252 Items of Rare Chanel Pieces Go On Auction in Paris

French socialite and entrepreneur Mouna Ayoub reports that many of the pieces from her collection have never been worn.

Fashion history is now on sale as over 252 items designed by the late Karl Lagerfeld are on auction today in Paris. Originating from the wardrobe of Mouna Ayoub, a socialite of Lebanese origin, it is rumoured that this collection is a fragment of her entire collection which spans over 2,700 pieces.

Pieces that are on sale include a dress from, the 1991 spring collection, and another dress that is identical to the one worn by Penelope Cruz in the Pedro Almodovar film Broken Embraces. Both are expected to garner a sales price of over 15,000 euros.

Coming into the scene during the 80s, there was allegedly talk that haute couture was a dyeing practice and Ayoub started collecting one-of-a-kind pieces ever since as a result.

The Chanel designs date from the early 1990s until 2014 according to The Guardian, and several were first modelled by the supermodels of the day.

Ayoub, now 66 who was formerly married to Saudi business executive Nasser Rashid spoke to Vogue saying that:

“I wasn’t allowed to wear short dresses, or dresses with no sleeves and things like that – they’re still brand new and it’s about time for somebody else to enjoy and wear them.”

Ayoub who reportedly wants to make more space in her closet, is also donating a portion of the proceeds to the Foundation des Femmes, a French charity that supports women who have suffered from abuse and violence.

The sale has been made possible by the Maurice Auction in Paris, and Kerry Taylor, a British fashion auctioneer.

Words by Alexander Mays