The keyring wallet brings Ungaro's love of colour to an everyday object, with two photo windows inside for the faces you want to keep close.

The French Edit

An Ungaro keyring wallet from the 1980s, in pink ostrich leather with the Ungaro logo printed on the front. It opens to reveal two photo windows and is fitted with a secure attachment loop. It measures 6.5 x 6.5 cm closed and 17.5 x 15.5 cm when opened. It is in excellent vintage condition and comes with its original pouch.

Provenance
Ungaro, 1980s. Supplied with original pouch. Private Collection.
Condition
Excellent Vintage

1980s Ungaro Pink Ostrich Leather Keyring Mini Wallet

Rs. 9,600
UngaroNo. 23

1980s

The Pink Ostrich Pen

A ballpoint pen wrapped in pink ostrich leather, with the Ungaro name engraved in metal. A desk object treated as an accessory.

The French Edit

An Ungaro ballpoint pen from the 1980s, covered in pink ostrich leather, with the logo engraved on the metal fittings. It weighs 37 g and measures 14 x 1 cm. Emanuel Ungaro opened his house in Paris in 1965, and in the following decades the name was carried into accessories and desk objects. It is in excellent vintage condition.

Provenance
Ungaro, 1980s. Private Collection.
Condition
Excellent Vintage
Authenticated by
The Archivary

1980s Ungaro Pink Ostrich Leather Ballpoint Pen

Rs. 14,700
Emanuel UngaroNo. 24

1990s

Orange and Purple

Orange and purple flowers spread across a pareo large enough to wrap. Ungaro's love of colour, made for the beach and the summer evening.

The French Edit

An Emanuel Ungaro pareo wrap scarf from the 1990s with an abstract floral pattern in orange and purple and the house logo. It is made of 100% polyester in Italy and should be dry cleaned. It measures 55 x 37 in (approx. 140 x 94 cm). Emanuel Ungaro opened his house in Paris in 1965 and became known for vivid colour and floral prints. It is in very good pre-owned condition, without flaws or defects.

Provenance
Emanuel Ungaro, 1990s. Made in Italy. Private Collection.
Condition
Very Good Vintage
Authenticated by
The Archivary
Rare objects of fashion. Italian curation.