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 earrings by Karl Lagerfeld Spring 1992
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1992 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal clip-on earrings with orange glass-paste cabochons and a costume pe...
Gilt Metal
Chanel earrings by Karl Lagerfeld Fall 1991
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1991 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Work from the Woloch Atelier. Golden-metal clip-on earrings with costume pearls an...
Gilt Metal
Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Velvet Choker Necklace, Cruciform Amethyst Glass, 2017
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A seriously cool Chanel Renaissance velvet choker from the 2017 collection. The detail is what holds it together, rich and deliberate, with a slightly rebellious edge. Cruciform moti...
Chanel necklace by Karl Lagerfeld 2014
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A 2014 Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Champagne-metal dickey necklace enhanced with multicolored resin flowers, costume pearls, and rhinestones....
Chanel cross necklace 'Bottes et chemises blanches' by Karl Lagerfeld 1993
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1993 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear "Bottes et chemises blanches" Collection, under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal necklace with a rock crystal pendant e...
Gilt Metal
Chanel X Karl Lagerfeld Métiers d’Art Prefall 2010 « Paris - Shangaï »
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in CANNES, FR
Chanel X Karl Lagerfeld Métiers d’Art Prefall 2010 "Paris - Shanghai" Collection Gold-tone metal chain necklace with imitation pearls and logos, ending with a lacquered doll pendant...
Chanel Camelia Pearl Necklace, Maison Gripoix
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in New York, NY
Chanel Camelia Pearl Necklace, Maison Gripoix from the 1990's. A central station of 3 hand poured glass crystal flowers with pearl centers is strung on a large 15mm faux ivory pink p...
Bronze, Gilt Metal
Chanel keyring by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1989
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1989 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden-metal keyring with a matching enameled plate bearing the House contact details....
Gilt Metal
Chanel "Paris-Edinburgh" bracelet by Karl Lagerfeld, Métiers d'Art 2013
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - Métiers d'Art Paris-Edinburgh 2013 Collection, under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Multi-strand bracelet of fancy mother-of-pearl beads, gold-tone metal chain t...
Chanel keyring by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1989
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1989 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden-metal keyring with a matching enameled plate bearing the House contact details....
Gilt Metal
Vintage Chanel Statement CC Logo Cuff KARL LAGERFELD 1994
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A megawatt Vintage Chanel CC Logo Cuff in exceptional condition. A piece from the 1994 Spring Collection and the iconic reign of Lagerfeld and Castellane not to mention the now legen...
Chanel necklace by Karl Lagerfeld 1984
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1984 Collection, under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Gold-tone metal chain necklace with glass paste and rhinestones. Made in France. Condition: Very good Di...
Gilt Metal
Vintage Chanel LAGERFELD Statement Turnlock CC Logo Earrings 1997
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A stunning pair of iconic Vintage Chanel Turnlock Earrings from 1997. Here we have Chanel and the 1990s encapsulated in an earring. An earring created during Victoire de Castellane...
Chanel earrings 'Ponts et passerelles' by Karl Lagerfeld Fall 1997
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1997 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear "Ponts et passerelles" under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld, Golden metal clip-on earrings engraved with CHANEL and centered with a...
Gilt Metal
Chanel clover necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Spring 1996
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1996 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Pink glass-pearl necklace centered with a four-leaf clover pendant made of paste...
Gilt Metal
Chanel earrings by Karl Lagerfeld Fall 1994
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1994 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal clip-on earrings with tiny costume pearls, centered with a blue glass...
Gilt Metal
Chanel "Paris-Edinburgh" Belt/Necklace by Karl Lagerfeld, Métiers d'Art 2013
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - Métiers d'Art Collection Paris-Edinburgh 2013, under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Multi-strand necklace/belt of fancy mother-of-pearl beads, gold-tone metal ch...
Vintage CHANEL Grande Baroque Pearl Collar and Earrings, Early KARL LAGERFELD
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Wilmslow, GB
An important and highly desirable vintage chanel pearl necklace and earring suite. Attributed to Maison Gripoix for the House of Chanel and to the first year of the now legendary Kar...
Gold Plate
Chanel choker necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Winter 1991
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1991 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Short necklace composed of impressive golden-metal pearls ornamented with colorful...
