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 turnlock necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Spring-Summer 1997
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1997 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Short golden metal necklace with a turnlock fastening, composed of three chain r...
Gilt Metal
Chanel Chicklet Necklace singed 1981, Gilt Gold with Emerald Crystals, France
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Stuttgart, DE
The CHANEL 1981 "Chicklet" necklace (Made in France) - a long, sautoir-style chain set with rectangular glass crystalys - is one of the most iconic pieces of vintage Chanel costume jewelry...
Beryl, Crystal
Chanel sautoir necklace by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1985
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A Collection circa 1985 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Sautoir necklace made of pinky-red glass pearls and golden metal ribbed pearls. Made in France. Co...
Gilt Metal
$2,700
Chanel necklace 2024
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) Short champagne metal necklace interlaced with black leather. A 2024 Collection under the artistic direction of Virginie Viard. Condition: Very good condit...
Gilt Metal
Chanel sautoir necklace by Karl Lagerfeld 1984
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1984 ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal sautoir necklace with red and green glass pearls. Made in France. Condition: Ve...
Gilt Metal
Chanel sautoir necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Haute Couture 1984
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1984 Haute Couture Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Gripoix Atelier. Costume pearl sautoir necklace with glass-paste corollas, Swarovski rhineston...
Gilt Metal
Chanel 1981 Gold Plated Chicklet Necklace with Swarovski Stones
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Stuttgart, DE
This iconic Chanel sautoir (Made in France) consists of 12 clear rectangular cut Swarovski rhinestones "CHICKLET", each set in gold plated metal. Each side of the stones has a diffe...
Crystal, Gold Plate
Chanel necklace 'La modernité de l'Antiquité' by Karl Lagerfeld Resort 2008
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 2018 Resort ready-to-wear 'La modernité de l'Antiquité' Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Champagne metal chain sautoir necklace ornamented with di...
Vintage Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Statement Sunburst Medallion Collar 1980s
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A Vintage Chanel Sunburst Medallion Collar. A major part of her eponymous House since 1923, Gabrielle Chanel’s jewel legacy is unparalleled. A passionate innovator and champion of ‘b...
Chanel necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Spring-Summer 1998
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1998 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Woloch Atelier. Long costume pearl necklace with a baroque shape. Silvery-metal ...
$2,113
Chanel necklace 1990s
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) Golden metal necklace with tiny pink resin pastilles and rhinestoned lantern. Jewelry from the early 1990s - Work from the Woloch Atelier for Chanel. Condi...
Gilt Metal
Chanel Necklace by Robert Goossens and Gripoix Paris, sign. 1983, gold plated
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Stuttgart, DE
A unique and rare Chanel sautoir signed 1983. It consists of 20 false pearls, in between 3 olympus-shaped Gripoix stones and 2 large Swarovski crystal parts each in green and blue, b...
Crystal, Gold Plate
Chanel turnlock belt by Karl Lagerfeld Summer 1997
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1997 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metla multi-row chain belt ending with a matching turnlock fastening. Ma...
Gilt Metal
Chanel sautoir necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Autumn-Winter 2007
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - Fall/Winter 2007 Ready-to-Wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Long necklace in silver-tone metal with colored Bakelite charms. Made in France. ...
Chanel sautoir necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Spring-Summer 1992
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1992 Spring-Summer ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal sautoir necklace with faceted glass pearls. Made in France. Condit...
Gilt Metal
Chanel golden necklace 1990s
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) Golden metal necklace made of flat links interlaced representing tiny cc logos. A 2cc9 Collection from the early 1990s, designed under the artistic directio...
Chanel necklace 'Astrology' by Karl Lagerfeld Fall 1995
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1995 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal sautoir chain necklace intertwined with black leather and ornamented ...
Gilt Metal
Chanel 1984 Multi-Row Golden Metal Chain Necklace with Pearls & Pompom
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) Multi-row golden metal chain necklace decorated with glass paste, costume pearls, and a matching pompom. A 1984 Collection. Condition: Very good condition ...
Gilt Metal
Chanel chain necklace 1990s
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) Long necklace with a quilted golden metal ring. Jewelry from the 1990s under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Work from the Woloch Atelier for Chan...
Gilt Metal
Chanel necklace Summer 1991
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) Long golden metal necklace with multicolored resin pearls, and pink and yellow fimo polymer paste pearls. 1991 Spring-Summer Collection under the artistic d...
Gilt Metal
CHANEL PEARL SAUTOIR, 6 double-sided coins with CC logos and lion heads 1982's
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Stuttgart, DE
Extra long 1.90 cm pearl sautoir with 6 double-sided medallions, iconic CC's, back lion's head surrounded by many small rhinestones. (Made in France), signed 1982. Dimensions: Lengt...
Crystal
Chanel pendant necklace
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) Short golden metal necklace with a cc pendant. Jewelry from the 1990s. Condition: Very good condition Dimensions: Length: 42 cm SKU:CB190
Gilt Metal
Chanel golden necklace 1980s
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection from the 1980s under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Long two-row golden metal pearl necklace. Made in France Condition: Very good cond...
Gilt Metal
$3,404
Chanel necklace 1990s
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) Long golden metal necklace with rhinestones and red glass paste. Jewelry from the 1990s under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Condition: Very goo...
Gilt Metal
Chanel necklace angels by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1980
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1980 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal chain necklace ornamented with angel medallions. Made in France. Conditio...
Gilt Metal
Chanel necklace 'cages' by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1990
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1990 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Woloch Atelier. Choker necklace made of chains and tiny cages with colorful glass pearl...
Gilt Metal
Vintage 0.62 Carat Diamond and 18k Yellow Gold Necklace
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive 0.62 carat diamond, 18 karat yellow and 18 karat white gold necklace; part of our diverse antique jewellery and estate jewelry collections. This stu...
