CHANEL BY KARL LAGERFELD S/S 1997 Vintage Runway Jodhpurs Documented Campaign
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 40.56 in (103 cm)Marked Size: FR36 (EU)Waist: 12.8 in (32.5 cm)Hip: 20.08 in (51 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Berlin, DE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2643222013202
Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
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.” From his first collection at Chanel — after joining the brand in the early 1980s — he injected the venerable house with a frisson of modernity. Vintage Karl Lagerfeld designs for Chanel handbags, evening dresses, coats, jewelry and other clothing and accessories riffed on its iconography — tweed skirt suits, pearls, camellias — accenting a lexicon of Chanel-isms with tastes of the moment.
During his five-decade career as a designer 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.
Lagerfeld 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, he 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, Lagerfeld 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.
Lagerfeld’s collections for the brand 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), he used each season’s inspiration to conceive Chanel’s signatures anew.
Lagerfeld revived the house's ballet flats and thoroughly embraced the classic logo's interlocking CCs, which became a common and immediately recognizable feature of Chanel flap bags. Many of the rare Chanel bags much sought after today — and Chanel bags of the 1990s, generally — are objects of pure fantasy conjured up by the late couturier.
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.
Find vintage Karl Lagerfeld Chanel day dresses, jackets, shoes and more on 1stDibs.
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: Berlin, Germany
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- ANN DEMEULEMEESTER Chic High Waisted Cigarette PantsBy Ann DemeulemeesterLocated in Berlin, BESuper chic cigarette style pants by Belgian designer Ann Demeulemeester. These gorgeous cotton blend slim feature a flattering high waist. Very fitted, the fabric has a slight stret...Category
2010s Portuguese Pants
- SAINT LAURENT By HEDI SLIMANE F/W 2015 Runway CoatBy Hedi Slimane for Yves Saint Laurent, Saint LaurentLocated in Berlin, BESAINT LAURENT by HEDI SLIMANE Rare F/W 2015 Runway Coat With Mink Collar Brand: Saint Laurent Designer: Hedi Slimane Collection / Year: F/W 2015 Fabric: Wool / Mink Color: Black Siz...Category
2010s French Coats
- RICK OWENS Avant Garde Distressed Leather Biker JacketBy Rick OwensLocated in Berlin, BEClassic avant-garde biker jacket from Rick Owens. A true Rick Owens staple. This avant-garde jacket is made from a soft distressed lamb leather and features a concealed front zip closure, classic Rick Owens long sleeves...Category
2010s Italian Jackets
- Azzedine Alaïa Vintage S/S 1992 Runway Coral Corset Jacket DocumentedBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Berlin, BEIconic documented vintage Azzedine Alaïa Spring Summer 1992 runway corset jacket in the most beautiful rare coral colour! AS seen on the Spring Summer 1992 runway show and worn by model Beverly Peele for Vogue issue...Category
1990s French Blazers
- SAINT LAURENT BY HEDI SLIMANE 2014 Black Leather Mini DressBy Hedi Slimane for Yves Saint Laurent, Saint LaurentLocated in Berlin, BEThe most incredible leather mini-dress by Saint Laurent from 2014, designed by Hedi Slimane. This exceptional sleeveless mini dress is made from a soft lamb leather and features gor...Category
2010s French Mini Dress
- JUNYA WATANABE COMME DES GARCONS Leather Pleated SkirtBy Junya Watanabe Comme des GarçonsLocated in Berlin, BEAmazing pleated black leather skirt by Japanese designer Junya Watanabe. The luxurious leather skirt is made form a soft leather - it is fitted at the waistband and pleated at the b...Category
2010s Japanese Pleated Skirts
- S/S 1995 Gianni Versace Butterfly JeansBy Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in Concord, NCVersace butterfly print jeans from Spring Summer 1995. White denim jeans printed with an energetic butterfly motif throughout. Condition: Good cond...Category
1990s Italian Jeans
- Valentino Silk Multicolor Floral PantsBy ValentinoLocated in Scottsdale, AZThe Valentino Silk Multicolor Floral Pants are a stunning and luxurious addition to any wardrobe. Crafted from silk, these wide-leg pants offer both elegance and breathability, makin...Category
2010s Italian Pants
- Dolce & Gabbana copper and gold lace beaded fringe pants, ss 2000By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GBDolce & Gabbana gold lace evening pants with copper beaded fringe trim Spring-Summer 2000Category
1990s Italian Pants
- Vivienne Westwood Mens blue wool riding breeches style cropped pantsBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBVivienne Westwood Mens blue wool riding breeches style cropped pants ca. 1985-1989Category
1980s British Pants
- Black Chanel Fall/Winter 2006 Wool Pants Size FR 48By ChanelLocated in New York, NYBlack wool pants by Chanel. From the Fall/Winter 2006 Collection. Dual hip pockets. Fringe trim at leg openings. 42" waist, 46" hips, 27" inseam, 14.25" rise, 39.5" length.Category
Early 2000s European Pants
- Burberry London Black Regular Fit Steadman Jeans XLBy BurberryLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2These Steadman jeans from Burberry London will be a perfect addition to your denim collection. They carry a black hue with a regular-fit silhouette and a fastening on the front. Made...Category
2010s Italian Pants
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
How the Chanel Jacket Forever Changed What Women Wear
The classic tweed garment has been a wardrobe staple of chic women around the world since the 1950s.
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.