Chanel By Karl Lagerfeld Runway Bow Print Shirt Dress, Spring-Summer 1996
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: French size 36 (US 2-4) (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Tiny spots (see pictures 7 & 14).
- Seller Location:Geneva, CH
- Reference Number:
Karl Lagerfeld
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.
Chanel
In the years following the opening of her modest millinery shop, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel became a pivotal designer of both fashionable casual wear and Paris haute couture as well as an icon and arbiter of 20th-century style with her bob haircut and pearls. Today vintage Chanel handbags, jackets and evening dresses are among the most sought-after clothing and accessories for fashion lovers all over the world.
The first Chanel shop was established in 1910 in Paris on rue Cambon by the young milliner Gabrielle Chanel (1883–1971), who had picked up the nickname “Coco” while working as a club singer. The boutique drew the attention of the Parisian fashion elite who popularized her wide-brimmed Chanel Modes hats. Soon she added a sportswear store in the Normandy resort town of Deauville, where Coco set the tone for her defining sense of style — traditionally masculine garments reimagined for feminine shapes, made from simple jersey fabric.
Effortless and elegant, Chanel's designs promoted comfort and grace in women’s wear that had been dominated in the previous century by complicated layers of fabric and cumbersome corsets. She followed this success with a couture house, opened in 1915 in Biarritz.
But Chanel was not born into a life of glamour. Following the death of her mother, her father left her in an orphanage where she lived until the age of 18. It was there that she learned to sew as well as appreciate the classic pairing of black and white as worn by the nuns.
In 1926, Chanel introduced her first little black dress, reclaiming a color that had once been reserved for mourning and working-class women. That same decade, she debuted her perfume, Chanel No. 5, as well as the Chanel suit with a fitted skirt, inspired by the boxy lines of men’s clothing and employing a sporty tweed.
Chanel closed her fashion operations during World War II, then returned to the industry in 1954 to design for the functional needs of modern women.
Structure and wearability endured in all of Chanel’s clothing and accessories, like the quilted leather 2.55 handbag — a 1955 update of a 1920s-era design — with its gold-chain shoulder strap that freed up a woman’s hands. The 1957 two-tone slingback pumps had a practical heel height while offering a bold statement in the black tip of the shoes. Her collarless jacket reacted against the constricting styles of Christian Dior's New Look, replacing them with a design that was timeless, an instant classic.
After Coco Chanel died in 1971, the brand underwent several changes in leadership, including fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who took over as artistic director in 1983. His collections for Chanel displayed his knack for synthesizing old and new, high and low. Lagerfeld revived Chanel ballet flats and thoroughly embraced the classic logo's interlocking CCs, which took the form of a clasp featured on so many of the rare Chanel bags that are much sought after today.
Vintage Karl Lagerfeld designs for Chanel dresses, coats and other clothing of the 1980s, '90s and 2000s riffed on its iconography, accenting a lexicon of Chanel-isms with tastes of the moment. And as the 1990s have become associated with styles adopted by today’s supermodels and influencers, vintage Chanel bags of the 1990s are among the most prized of the brand’s offerings.
Over the years, the company has continued to innovate, such as expanding into ready-to-wear fashion in 1978 and, in 2002, establishing a subsidiary company — Paraffection — dedicated to preserving the heritage skills of fashion artisan workshops. The House of Chanel still operates its flagship on rue Cambon in Paris, where it all began.