Diamond, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari Yellow and White Gold Long Chain Necklace
By Bulgari
Located in Darnestown, MD
This long endless chain necklace by Bulgari alternates groups of five yellow with five white gold irregular links. They are intentionally out of round and each a little different. Th...
18k Gold
Oval Paperclip Link Chain Necklace 14 Karat Yellow Gold 25 Grams 18 Inches
By Harbor Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
Oval shape link necklace weighing 25.2 grams in 14 karat yellow gold. Made in Italy.
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Bohemian Necklace Garnets Gilt 830 Silver / 42cm / 5.6gr.
Located in SE
Bohemian ca. 1930s Austrian / Bohemian Garnet Necklace. All metal parts made of gilded or Gold filled Silver. All blood Red Bohemian Garnets are rose cut, both prong and bezel set ...
Garnet, Gold-filled, Silver
Rare Georgian French Paste Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Late 18th Century, Georgian French Paste Necklace. Heavy sterling mounts set with pastes, quartz and gilt metal etched applications. Likely Frenc...
Quartz, Gilt Metal, Sterling Silver
Chanel Rare Early Byzantine Sautoir, Maison Goossens
By Maison Goossens for Chanel
Located in New York, NY
Long Gabrielle Chanel Rare and Early Sautoir by Maison Goossens circa 1970's. Of signature articulated incised book chain, Byzantine shell motif gilt bronze rectangular links of hand...
Brass, Bronze, Gold Plate, Enamel, Gilt Metal
$2,100
W 0.75 in D 0.13 in Dm 4.5 in L 13.5 in
Antique Belle Epoque WWI White Gold Openwork Link Choker Necklace c1910s
Located in Chicago, IL
Victorian Belle-Epoque and Edwardian styles transitioned to Art-Deco period jewelry with semi-precious materials and machine-age shapes around WWI when this unique 20-link choker nec...
White Gold
14 Karat Yellow Gold Link Necklace Made in Turkey 62.2 Grams
By Harbor Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
14 Karat yellow gold link necklace featuring 52 high polished links weighing 62.2 grams. More link necklaces available.
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
14 Karat Yellow Gold Graduated Hammered & Polished Link Necklace 13.6 Grams
By Harbor Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
14 Karat yellow gold necklace featuring 61 graduated links with a high polish & hammered motif. 11/16
Yellow Gold
Maison Gripoix for Chanel Amythest, Ruby, Emerald Poured Glass Chain Necklace
By Maison Gripoix for Chanel
Located in New York, NY
Maison Gripoix for Chanel Medieval amythest, ruby and emerald poured glass enamel chain necklace. The incised oval links centered with alternating poured glass Gripoix cabochons. Hoo...
Gold Plate, Bronze, Enamel, Gilt Metal
$491
W 0.04 in L 15.75 in
Gucci Vintage Unisex Asymmetric Cross Abstract Pendant Sterling Silver Necklace
By Gucci
Located in Wokingham, England
Gucci Vintage Unisex Asymmetric Cross Abstract Pendant Modernist Chain Necklace, 925 Sterling Silver Very excellent condition. Light scratches, barely noticeable. 100% genuine. Si...
Sterling Silver
Heavy Gilded Gold Polished Vermeil Chain-Link Necklace
Located in New York, NY
This wonderfully elegant heavy gilded gold polished vermeil chain-link necklace measures 16" in length and 1/2" in width, finished with a secure clasp closing, made in...
Chanel necklace 2002 Fashion show
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) Long golden metal chain necklace with colorful glass pearls and a golden metal cross centered with cc logos. Not signed jewelry from a Fashion show - A 2002...
Gilt Metal
Chanel sautoir necklace by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1985
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1985 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal sautoir necklace with Swarovski rhinestones. Made in France. Condition:...
Gilt Metal
Chanel baroque necklace
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - (Made in France) Costume pearl necklace with Swarovski rhinestones and golden metal. A 2cc3 Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Condition: Very good ...
Gilt Metal
Chanel lion necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Haute couture Fall-Winter 2010-2011
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 2010-2011 Fall-Winter Haute Couture Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Silvery metal and costume pearl necklace ornamented with golden metal lion hea...
Chanel magnifying glass necklace by Karl Lagerfeld circa late 1980s
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa late 1980s under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal chain sautoir necklace ornamented with costume pearls, red and gree...
Gilt Metal
Chanel sautoir necklace by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1985-1990
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1985-1990 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Woloch Atelier. Golden metal sautoir necklace made of round coins centered with c...
Gilt Metal
Chanel sautoir necklace by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1985
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1985 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Woloch Atelier. Golden metal sautoir necklace made of round medallions. Made in Franc...
Gilt Metal
Chanel choker necklace by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1985
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection circa 1985 under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal choker necklace made of quilted rond medallions centered with cc logos. M...
Gilt Metal
Chanel sautoir necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Spring-Summer 2003
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - Spring/Summer 2003 Ready-to-Wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Long necklace in dark silver-tone metal intertwined with blue leather and Bakeli...
Chanel sautoir necklace by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1980
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal chain sautoir necklace ornamented with medallions decorated with the house logo. Made...
Gilt Metal
Chanel sautoir necklace by Karl Lagerfeld Fall-Winter 1988-1989
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - 1988-1989 Fall-Winter ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Golden metal sautoir necklace with costume pearls. Made in France. Condition:...
Gilt Metal
Chanel sautoir necklace by Karl Lagerfeld circa 1990
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
CHANEL - A ready-to-wear Collection under the artistic direction of Karl Lagerfeld. Costume pearl sautoir necklace with golden metal flowers centered with a Swarovski rhinestone. Mad...
Gilt Metal