Items made by Coco Chanel to be auctioned

Many people want to buy a Chanel dress. But rarely does one get the chance to buy an original item created in 1920 by the fabled designer whose name was synonymous with French fashion. But at a unique sale to take place on Thursday, buyers will have a chance to acquire one of 820 items made by Coco Chanel and her successors from the 1920s onwards.

Top items, which include a black dress made just after World War I, could fetch as much as 10-thousand euros, or around 14-thousand US dollars when they go up for auction.

Top items, which include a black dress made just after World War I, could fetch as much as 10-thousand euros, or around 14-thousand US dollars when they go up for auction.

Francoise Sternbach, auction organizer, said, "There are items for every pocket, for the collectors, but also for people who dream to wear Chanel but do not have the money, because normally it is rather expensive."

The clothes -- often treasured family heirlooms -- were collected by the auctioneers from private clients from France, the U.S., Italy and other countries. While the outfits were old, not everybody surrendered them willingly.

Dominique Chombert, organizer, said, "We have some clients who were ready to give us the clothes, but at the moment when they had to do it, they called us saying, actually, my grand daughter wants to keep this outfit, I can't give it to you, I will give it to her."

In addition to evening dresses that last saw action between the wars, there are shoes, purses, belts and ear rings.