Browse vintage Chanel bags, evening dresses, shoes, jewelry and other clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Geneva, Switzerland
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Jean Paul Gaultier Printed Stretch-Mesh & Knit Asymetric Tattoo Dress, SS1995By Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Geneva, CHJean Paul Gaultier's tattoo-printed tops first appeared during the 1994 Spring-Summer runway show and have remained a brand icon ever since. Originally inspired by a tattoo conventio...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Yves Saint Laurent Smocked Floral-Print Silk-Chiffon Maxi DressBy Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Geneva, CHCut from airy sheer silk chiffon, this rare early 70s Saint Laurent Rive Gauche maxi dress is shirred from under the chest to the hips for a flattering - though comfortable - closer ...Category
1970s French Maxi Dresses
- Emilio Pucci Print Cotton Shirt DressBy Emilio PucciLocated in Geneva, CHA light cotton long shirt, maxi dress by Emilio Pucci. This piece dates from the seventies. Shirt collar with full sleeves that cuff at the wrist, covers buttons all way down. Fi...Category
1970s Italian Maxi Dresses
- Jean Paul Gaultier Double-Breasted Cape-Effect Blazer Jacket or Mini DressBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Geneva, CHJean Paul Gaultier's creations always have this unexpected twist that make them both recognizable and unique. Made of navy wool (49%) and rayon (51%), this double-breasted blazer features a daring open back and slits along the sleeves that create an elegant cape effect. Worn as a blazer or a mini mini dress, this vintage Jean Paul Gaultier piece has peaked lapels, faux pockets and covered buttons. The lining is printed in it's iconic classic Breton stripes...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blazers
- Nina Ricci Haute Couture Polka Dot Dress & Coat EnsembleBy Nina RicciLocated in Geneva, CHWedding season is here and this early 60s Nina Ricci haute couture set is an elegant option for the ceremony. Made from refined satin silk pri...Category
1960s French Dress and Coat Ensembles
- Pierre Balmain (Attributed to) Haute Couture A-Line DressBy Pierre BalmainLocated in Geneva, CHLate sixties wool and silk snakeskin like dress, attributed to Pierre Balmain haute couture. Lovely A-line cut, "tie collar" and zipped back. Fully lined in refined black silk, the d...Category
1960s French Cocktail Dresses
- ALTUZARRA blsvk & white cotton NERISSA GINGHAM Sleeveless Dress 36 XSBy AltuzarraLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Altuzarra 'Nerissa' sleeveless gingham dress in black and white cotton (98%) and elastane (2%). Features a slit on the side. Opens with a concealed zipper and a hook a...Category
2010s Casual Dresses
- Lela Rose Ivory Cotton Blend Sleeveless Patchwork Dress - 8By Lela RoseLocated in West Palm Beach, FLLela Rose Ivory Cotton Blend Sleeveless Patchwork Dress - 8. This fitted dress is in excellent condition and has a unique look. The patchwork is comprised of squares and the piece ha...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Day Dresses
- Emilio Pucci Aqua Silk Chiffon Long Sleeve Dress with Sheer Cutouts - 10By Emilio PucciLocated in West Palm Beach, FLEmilio Pucci Aqua Silk Chiffon Long Sleeve Dress with Sheer Cutouts - 10. This dress is in very good condition with some pulling throughout, consistent with such a fragile piece. The...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses
- Missoni Vintage Earthtones Chevron Knitted Tunic-Style Dress - S - Circa 70'sBy MissoniLocated in West Palm Beach, FLMissoni Vintage Earthtones Chevron Knitted Tunic-Style Dress - S - Circa 70's. This adorable dress is in excellent vintage condition with only very slight pulls near the bottom. It ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses
- Nina Ricci Runway Spring 2006 Ivory Cotton and Lace Dress-US Size 6By Nina RicciLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Nina Ricci Runway ivory dress from the Spring 2006 Collection was look 21 and is the perfect summer dress. The dress is made of a beautiful cotton fabric, has a copper metallic stitched banding design along the neckline, arm hole, just under the bodice and extending in a curved shape just below the waist. The bodice and waist area have the soft fabric with some gathers as well as the skirt area giving a flowy style. The dress has a thick lace underpinning with a sheer cotton overlay and a side zipper. The dress is in very good vintage condition with light wear and one area of interior staining as seen in the last image. The Spring 2006 ready to wear collection was designed by Lars Nilsson...Category
Early 2000s French Day Dresses
- Tomasz Starzewski Ivory Soutache Lace Strapless Dress w/ Jacket-12-90'sBy Tomasz StarzewskiLocated in West Palm Beach, FLTomasz Starzewski Ivory Soutache Lace Strapless Dress w/ Jacket-12-90's This perfect vintage summer piece is made of a beautiful soutache lace, the dres...Category
1990s English Day Dresses
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.
From the Runway to Rihanna, These Chanel Pearl Sunglasses Are the Peak of ’90s Chic
This cheeky accessory is seriously fun.