Gilt Metal
Chanel 'seal' bracelet by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1985
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1985 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal bracelet composed of oval medallions centered with cc logos and ending wi...
Gilt Metal
Chanel bracelet by Karl Lagerfeld Spring 2013
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 2013 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Elasticated lucite bracelet embedded with lace and tiny costume pearls. Not sign...
Chanel multi-strand necklace by Karl Lagerfeld 2015
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - Ready-to-Wear 2015 Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Short necklace composed of five strands of faux pearls in a gradient of black, gray, and white...
$785Sale Price / set|50% Off
Vintage Chanel 1980s Gold Pearl Logo Clip On 80s Earrings, 1983
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare, very collectible vintage Chanel pearl and gold logo clip-on earrings. Stamped Chanel, and from the 1983 collection. Can easily be dressed up or down, day to evening. All of the vintage clothing...
Gold
Chanel choker necklace by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1985
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1985 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Choker necklace made of big golden metal pearls topped with tiny cc logos. Made in Fr...
Gilt Metal
Chanel cross necklace by Karl Lagerfeld 1985
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1985 ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Byzantine-style costume-pearl necklace ornamented with a cross made of golden metal and glass ...
Gilt Metal
Vintage Chanel LAGERFELD Era Statement Pink Cut Out Oversize CC Logo Cuff 2001
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A dreamy vintage noughties Chanel pink cuff by Lagerfeld that will be adored and coveted. Vintage Condition: Very good without damage or noteworthy wear. Signed: Chanel, 2001 Materi...
Chanel necklace by Karl Lagerfeld circa late 1980s
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A Collection circa late 1980s, under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Short golden metal necklace with rhinestones and glass paste. Made in France. Condition: Ve...
Gilt Metal
Chanel necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Haute Couture 1984
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1984 Haute Couture Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Work from the Gripoix Atelier. Long golden metal necklace with rhinestones and green glass pas...
Gilt Metal
Chanel necklace 'Surfer Urbain' by Karl Lagerfeld Summer 1991
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1991 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear "Surfer Urbain" Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Choker necklace made of orange costume pearls. Made in France. ...
Chanel magnifying-glass necklace by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1985
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1985 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Long golden-metal necklace with costume pearls and a magnifying glass. Made in France...
Gilt Metal
Chanel by Lagerfeld Gold Plated Simulated Pearl CC Logo Necklace, 2014
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A Preloved Chanel Pearl CC Logo Necklace. The quintessential pearl necklace from the House of Chanel and a keeper from the legendary tenure of Karl Lagerfeld. Exquisite attention to ...
Chanel pendant brooch by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1985
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A Collection circa 1985, under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Work from the Gripoix Atelier. Golden-metal pendant brooch with multicolored glass paste. Made in ...
Gilt Metal
Chanel Pre-Fall 2015 Salzburg Sissi 15A Star Crystal Brooch
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Jersey City, NJ
A luminous collectible from Chanel’s Pre-Fall 2015 “Salzburg” Métiers d’Art collection, created as a celebration of the House’s ateliers and the romance of Austria. This starburst b...
Chanel byzantine necklace by Karl Lagerfeld 1985
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1985 ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Woloch Atelier. Golden metal byzantine necklace with Swarovski rhinestoned, a costume pearly c...
Gilt Metal
Chanel bracelet by Karl Lagerfeld Fall-Winter 1990
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1990 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal cuff bracelet with costume pearls. Jewelry engraved with the S of Sa...
Gilt Metal
Chanel necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Winter 1988-1989
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1988-1989 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal chain necklace with an impressive golden metal openwork brooch o...
Gilt Metal
Chanel necklace 'Surfer Urbain' by Karl Lagerfeld Summer 1991
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1991 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear "Surfer Urbain"Collection, under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Yellow costume-pearl choker necklace. Made in France. Conditio...
Gilt Metal
Chanel earrings by Karl Lagerfeld Spring-Summer 1995
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1995 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Gripoix Atelier. Golden metal clip-on earrings with costume pearly glass paste. ...
Gilt Metal
Chanel earrings by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1985-1990
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A Collection circa 1985-1990, under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal earrings set with rhinestones and costume pearls. Made in France. Condition: Ve...
