Karl Lagerfeld Initials Brooch
About the Item
- Creator:
- Place of Origin:France
- Period:20th Century
- Date of Manufacture:20th Century
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: ET1935137521stDibs: LU336245404
Karl Lagerfeld
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 1984 Lagerfeld was handed the reins at Chanel, which had been gathering dust since its founder’s heyday. From his first collection, Lagerfeld 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 evening gowns for Chanel, vintage cocktail dresses for Chloé and more.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Chanel White Maltese Cross BroochBy ChanelLocated in London, GBSometimes referred to as the Amalfi cross, the maltese cross became an iconic symbol that appears across many of Chanel's designs. Created by Fulco di Verdura for Coco Chanel, the ma...Category
Late 20th Century Brooches
- Dior Lapel clipBy Christian DiorLocated in London, GBAn exquisite Christian Dior vintage lapel clip by Roger Scemama featuring smoked and brown stones. This detailed piece would be an outstanding addition to a...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
- Chanel Mirror pin with small rhinestonesBy ChanelLocated in London, GBFun in design this 2004 pin is in the style of a miniature vanity mirror. Made from tortoiseshell and set with small red and clear rhinestones this much-preloved piece will turn your...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
- Moschino Vintage Drop Peace EarringsLocated in London, GBMoschino Vintage Drop Peace Earrings. Add a cool dash of boho-chic to any ensemble with these Gold plated metal large drop peace earrings from Moschin...Category
20th Century Unknown Dangle Earrings
- Chanel Pearl-embellished double-chain necklaceBy ChanelLocated in London, GBDesigning pieces that leave lasting impressions, Chanel leaves no detail overlooked. Adorned with faux pearls, this unique pre-owned chain-link necklace ...Category
Late 20th Century Multi-Strand Necklaces
- Chanel Faux-Pearl Cross Drop Clip-on EarringsBy ChanelLocated in London, GBA timeless classic, pearls are said to give a flattering glow to the skin and eyes. Featuring a string of pearls hanging from a gold-tone pendant inspired by the maltese cross, these...Category
Late 20th Century Drop Earrings
- Ladybug-Shaped Pendant and Brooch with Enamel of Various ColorsLocated in Rome, ITThe pendant in the shape of a ladybug with open wings, can be worn both as a pendant and as a brooch. The ladybug is decorated with transparent enamels of various colors. Its manufa...Category
Antique 19th Century Retro Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsEnamel
- 2.60 CTTW Antique Diamond Pin Brooch In 14K White GoldLocated in Chicago, ILThis pin is made of 14K white gold and weighs 5.70 DWT (approx. 8.86 grams). It contains 10 European cut H-I color, SI clarity diamonds weighing 1.35 CTTW, 42 single cut H-I color an...Category
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
- Antique Cameo Heart Pin with Diamond in 14K Yellow GoldLocated in Chicago, ILThis antique cameo heart with diamond pin is made of 14K yellow gold. It contains a round diamond weighing 0.01 CTTW.Category
Late 20th Century Art Nouveau Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- 1.11 CTTW Diamond Butterfly Milgrain Pin BroochLocated in Chicago, ILThis pin weighs 9.6 DWT (approx. 14.93 grams). It contains 97 round G color and VS clarity diamonds weighing 1.11 CTTW. Dimensions: 1.5" X 1.5".Category
Late 20th Century Art Deco Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Unique Pearl Starburst Pin Brooch In 14K Yellow GoldLocated in Chicago, ILThis pearl pin is made of 14K yellow gold and weighs 4.30 DWT (approx. 6.69 grams). It contains 17 round pearls.Category
Late 20th Century Art Nouveau Brooches
MaterialsPearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Le Vian Black and White Diamond Rose Pin White GoldBy Le VianLocated in Chicago, ILPreviously-owned Levian Black and White Diamond Rose Collection pin. The pin is 3 inches in length, made of 18K white gold, and weighs 12.70 DWT (approx. 19.75 grams). It also has 37...Category
Early 2000s Unknown Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Black Diamond, 18k Gold
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
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.
Chanel’s Boy Brick Lego Bag Transforms a Barcode into Art
In the hands of Karl Lagerfeld, even running errands became a chic exercise.