More than a mere tastemaker, Karl Lagerfeld devoted himself to the continual pursuit of chic. “My life and my job,” the designer once said, “is to forget myself.” During his five-decade career designing shoes, handbags, evening dresses and other items for Chanel, Fendi, Chloé and many others, Lagerfeld was a quintessential chameleon, ever evolving to embody the times.
An outsize, instantly recognizable personality — his ponytail powdered like an 18th-century viscount, his eyes perpetually shielded by dark glasses, wearing fistfuls of chunky silver jewels — Lagerfeld was, above all, an avatar of style.
Born in Hamburg (in 1933, ’35, or ’38 by varying accounts), Karl Lagerfeld packed his bags for Paris in 1954. His design for a coat won him the International Wool Secretariat and landed him a job with the celebrated couturier Pierre Balmain. He went on to become the designer of Jean Patou, eventually realizing that his seemingly endless ideas could fuel a career as a designer-for-hire. As such, Lagerfeld lent his vision to everyone from Loewe and Max Mara to Krizia and Charles Jourdan, nimbly moving among a diverse range of styles. It was an unprecedented way of working in the days when freelance was still a dirty word.
During the late ’60s and ’70s, he refashioned Chloé to reflect the free spirit of the day and, beginning in 1965, joined forces with the Fendi family, taking it from sleepy furrier to fashion’s haute-est stratum. Because of his track record for reviving and reimagining brands that had grown stagnant, in 1983 Lagerfeld was handed the reins at Chanel, which had been gathering dust since its founder’s heyday.
From Lagerfeld's first Chanel collection, he injected the venerable house with a frisson of modernity. He riffed on its iconography — tweed skirt suits, pearls, camellias — accenting a lexicon of Chanel-isms with tastes of the moment. Despite producing eight collections a year for Chanel, as well as four to five for Fendi, Lagerfeld never faltered in proposing new ideas each time he put pencil to paper.
Lagerfeld’s collections for Chanel, in particular, displayed his knack for synthesizing old and new, high and low. From Watteau (Spring/Summer 1985 couture) and Serge Roche (Spring/Summer 1990 ready-to-wear) to hip-hop fly girls (Fall/Winter 1991 ready-to-wear), surfers (Spring/Summer 2003 ready-to-wear) and ancient Egypt (Pre-Fall 2019), Lagerfeld used each season’s inspiration to conceive Chanel’s signatures anew.
Browse a collection of sophisticated designs by Karl Lagerfeld on 1stDibs, including handbags and evening gowns for Chanel, vintage cocktail dresses for Chloé and more.
Thierry Mugler Black Button-Up Dress With Silk Sleeves circa 1990s
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
The Thierry Mugler Black Button-Up Dress from the 1990s is a striking piece that exemplifies the designer’s innovative approach to fashion. Crafted from luxurious worsted wool, the d...
Chanel Black Long Sleeve Mini Dress circa 1992
By Chanel
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Chanel Black Long Sleeve Mini Dress from circa 1992 epitomizes timeless elegance and sophisticated style. Crafted from luxurious black fabric, the dress features a sleek, fitted silh...
Karl Lagerfeld Black Silk Button-Up Cufflink Blouse circa 1980s
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
The Karl Lagerfeld Black Silk Button-Up Cufflink Blouse from the circa 1980s exemplifies timeless sophistication and elegant minimalism. Crafted from luxurious black silk, this blouse offers a sleek and smooth texture that drapes beautifully on the body. The design features a classic button-up front adorned with striking gold-tone buttons that add a touch of opulence and contrast beautifully against the black silk. While the blouse requires cufflinks to complete the refined look, it provides the flexibility to personalize with your preferred styles, whether classic gold, vintage, or modern statement pieces. This versatile piece can be effortlessly styled with high-end designer items such as a tailored Chanel pencil skirt, a pair of elegant Hermès silk trousers...
Chanel Black Wool High-Collar Button Dress circa 1990s
By Chanel
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
The Chanel Black Wool High-Collar Button Dress from the circa 1990s is a quintessential example of timeless elegance and sophisticated style. Crafted from high-quality black wool, th...
Chanel Black Ruched Waist V-Neck Long Sleeve Dress circa 1980s
By Chanel
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
The Chanel Black Ruched Waist V-Neck Long Sleeve Dress from the circa 1980s epitomizes timeless elegance and sophisticated style. Crafted from black comfortable fabric, it features a flattering V-neckline that accentuates the décolletage, while the long sleeves add a touch of refinement. The defining element of this vintage piece is the ruched detail at the waist, which creates a beautifully contoured silhouette, emphasizing the wearer's curves. Down the back, a row of exquisite gold-tone Coco Chanel motif buttons adds a signature touch of opulence and classic Chanel charm. This dress embodies the iconic 1980s fashion aesthetic, blending femininity with structure. It can be effortlessly styled with high-end accessories such as a Chanel quilted clutch...
Chanel 2004 Black Button Up Collared Dress and Belt
By Chanel
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Indulge in the timeless sophistication of the Chanel 2004 Black Button Up Collared Dress and Belt, a vintage masterpiece crafted from luxurious 100% wool with silk lining. This clas...
DONNA KARAN Size 8 Black Cotton Blend Long Sleeve Mini Dress
By Donna Karan
Located in San Francisco, CA
DONNA KARAN shirt dress comes in a black cotton blend featuring long sleeves, spread collar, mini a-line skirt, and a front zip up closure.Excellent Pre-Owned Condition. Marked: ...
MM6 MARTIN MARGIELA black polyester SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT Dress 46 XL
By Maiscon Martin Margiella
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic MM6 Maison Margiela short sleeve oversized A-line mini shirt dress in black polyester (100%). The design features six buttons on the front. Unlined. Has been worn and ...
CHANEL black 100% silk pocketed gun flap pleated tunic shirt dress FR34 XS
By Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel
Located in Hong Kong, NT
CHANEL black 100% silk pocketed gun flap pleated tunic shirt dress FR34 XS Reference: YIKK/A00323 Brand: Chanel Designer: Karl Lagerfeld Material: Silk Color: Black Pattern: Solid Cl...
Chanel SS 1993 Haute Couture Black Silk Jersey Bias-Cut Dress w/ Wool Crepe Coat
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld
Located in Hong Kong, HK
This rare Chanel Haute Couture ensemble from Spring/Summer 1993, designed by Karl Lagerfeld, exemplifies the house’s mastery of contrast — pairing fluid sensuality with tailored prec...
Karl Lagerfeld 1990s Black Avant Garde Vintage 90s Sash Zipper Mini Dress
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in San Diego, CA
Sexy vintage KARL LAGERFELD early 90s black rayon mini dress ! Features a tailored bodice with a flirty skater like skirt. Full metal zipper up the front with hook-and-eye closure at...
Yves Saint Laurent 1990s Vintage Black Shirt for Women, Made in France
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Capri, IT
1990s Yves Saint Laurent black shirt by Tom Ford totally made in france
