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 Black Leather Wide Coco Unisex Double Buckle Cuff Bracelet FW 2001
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in Nice, FR
CHANEL black leather unisex statement cuff bracelet from the Fall Winter 2001 Collection. Black leather body with grey C O C O lettering. Double gold tone buckle closure emboss...
Chanel Vintage Silvertone Cuff Bracelet "Chanel Paris" Spring 1996
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in Nice, FR
CHANEL vintage silvertone cuff bracelet engraved with "CHANEL PARIS". Spring 1996 Collection. Marked CHANEL 96 P Made in France. Indicative measurements : diameter approx. 7...
$960Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage 1980s Karl Lagerfeld Gilt & Enamel "LAGERFELD" Skinny Bangle Bracelet
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in McKinney, TX
- Rare vintage piece - Heavy gold plate - Black enamel detail - 2.75" diameter - .7" tall - By Karl Lagerfeld - Marked "KL" on interior - Circa 1980s - Made in France - Excellent vintage condition PROVENANCE: From the estate of a Manhattan socialite, whose highly curated collection of vintage costume and designer jewelry was accumulated over several decades of opulent adventures. During her heyday in the 1970s and 1980s, she carefully acquired unique statement pieces from coveted high-end designer labels like Chanel, Givenchy, Karl Lagerfeld, YSL, Christian Lacroix, Dior and more. Her eye for quality and penchant for oversized bijoux make this collection truly unique. Every item from this elite collection is a piece of design history and an investment quality work of wearable art. True lovers of the finest vintage costume and runway jewelry...
Enamel
Pair of Karl Lagerfeld Golden Bracelets
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Karl Lagerfeld - Pair of bracelets made of gilted metal and enamel. Additional information: Dimensions: Circumference: 20 cm (7.87 in) Height: 1.5 cm (0.59 in) / 3 cm (1.18 in) ...
Gilt Metal
Hinged Cuff Bracelet with Chryoprase
Located in Darnestown, MD
Striking hinged 14 karat gold bracelet with three large chrysoprase oval stones. The largest measures 3 centimeters x 2 centimeters. The front of the ...
Chrysophrase, 14k Gold
Barry Kieselstein Cord 2004 Sterling Silver & 14k Gold Frog Flower Cuff Bracelet
Located in Honolulu, HI
Barry Kieselstein Cord Cuff Bracelet in sterling silver and14k yellow gold. The bracelet features a 3-D frog in between 2 3-D flowers with 14k yellow gold petals. Hallmarked "Barry Kieselstein Cord" and stamped "2004," "925," "14K," "Thailand," on the inside. This cuff bangle measures 29 mm wide, 58 mm long and weighs 78.5 grams. This is a pre-owned Barry Kieselstein Cord bracelet...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Zuni Sleeping Beauty Needlepoint Turquoise Bracelet
By Zuni
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Zuni sterling silver bracelet with beautiful stones of Sleeping Beauty needlepoint turquoise. Signed "G" and "AB." Solid and sturdy with classic bead and twisted rope borders. Nice p...
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
William Spratling Sterling Silver and Amethyst Bracelet
By William Spratling
Located in Darnestown, MD
Rare, early sterling with amethyst bracelet by silver master, William Spratling. The bracelet has a raised, striated silver design throughout that terminates with two pear shaped cab...
Amethyst, Sterling Silver
Large Navajo Kingman Turquoise Cuff
By Navajo
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Exceptionally large Navajo Kingman turquoise and sterling wrist cuff. 48 nuggets of turquoise interspersed with sterling beads and another large turquoise stone surrounded by twisted...
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Denise Roberge 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Diamond Tourmaline Wide Cuff Bracelet
By Denise Roberge
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A, beautiful wide cuff bracelet from Denise Roberge, set in 18kt yellow gold featuring an array of multi colored cabochon Tourmaline's. This beautiful creation by Denise Roberge weig...
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$11,381
W 18.51 in D 0.4 in L 0.4 in
Tourquoise Carved Medusa Cuff Bracelet Diamonds, Rubies, Tsavorites
By Pradera Irama
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Irama Pradera is a Young designer from Spain that searches always for the best gems and combines classic with contemporary mounting and styles. In Greek mythology, Medusa (/mɪˈdjuːzə, -sə/; Μέδουσα "guardian, protectress") was a monster, a Gorgon, generally described as a winged human female with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Those who gazed upon her face would turn to stone. The Medusa served for Irama´s Imaginarium to create an Original and Voluptuous Mediterranean Bracelet is crafted in 18K gold and silver with the carved medusa...
Diamond, Ruby, Tsavorite, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
14 Karat Yellow Gold and Silver Ruby and Diamond Cuff
By Gregory Mikaelian & Sons, Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
14k yellow gold Gresha signature bark, flower and leaf ruby and diamond cuff, containing 30 round diamond weighing .55pts. The diamonds are paved around rubies in a flower and 10 ro...
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver
Alex Sepkus Custom Orchard Cuff Bracelet
By Alex Sepkus
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Extremely desireable, Alex Sepkus B-34 18K Yellow gold bracelet from his "Secrets of Garden" collection. This gorgeous yellow gold bracelet features 4.66cts in sapphires and 0.30 cts...
Diamond, Sapphire, Amethyst, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$14,690 / item
W 0.4 in D 0.12 in L 6.89 in
Annamaria Cammilli "Dune" 4 Layer Bracelet with Diamonds in 18 Karat Black Gold
By Annamaria Cammilli
Located in SOLVANG, CA
From Annamaria Cammilli's Essential collection, Dune bracelet handcrafted in 18 karat Black Lava gold. Six brilliant white diamonds at 0.35 carat total weight are prong set and neste...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
1.68 Ctw White Brilliant Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Chimera Panther Bangle Bracelet
Located in Perry, FL
Incredible 18k gold and diamond (approx 1.68 ctw) double chimera panther head bangle. It has a significant amount of diamonds and heavy 18k gold, truly impressive craftsmanship - it ...
Diamond, Yellow Gold
$11,880 / item
W 0.75 in L 6.89 in
Annamaria Cammilli "Dune" Bracelet with Diamonds in 18 Karat Orange Gold
By Annamaria Cammilli
Located in SOLVANG, CA
From Annamaria Cammilli's Essential collection, Dune bracelet handcrafted in 18 karat orange gold. Four brilliant white diamonds at 0.23 carat total weight. Two outer curving circles...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Sold
W 1.97 in L 7.88 in
Karl Lagerfeld Articulated Bracelet in Gilded Metal Paved with Small Cabochons
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Karl Lagerfeld -Articulated bracelet in gilded metal paved with small cabochons. Additional information: Dimensions: Length: 16.5-20 cm Width: 5 cm Co...
Gilt Metal
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
Chanel Vintage Wood Bangle Bracelet with CC Logo Fall 1996
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in Nice, FR
CHANEL vintage natural wood bangle bracelet featuring a bronze patina double C logo. Fall 1996 Collection. This bangle has an elegant modern shape. Looks great with many outfit...