Vintage Karl Lagerfeld Fendi F Logo Shirt Color Block Yellow & Black Blouse
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 42-see description measurements (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Portland, OR
- Reference Number:
Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi
The name Fendi had been around for decades when a young German designer named Karl Lagerfeld took the creative helm at the company in 1965. But it was not until then, however, that the Italian brand became a world-renowned fashion house. In fact, Lagerfeld, who produced four to five collections yearly for the label — and is celebrated for the shoes, purses and other pieces he created for Fendi — is credited with creating the company’s instantly recognizable double-F logo (which stands for “Fun Furs”) in “less than five seconds.” Until Lagerfeld started designing for the brand, fur was a material mostly associated with heavy coats that few people actually wore. The designer reimagined fur in creative ways, using it as an accent on purses, cuffs on dress sleeves and collars on wool coats.
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 as a designer for Chanel, Fendi, Chloé and many others, Karl 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.
In the mid-1960s, Lagerfeld joined forces with the Fendi family, taking it from sleepy furrier to fashion’s haute-est stratum. In 1983, he was handed the reins at Chanel, which had been gathering dust since its founder’s heyday. His collections for the brand displayed his knack for synthesizing old and new, high and low, and he used each season’s inspiration to conceive Chanel’s signatures anew. Lagerfeld created eight collections a year for Chanel and designed more than 100 collections for Fendi over the course of more than fifty years. Despite this pace, he never faltered in proposing new ideas each time he put pencil to paper.
Find vintage Karl Lagerfeld Fendi clothing on 1stDibs.
Fendi
Like other major European luxury fashion houses, Fendi started small. Adele Casagrande was an Italian creative who loved fashion and sold leather and fur accessories from a tiny workshop she opened in Rome in 1918. However, after marrying Edoardo Fendi in 1925, her business model was altered dramatically. Together, the couple changed the boutique’s name to Fendi and moved into a bigger storefront, which quickly became the favorite shop of women all over Italy’s capital city for furs and leathers, such as handbags, coats and accessories.
As time moved on for Adele and Edoardo, the couple began to distribute more responsibility to their five daughters, who assumed management of the company during the 1950s. Fendi’s audience broadened and its profitability has soared over the years, owing to the brand’s fresh perspective on fashion world happenings and innovative sensibility. The maison also has a distinctive relationship with old-world Italian craftsmanship. The Selleria bags were the work of master saddlers in Rome, and Fendi partnered with lace artisans in southern Italy as well as craftsmen in the east trained in the intrecciato (intertwined) technique (an idea that Adele introduced during the 1940s), which, in Fendi’s case, sees an interwoven leather fabric integrated in the creation of its handbags, countering leather’s traditional rigidity with a bag that is soft, versatile and fitted with an alluring slouchy curve.
It wasn’t until 1965, however, when a young German designer named Karl Lagerfeld took the creative helm that Fendi became a world-renowned fashion house. In fact, Lagerfeld, who produced four to five collections yearly for the brand, is credited with creating Fendi’s instantly recognizable double-F logo (which stands for “Fun Furs”) in “less than five seconds.” Until Lagerfeld started designing for the brand, fur was a material mostly associated with heavy coats that few people actually wore. Lagerfeld reimagined fur in creative ways, using it as an accent on purses, cuffs on dress sleeves and collars on wool coats.
Over the ensuing years, Fendi has broken into the home-goods market with Fendi Casa and has become synonymous with luxury fashion, producing such pieces as the iconic Baguette, which was rendered ever popular on the television series Sex and the City. In fact, an entire episode during the third season was dedicated to the “original It bag,” a slim accessory tapered in a manner that recalls its namesake, designed in 1997 by Adele and Edoardo’s granddaughter Silvia Venturini Fendi, who was named creative director of accessories three years earlier.
Perhaps just as well known as its vintage Baguette handbags and creative use of fur is the brand’s devotion to its Italian roots. In 2013, Fendi donated more than 2 million euros to restore Rome’s Trevi Fountain, and when it was reopened to visitors, Fendi hosted its Autumn/Winter 2017 show on top of the landmark.
Fendi was a family-controlled brand until 1999 and is now owned by LVMH. In late 2020, British fashion designer Kim Jones was named the house’s artistic director for womens wear.
