Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld black & white logo flower print halter dress, ss 2003
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: French 42 (EU)Bust: 30 in (76.2 cm)Waist: 28 in (71.12 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Antwerpen, BE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU44722822882
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Antwerpen, Belgium
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Jean Colonna vintage SS 1998 asymmetric floral partly transparent jersey dressLocated in Antwerpen, Vlaams GewestVerlaine Vintage presents a Jean Colonna asymmetric floral dress from the spring-summer 1998 collection. A piece that epitomizes Jean Colonna's minimalist sensuality, this dress has an interesting asymmetric design. The left side is constructed with a regular long sleeve, while the right side is sleeveless and the neckline functions as a shoulder strap. The designer explored this concept in several of their mid-'90s collections. The piece is crafted from an unusual technical jersey (71% viscose, 21% nylon) with a floral print that would look right at home in a vintage 70s interior...Category
1990s Italian Day Dresses
- Gucci by Tom Ford runway fall 2001 100% silk black bustier post-it dressBy Tom Ford, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Antwerpen, Vlaams GewestGucci by Tom Ford fall 2001 black post-it bustier dress Iconic and highly collectible. Inside attached bustier to hold the dress equipped with a side zipp...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses
- Yves Saint Laurent vintage 1986 velvet ruffles dress seen on Catherine DeneuveBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Antwerpen, Vlaams GewestIconic Yves Saint Laurent "rive gauche" black velvet cocktail dress with a v-neckline accentuated by a black satin tiered ruffle. The dress has pouf detail at the shoulder of the sle...Category
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
- Jean Paul Gaultier 1990s vintage metal chain lace-up black draped jersey dressBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Antwerpen, Vlaams GewestJean Paul Gaultier 1990s vintage semi-sheer lace-up metal chain embellished with pompoms black draped jersey dress. A black silk lining was added but can easily be removed. Size lab...Category
1990s Italian Day Dresses
- Vintage garden party chique beaded bodice flower design empire waist long dressLocated in Antwerpen, Vlaams GewestThe bodice of this exquisite vintage empire waist dress features an intricate beaded design inspired by blooming flowers, while the skirt bo...Category
1960s French Maxi Dress
- Alaïa by Azzedine Alaïa spring 1990 runway collection textured bodycon dressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Antwerpen, Vlaams GewestVintage Alaïa by Azzedine Alaïa spring 1990 runway collection textured bodycon dress. Ribbed texture at sides with triple strap detailing and simply...Category
1990s French Cocktail Dresses
- LOUIS VUITTON navy blue linen BUSTIER Sleeveless Dress 40 MBy Louis VuittonLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Louis Vuitton paneled bustier dress in navy blue linen (50%) and silk (50%). Features an a-line fit and chiffon silk straps. Corsage...Category
2010s Casual Dresses
- Balenciaga Black Crepe Strappy Midi Dress MBy BalenciagaLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2The fine artistry and the feminine silhouette of this designer dress exhibit the label's impeccable craftsmanship in tailoring. It is stitched using quality materials, has a good fit...Category
2010s Italian Casual Dresses
- 1990' vintage red dress by Moschino cheap & chicBy Moschino Cheap and Chic, MoschinoLocated in LAGNY-SUR-MARNE, FR1990' vintage red dress by Moschino cheap & chic. In perfect condition. 79% acetate 21% rayon. Sizes : I 40 FR 36 US 6 UK 8 Measurements laid fla...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dresses
- Prada silver knit dressBy PradaLocated in London, EnglandPrada silver lurex plisse knit tank dress A precious motif formed by different types of ribbing creates a sunray pleat effect in this elegant, luminous d...Category
2010s Italian Day Dresses
- Gianni Versace Betty Boop Pop Art Rolls Royce Cartoon Kourtney Kardashian DressBy Versace Jeans CoutureLocated in PARIS, FRGiannia Versace Betty Boop Pop Art Rolls Royce Cartoon Kourtney Kardashian Dress Versace Jeans Couture Gianni Multicolor Betty Boop Pop Art Rolls...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dresses
- 1970's Martha Palm Beach Navy and Red Maxi DressBy Martha Palm BeachLocated in Toronto, Ontario1970's maxi dress with a navy blue long sleeve ruched bodice and a long, softly gathered red and blue floral maxi skirt. Empire waist with a red an...Category
1970s American Informal Dresses
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.