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 Black Velvet Patent Leather Strappy Buckle Sandals G32406 37 CC Logo
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in San Jose, CA
Authentic Chanel strappy sandals crafted with black velvet buckle straps and a glossy patent leather heel counter. This elevated design features gold-tone hardware and a signature CC...
Chanel Black Leather CC Logo Chain Platform Knee High Boots Size EU 37.5
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in San Jose, CA
Authentic Chanel black leather knee-high boots featuring a sleek fitted silhouette and elegant high stiletto heel. Crafted in Italy from smooth calfskin leather, these boots showcase a subtle cap toe with embossed CC logo and signature silver-tone chain detailing along the front platform edge. A timeless Chanel design that blends classic Parisian polish with statement detailing. The tall shaft elongates the leg, while the structured heel adds dramatic height—perfect for elevated daywear or evening styling. Details: Brand: Chanel Color: Black Material: Calfskin leather Size: EU 37.5 (approx. US 7–7.5) Heel height: approx. 4 in Made in Italy Serial stamp visible inside Condition: Good pre-owned condition. Visible wear to soles and light creasing to leather consistent with use. Heel tips show wear but remain sturdy. Logos and chain detail intact. Zippers fully functional. Pairs effortlessly with sweater dresses, skirts, skinny jeans, or tailored pieces for fall and winter styling. Keyword block: chanel knee high boots, black leather heeled boots, chanel 37.5 boots, designer tall boots women, cc logo boots, chanel cap toe boots...
Chanel 2008Black Embellished Strappy Heels 41 Gold Icon Studs Sandals
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in San Jose, CA
Rare Chanel embellished strappy heels from the Fall/Winter 2008 collection under Karl Lagerfeld. Size 41 (fits like US 10.5–11), with black textile straps adorned in signature gold Chanel icons—camellias, CC logos, clovers, stars, and crystals. A true collector's piece with a refined silhouette and 4.25" stiletto heel. These designer heels are perfect for holiday parties, weddings, luxury events, or elevated everyday looks. The slim straps are lightweight but secure, with an adjustable ankle buckle for a flattering, supportive fit. Condition: Pre-owned, rated Good. Light wear to soles and minor cosmetic signs of use on fabric, but no structural flaws. Style with a midi slip dress or wide-leg trousers and a fitted blazer for the ultimate old money meets fashion-forward vibe. A must for collectors of vintage Chanel and Y2K runway fashion. Great for Chanel lovers, collectors, stylists, or anyone looking for a timeless investment shoe with edge. Keywords: Chanel heels, black strappy heels, embellished sandals, Karl Lagerfeld Chanel, wedding guest shoes, holiday party heels, designer heels size 11, rare Chanel runway shoes...
Chanel Runway Fall 2016 Black Leather Knee High Riding Boots 38.5
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in San Jose, CA
Authentic Chanel black calfskin knee high riding boots from the Fall 2016 collection, featuring a sleek equestrian silhouette, tonal lace-up detail at the ankle, and subtle embossed CC logo at the toe. Designed during the Karl Lagerfeld era, this pair reflects the refined riding-inspired aesthetic Chanel explored in mid-2010s collections. Smooth calfskin leather creates a structured yet supple look, while the clean lines keep the style timeless and versatile. A full-length back zipper allows easy wear, and the low stacked block heel provides comfortable lift for everyday styling. These boots pair effortlessly with sweater dresses, tailored trousers, denim, or layered fall outfits. Details Brand: Chanel Collection: Fall 2016 Style Code: G32251 Material: Calfskin leather Color: Black Size: EU 38.5 (approx. US 8–8.5) Heel: approx. 1.5 in Made in Italy Condition Very good pre-owned condition. Visible wear to the outsoles from normal use. Light natural creasing to leather. Structure remains strong and zippers function smoothly. Please review photos for details. Keyword Block chanel knee high boots...
Vintage Chanel Spring 2007 Black Leather Perforated Mary Jane Pumps – Size 41
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in San Jose, CA
Step into retro runway chic with these vintage Chanel Mary Jane pumps from the Spring 2007 collection. Crafted in perforated black leather with ...
Louis Vuitton Fall 2004 Runway Black Patent Leather Fur Bow Boots Heels 40
By Louis Vuitton
Located in San Jose, CA
Authentic Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2004 Runway Fur Derby pumps from the iconic Marc Jacobs era. A highly collectible archive design featuring glossy black patent leather, genuine fu...
CHANEL 15A Paris-Salzburg Runway black patent gold CC lace-up ankle booties EU39
By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld
Located in Hong Kong, NT
CHANEL 15A Paris-Salzburg Runway black patent gold CC logo lace-up ankle booties EU39 Reference: VNWG/A00051 Brand: Chanel Designer: Karl Lagerfeld Collection: 15A Paris-Salzburg - R...
Chanel by Karl Lagerfield F/W2013 Black Leather Chain Obsession Block Heel Boots
By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld
Located in Milano, IT
- Designed by Karl Lagerfield - Sold by Skof.Archive - Fall Winter 2013 Collection - Runway Piece - Black Chain Heel Boots - Glazed Leather - Chain Application - Strap Closure - CC ...
Chanel A/W2013 Karl Lagerfeld Chain Obsession Patent Leather Block Heel Boots 37
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Chanel
Located in Mechanicsville, VA
Chanel A/W2013 Karl Lagerfeld Chain Obsession Patent Leather Block Heel Boots 37 Color Black Size 37C EU Heel height 4.5in Leather upper Leather sole Gusseted vamp Buckle detail Al...
Black Chanel Leather Cap-Toe Heeled Booties Size 41
By Chanel
Located in New York, NY
Black leather cap-toe heeled booties by Chanel. Silver-tone metal capped heels. Lace-up tie closures at tops. 3.5" shaft height, 5.5" heel height.
CHANEL black STRETCH & PATENT leather 22B Ankle Boots Shoes 39.5
By Chanel
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Chanel ankle boots in elegant black leather, combining timeless design with subtle sparkle. Crafted with rounded patent leather cap toes and sleek stretch leather shaf...
CHANEL 15C black calfskin faux pearl high cone heeled ankle boots EU38
By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld
Located in Hong Kong, NT
CHANEL 15C black calfskin faux pearl high cone heeled ankle boots EU38 Reference: TGAS/E00979 Brand: Chanel Designer: Karl Lagerfeld Collection: 15C Material: Leather Color: Black, P...
The classic tweed garment has been a wardrobe staple of chic women around the world since the 1950s.
The creative force behind brands like Chanel, Fendi and Chloé was as exacting in his interiors as he was in his clothing designs.