Find a wide variety of vintage Fendi handbags and purses, clothing and other accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Beaverton, OR
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- 1980s Escada Margaretha Ley Silk Animal Print Blouse & Brown Wrap Skirt w/ BeltBy Escada, Margaretha Ley EscadaLocated in Portland, ORThis is an incredible 2 piece Escada ensemble designed by Margaretha Ley in the 1980's. This outfit came from an estate of clothing we handled that included the best of the 1980's and many unique Escada pieces. This has a chocolate brown wool poly blend skirt that wraps to close with a button and an attached belt with a buckle. It is gently pleated and is labeled a size 34. The yellow and brown textured silk animal print blouse...Category
1980s German Blouses
- 1980 Runway Yves Saint Laurent Red & White Striped Ruffled BlouseBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Portland, ORThis is a dramatic vintage blouse from the Yves Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 1980 collection! Yves Saint Laurent designed beautiful blouses and this one can be worn with many things you already own! This top was featured on the runway and we love everything about it! This top has a wide, ruffle collar with horizontal red and white stripes...Category
1980s European Blouses
- Donna Karan Vintage Bodysuit Blouse in Black Silk Blend Satin Top w French CuffsBy Donna KaranLocated in Portland, ORThis is an amazing Donna Karan Bodysuit with French cuffs and a wide spread collar. The blouse buttons up the front and snaps at the bottom. This Donna Karan black label top was made...Category
1980s Italian Blouses
- Gianni Versace Early 1990s Bright Colorful Vintage Silk Print Shirt & Huge ScarfBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Portland, ORThis is a late 1980's or early 1990's vintage Gianni Versace silk shirt in a beautiful mixed pattern print. The shirt comes with its ...Category
1990s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Tom Ford For Gucci F/W 1999 Red Velvet Ruched TopBy Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Portland, ORThere is nothing like Tom Ford for Gucci pieces, and this 1999 deep red velvet top is so incredible! Pair it with a pair of leather pants, jeans or make...Category
1990s European Blouses and Tops
- 1984 Yves Saint Laurent Runway 2 piece Abstract Black Stripe Silk DressBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Portland, ORThis is a really wonderful Yves Saint Laurent vintage 2 piece silk dress that we have documented on the 1984 runway! It has a black and white abstract patterned silk looks almost like zebra stripes! The white sections have tone on tone shiny spots that resemble cheetah spots. YSL loved this print and used it in several different color ways, we have three different versions! The neckline of the blouse is gathered, and looks like it is elastic but is fixed, and the skirt is a wrap style, securing at the waist. This outfit also comes with a matching sash that we have shown as a belt, but can also be worn as a necktie or hair tie! We love that this YSL outfit...Category
1980s European Day Dresses
- Yigal Azrouel Paisley Backless Turtleneck TopLocated in New York, NYSize smallCategory
1990s Blouses
- 1980s Valentino Blush Rose Silk Lace BlouseBy ValentinoLocated in Miami, FLThe most stunning 1980s Valentino blouse in a beautiful blush rose color pink silk in an Argyll print and a lace Peter Pan collar. Matching blush buttons and a tie in the front. Smal...Category
1980s Italian Blouses
- Vintage Y2K Cynthia Rowley embroidered blouse with balloon sleeves and rope beltLocated in COLLINGWOOD, AUA lovely and chic vintage Y2K Cynthia Rowley embroidered blouse in black cotton with a stylish balloon sleeve that has a delicate, small button at the wrist. The embroidered pattern...Category
Early 2000s Indian Blouses
- Tom Ford For Yves Saint Laurent A/W 2004 Chinoiserie Pagoda Shoulder Silk BlouseBy Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in London, GB- Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche by Tom Ford - From the Autumn/Winter 2004 collection - Tom's final collection for YSL - Referencing Yves Saint Laurent's 1977 Chinese collection ...Category
Early 2000s French Blouses
- Dolce Gabbana 1992 bustier topBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Annandale, VADolce Gabbana rare 1992 bustier top Top size 42 Excellent vintage condition, no rips or stainsCategory
1990s Italian Blouses
- Jean Paul Gaultier Money Print Multi-Ruffles Crop TopBy Jean Paul Gaultier SoleilLocated in GOUVIEUX, FRBy Jean Paul Gaultier The iconic money print top from the Soleil Optical collection. Circa 1990s · Multi ruffles · Crop tp . Link on the chest Size Fits XS, S , M Flat measureme...Category
1990s Italian Blouses
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Remembering Fashion Designer, Collector and Supreme Tastemaker Karl Lagerfeld
The creative force behind brands like Chanel, Fendi and Chloé was as exacting in his interiors as he was in his clothing designs.
The Fendi Baguette Is an ‘It’ Bag Again, 25 Years After Its Introduction
Iconic Italian fashion houses Fendi and Versace teamed up on this delightfully outrageous Fendace reimagining.