252 pieces of 90s Haute Couture history, made by the late designer Karl Lagerfield, are up for grabs in an auction for Mouna Ayoub's Chanel collection in Paris this Monday, Nov. 20. Ayoub is a French socialite with Lebanese roots who is famous for her gargantuan collection of couture that has over 2,700 items.
The auction dubbed the "Golden Years of Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel From the Mona Ayoub Haute Couture Collection," was organized by the Maurice Auction House in collaboration with London-based vintage fashion auctioneer Kerry Taylor.
The collection comprises items from the early 1990s to 2014, which include evening gowns adorned with embroidered laces, sequined cocktail suits, and classic jackets made from wool crepe fabric. Also up for sale are vintage purses, straps, ornaments, and footwear.
CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 13: Mouna Ayoub attends the opening ceremony and premiere of "La Tete Haute" ("Standing Tall") during the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 13, 2015 in Cannes, France.
How Did Mouna Ayoub Acquire Her Vintage Haute Couture Collection?
In 1976, Ayoub was working in a restaurant in Paris when she caught the gaze of an older billionaire from Saudi Arabia. After being married, Ayoub left France to live an opulent life with her incredibly affluent then-husband.
Ayoub reportedly found herself unhappy and routinely entertained herself through retail therapy, buying extravagant made-to-order haute couture pieces by established Parisian houses which cost between $10,000 to a steep $300,000.
After years of collecting, Ayoub has eventually reached numbers that align with her current renown as a haute couture collector.
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Why is Mouna Ayoub Selling Her Chanel Haute Couture Collection?
In a statement reported by The Times, Ayoub, who is currently 66, expressed her wishes for others to get a chance to wear the opulent Karl pieces that have been left unworn for over "30 or 40 years now," especially since the passing of the late designer.
Ayoub also shared that another reason she started buying couture in the 90s was because she "wanted to protect this world and the beauty it created." The socialite also expressed how the pieces were freely bought, but not freely worn, referring to the strict restrictions of Saudi Arabia when it comes to women's clothing.
"My favorite part was the fitting, with the wonderful seamstresses, and being surrounded by all the love and attention they would give you," she added.
Part of the auction's proceeds will go towards the Fondation des Femmes, a French charity organization advocating for the end of violence and abuse against women. Four of its shelters had been marked for closure due to financial issues, but the money from this sale will supposedly keep two shelters from closing.
