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.
$960Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Beaded Faux Pearl Mohawk Statement Bracelet by Karl Lagerfeld, 1980s
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in McKinney, TX
- Vintage item - 8.5" length - 1.1" width - Simulated black and golden gripoix pearls - Gold plated hardware - Hidden push box clasp - By Karl Lagerfeld (double signed on clasp...
Vintage KARL LAGERFELD KL Logo Multi Strand Two Tone Pearl Cuff Bracelet
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage KARL LAGERFELD KL Logo Multi Strand Two Tone Pearl Cuff Bracelet Measurements: Height: 2.36 inches (6 cm) Wearable Length: 8.26 inches (21 cm) Features: - 100% Authentic KA...
Handcraft 9 Karat Yellow Gold Opals Beaded Bracelet
By SCALA GIOIELLI
Located in Marcianise, IT
Handcraft 9 karat yellow gold beaded bracelet. Handmade by our craftsmen assembled with natural opals beaded. Only opals weight 125 karat Bracelet total weight 30 grams Bracelet 1...
Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Tresor 1.50 Carat Round Black Diamond 18KT Gold Steel Agate Men's Bead Bracelet
By Tresor Paris
Located in London, GB
The Original Tresor Paris Bracelet from the Jubilée collection featuring 1.80 Carat Pave set Black Round Diamond bead set in 18 Karat White Gold. The bracelet has 3 stainless steel beads and 17 matte Black satin agate beads. Size will fit from 7.00 to 8.50 inches (17.78 cm to 21.59 cm). Contemporary and trendy bracelet suitable for any occasion. 10 mm bead with approximately 1.50-1.80 Carat diamond set in 18 Karat Gold. Available in other sizes and gemstones on request. About Tresor Paris Defined by luxury and elegance, the multi-award-winning jeweler Tresor Paris offers a vast collection of exquisite diamond and fashion pieces. It has gained a reputation for designing timeless jewelry in both classic and contemporary settings. Boasting expertise from decades working in the jewelry business, Tresor Paris ensures that fine quality is at the heart of every piece in every collection with materials including shimmering diamonds, colorful precious stones, 18 carat gold sterling silver & stainless steel, pretty pearls, and of course the iconic glittering Tresor Paris bracelets. With a wide range of jewelry to choose from, Tresor Paris crafts collections are versatile and easy to wear. Tresor Paris has collaborated with designers including PPQ, Corrie Nielsen, and Fyodor Golan to design bespoke pieces for their London Fashion Week...
Agate, Diamond, Black Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Stainless Steel
10.98 Carat Ruby, Silver and Stainless Steel beaded Classic Macrame Bracelet
Located in London, GB
This 10.98 Ruby Stainless Steel and Silver beaded Macrame bracelet from The OriginalTresor Paris Audace Collection features 7 satin beads and 14 shiny Stainless Steel beads and two magnetite rings...
Ruby, Stainless Steel, Steel, Silver, Sterling Silver
$521Sale Price|25% Off
1990s Gloria Astolfo Sex and the City Faux Pearl Vintage 90s Cuff Bracelet
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic 90s GLORIA ASTOLFO faux pearl white cuff bracelet ! Sarah Jessica Parker wore a faux pearl clutch in the “Just Like That’ SATCHEL revival. Can easi...
$580Sale Price|20% Off
W 7.375 in D 1.37 in
Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Moonstone Georgian Pinchbeck Clasp Bra
By Karen Sugarman Designs
Located in Colleyville, TX
Four strands of hand-linked blue flash moonstone rondelles dotted with every the popular Sleeping Beauty turquoise faceted oval nuggets are the perfect compliment for this antique Georgian Pinchbeck...
Agate, Moonstone, Turquoise, Gold Plate, Pinchbeck
$959
W 1.5 in L 6.7 in
Antique Georgian Floral Beaded Cuff Bracelet with a Brass Clasp and Silk Lining
Located in London, GB
Beautiful Georgian beaded cuff bracelet with a lovely floral design edged in blue, and a decorative floral brass clasp. The beads are lined with a silk bac...
Large 1960s Rhinestone Hollywood Glam Vintage Statement 60s Bracelet Cuff
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning large rhinestone Hollywood glam bracelet cuff! Add some sparkle to any outfit! Ten rows of rhinestones with six large spread out ones in the center. Intricate etched clasp f...
Diamond Bracelet Flexible Fashion Bracelet 14K Yellow Gold Half Carat Diamond
By Five Star Jewelry
Located in Austin, TX
DIAMOND FASHION BRACELET with flexible design! Modern 2020 high fashion diamond bracelet! 14K Yellow Gold (Available in White Gold and Rose Gold, please message us directly) 0.58 C...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
South Sea Baroque Grey Pearls and Lemon Quartz in 22 Karat Gold
By Pamela Farland
Located in New York, NY
Bracelet of South Sea baroque grey pearls 10.5- 11mm & lemon Quartz beads in 22 Karat gold 8.75 inches long with toggle clasp. Comfortable and easy to wear. Hand made in New York
Cultured Pearl, Quartz, Pearl, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Cellini 18kt White Gold 2.90ct Diamond & 3 Row Cultured Pearl Bracelet
By Cellini
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous 18 karat white gold bracelet is designed with 3 rows of 5mm cultured pearls. The pearls alternate with round brilliant diamonds that have been prong set. The clasp is s...
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
$215Sale Price|20% Off
Three Row "Fruit Salad" Beaded Cuff Bracelet By Hobé, 1950s
By Hobé Jewelry
Located in McKinney, TX
- Vintage item - Approx 8" length - 2.5" width at widest point - White plastic beads - Colorful glass fruit beads: pear, strawberry, lemon - Slightly adjustable, best fits smal...
Large Navajo Turquoise Bracelet
By Navajo
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Large and stunning color Navajo turquoise and sterling cuff bracelet. Large center stone surrounded by twisted rope and leaf border. Sketched "JA" on ...
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage KARL LAGERFELD Bamboo Multi Strand Pearl Cuff Bracelet
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage KARL LAGERFELD Bamboo Multi Strand Pearl Cuff Bracelet Measurements: Height: 2.16 inches (5.5 cm) Wearable Length: 7.28 inches (18.5 cm) Features: - 100% Authentic KARL LAG...
Vintage Karl Lagerfeld 10 Row Faux Pearl Bracelet Circa 1980s
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Karl Lagerfeld 10 Row Faux Pearl Bracelet. Matte Gold. True Lagerfeld. This will always be a Classic Style. So very chic. You can make this longer with adding some chain. ...
Mixed Metal