Gilt Metal
Vintage Chanel LAGERFELD ERA Iconic Statement Monochrome CC Logo Cuff 2006
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A stunning oversize Chanel Monochrome CC Cuff from the 2000s. Crafted in resin. Featuring a gigantic bold black interlocking CC logo on a white background to create a seriously iconi...
Chanel ring by Karl Lagerfeld Spring 2002
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 2002 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal barrel ring enameled with black, representing a heart on one side a...
Gilt Metal
Chanel earrings by Karl Lagerfeld Spring 1996
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1996 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Work from the Woloch Atelier. Golden-metal clip-on earrings representing a flowe...
Gilt Metal
Chanel necklace by Karl Lagerfed circa early 1980s
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa early 1980s under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal necklace ornamented with costume pearls in matching filigreed meta...
Gilt Metal
Chanel 1981 Chicklet Necklace, Gilt Gold with Emerald Crystals, France
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Stuttgart, DE
The CHANEL 1981 "Chicklet" necklace (Made in France) - a long, sautoir-style chain set with rectangular glass crystalys - is one of the most iconic pieces of vintage Chanel costume jewelry...
Crystal
Chanel earrings 'Paris-Dallas' by Karl Lagerfeld Pre Fall 2015
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 2015 Pre-Fall ready-to-wear 'Paris-Dallas' Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal cc earrings enameled with burgundy-red.. Made in France....
Gilt Metal
Chanel cc pin label by Karl Lagerfeld circa 2015
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A Collection circa 2015 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Silvery metal cc pin label enameled with sky-blue. Condition: Very good condition Dimensions: Heig...
Chanel cc earrings by Karl Lagerfeld Spring 2004
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 2004 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Silvery metal cc earrings enameled with black. Made in France. Condition: Very...
Chanel necklace by Karl Lagerfeld 1984
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1984 ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Woloch Atelier. Long golden metal necklace with a byzantine-style pendant, Swarovski rhinestone...
Gilt Metal
Chanel 1992 Collection 29 Gold CC Statement Clip-On Earrings
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Basaluzzo, IT
Exceptional Chanel Collection 29 earrings from 1992, dating from the Karl Lagerfeld era and the season of costume jewelry designed by Victoire de Castellane for the House. Crafted f...
Chanel turnlock necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Fall 1995
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1995 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal choker necklace, turnlock design. Made in France. Condition: Very g...
Gilt Metal
Chanel 24K Gold Plated Cross Necklace, Gripoix Glass, 1993 Design
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Stuttgart, DE
Chanel necklace with an attached cross in the colors orange and red with handcrafted pearl, hanging from the original 70 cm long chain. Signed on the back side 93 CC P - 1993 Print...
Other, Gold Plate
Chanel White Bakelite Cuff Bracelet with Multicolored CC Logos, 2005
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) White bakelite bracelet ornamented with multicolored cc logos. 2005 Cruise Collection under the artistic direction of...
Chanel necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Spring-Summer 1996
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1996 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Woloch Atelier. Golden metal pendant necklace with a stylised flower centered wi...
Gilt Metal
Chanel earrings by Karl Lagerfeld Fall-Winter 1990
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1990 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal clip-on earrings with a chain and a costume pearl. Made in France. ...
Gilt Metal
Chanel brooch by Karl Lagerfeld Fall-Winter 1991
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1991 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Gripoix Atelier. Golden metal cross pendant brooch with costume pearls, pearly cabo...
Gilt Metal
Chanel brooch by Karl Lagerfeld Fall 2013
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 2013 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Silvery metal openwork brooch decorated with diferent-size rhinestones and centere...
Chanel necklace by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1985
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1985 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal necklace ornamented with impressive rhinestoned medallions centered with ...
Gilt Metal
Chanel camellia brooch
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) White camellia brooch decorated with a black silk bow. A Collection circa 1985 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Condition: Very good conditi...
$1,391
Chanel cc earrings 1990s
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) Golden metal clip-on earrings with Swarovski rhinestones. A Collection circa 1990 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Condition: Very good cond...
Gilt Metal
Chanel bracelet by Karl Lagerfeld Cruise 1993
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1993 Cruise ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal articulated bracelet made of multi-row of chains interlaced with black lea...
Gilt Metal