Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld pink silk puffer coat with Gripoix buttons, fw 1996
View Similar Items
Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld pink silk puffer coat with Gripoix buttons, fw 1996
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: Medium (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU140212889342
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.
- Christian Dior by Marc Bohan brown mink cape with leather tassels, c. 1970By Christian DiorLocated in London, GBStep into luxury with the exquisite Christian Dior by Marc Bohan brown mink cape from the 1970s. This opulent piece boasts lambskin leather tassels and hook-and-eye closures, adorned...Category
1970s French Ponchos
- Martin Margiela dark grey wool coat with an elongated hood-collar, fw 2005By Maison Martin MargielaLocated in London, GBMartin Margiela dark grey wool coat with an elongated hood-collar Fall-Winter 2005Category
Early 2000s Italian Coats and Outerwear
- Alexander McQueen cream molten wool coat with gold embroidery, fw 2001By Alexander McQueenLocated in London, GBPresenting an impeccably tailored Alexander McQueen cream coat from the fall-winter 2001 collection. This coat is a true testament to the brand's commitment to luxury and craftsmanship. Constructed in a sumptuous cream molten wool, the coat exudes elegance and sophistication. The embroidered gold designs on the collar add a touch of opulence and artistry to the ensemble, elevating its overall design. Hidden button fastenings ensure a clean and sleek look, while the two front flap pockets add both functionality and style. A box pleat at the back enhances the coat's silhouette, creating a captivating and dynamic effect. Epaulettes on the shoulder add a touch of military-inspired flair, reflecting Alexander McQueen's penchant for juxtaposing elements in his designs. Prepare to embrace the allure of this Alexander McQueen tailored...Category
1990s Italian Coats and Outerwear
- Yves Saint Laurent oversized brown and white fox coat, c. 1980sBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in London, GBPresenting an exquisite Yves Saint Laurent oversized wild fox coat, a rare and luxurious piece from the 1980s. This coat exemplifies the brand's commitment to luxury and high fashion...Category
1980s French Fur Puffer Coats
$5,054 Sale Price22% Off - Azzedine Alaia black varnished pony hair trench coat, fw 2014By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in London, GBPresenting an exceptional Azzedine Alaia trench coat, a true collector's gem from the autumn-winter 2014 collection. This trench coat showcases the l...Category
2010s French Coats and Outerwear
- Alber Elbaz for Yves Saint Laurent Autumn-Winter 1999 fox fur capeletBy Alber Elbaz, Yves Saint LaurentLocated in London, GBAlber Elbaz for Yves Saint Laurent Autumn-Winter 1999 fox fur capeletCategory
1990s Italian Capes
- J.C de Castelbajac fucsia light blue coatBy CastelbajacLocated in Capri, ITJ.C de Castelbajac fucsia light blue coat Size MCategory
1990s Italian Coats and Outerwear
- HAIDER ACKERMANN Fuschia pink linen rayon flap layered robe coat FR34 XSBy Haider AckermannLocated in Hong Kong, NTHAIDER ACKERMANN Fuschia pink linen rayon flap layered robe coat FR34 XS Reference: EDTG/A00069 Brand: Haider Ackermann Designer: Haider Ackermann Material: Linen Color: Pink P...Category
2010s Italian Coats
- Bright pink feather's coat Sonia RykielBy Sonia RykielLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRBright pink feather's coatCategory
Early 2000s French Coats and Outerwear
- 1925's Pink silk velvet cape with padded collar and smocks on the shouldersLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRPink silk velvet cape with padded collar and smocks on the shoulders. Silk lining. Pleated like a sleeve in " trompe l'oeil" ( but there is no sleeve...Category
1920s French Capes
- Moschino Cheap And Chic Silk Stole in PinkBy Moschino Cheap and ChicLocated in Carnate, ITMoschino Cheap And Chic Silk Stole in Pink Moschino Cheap and Chic stole. The flowers look like they are painted with watercolors. Measures 150cm X 55cm. In silk. Good genera...Category
1990s Stoles
- S/S 2001 Gucci by Tom Ford Lava Print Pink Silk Square ScarfBy Tom Ford, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a rare pink lava print Gucci scarf, designed by Tom Ford. The lava design was debuted on the men's Spring/Summer 2001 runway and was used heavily in womenswear. This print was quite popular and a shirt in this pattern was even worn by Kim Cattrall...Category
Early 2000s Italian Scarves
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.