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.
Graphic plateform sandals with ankle straps Chanel SS 2013
By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Graphic platform sandals with white leather ankle straps and buckle closure. Heel height : 10 cm Platform : 3 cm SHOE SIZE : 36
$1,129
Size: Centimeter
CHANEL Sandals with the iconic chain straps in black leather, size 41.5, 2020s
By Chanel Boutique, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Stuttgart, DE
CHANEL SANDALS (Made in Italy), black leather, with 4 iconic Chanel straps, a strap across the heel and a fastening strap across the front. The sandal features a very comfortable bla...
CHANEL 2010 Runway Corinthian Column architectural heel velvet platform sandals
By Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel
Located in Hong Kong, NT
CHANEL 2010 Runway Corinthian Column architectural heel black velvet platform sandals EU37.5 Reference: TGAS/G00179 Brand: Chanel Designer: Karl Lagerfeld Collection: Spring/Summer 2...
Chanel Paris-Rome A/W 2016 Costume Pearl Embellished Black Gladiator Sandals
By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Chanel Paris-Rome A/W 2016 Costume Pearl Embellished Black Gladiator Sandals are a striking fusion of luxury and bold design. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, these sanda...
Rare Chanel gold metallic lambskin CC turnlock sandals
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Chanel
Located in Sheung Wan, HK
- Rare Vintage 90s Chanel gold metallic lambskin sandals in excellent condition. - Three straps CC logo hardware turn-lock. - Size 38. - Excellent vintage condition. - Comes ...
CHANEL black grained leather REV DAD Sandals Shoes 38.5
By Chanel
Located in Zürich, CH
These 100% authentic Chanel Dad sandals are crafted in black grained calfskin leather and feature a distinctive, laid-back silhouette. Two velcro straps across the front are adorned ...
CHANEL 2018 black calfskin leather chain buckle wooden slide wedge sandals EU38
By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld
Located in Hong Kong, NT
CHANEL 2018 black calfskin leather chain buckle wooden slide wedge sandals EU38 Reference: TGAS/G00181 Brand: Chanel Designer: Karl Lagerfeld Collection: 2018 Material: Leather, Woo...
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...
Rare Chanel métiers d’art Paris Moscou 2009 runway shoes by Karl Lagerfeld
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Chanel
Located in PARIS, FR
Extremely Rare Chanel métiers d’art Paris Moscou Pre Fall 2009 collection by Karl Lagerfeld shoes pump heels, amazing details and design red velvet, gold and Swarovski crystals. Size...
Vintage Chanel Interlocking CC Monogram Satin Slip On Mules Sandals 36.5
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Mechanicsville, VA
Vintage Chanel Interlocking CC Heeled Mule Slides Color Khaki Brown Size 36.5EU Fabric upper Interlocking CC design Medium heel Button adornment with CC logo Signs of normal use, ove...
CHANEL HAUTE COUTURE By KARL LAGERFELD F/W 2007 Runway Dress
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Chanel
Located in Berlin, BE
Chanel Haute Couture by Karl Lagerfeld Couture Collection Fall Winter 2007 Brand: Chanel Designer: Karl Lagerfeld Collection: Fall Winter 2007 Fabric: No fabric label, estimated - S...
Yves Saint Laurent By Tom Ford S/S 2004 Collectors Runway Silk Dress
By Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Berlin, BE
Yves Saint Laurent By Tom Ford Spring Summer 2004 Runway Brown Silk Dress Brand: Yves Saint Laurent Designer: Tom Ford Collection: Spring Summer 2004 Fabric: Silk Color: Brown Size:...
YVES SAINT LAURENT By STEFANO PILATI S/S 2011 Runway Halter Dress
By Yves Saint Laurent, Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Berlin, BE
Yves Saint Laurent by Stefano Pilati Spring Summer 2011 textured runway dress Brand: Yves Saint Laurent Designer: Stefano Pilati Collection: Spring Summer 2011 Fabric: Cotton / wool...
YVES SAINT LAURENT F/W 1987 Collectors Runway & Campaign Bow Dress FR42
By Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in Berlin, BE
Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Fall Winter 1987 Runway / Campaign Dress FR42 - Illustrated by René Gruau Brand: Yves Saint Laurent Designer: Yves Saint Laurent Collection: Fall / W...
JUNYA WATANABE Comme Des Garçons S/S 2010 Runway Sculptural Coat L
By Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe
Located in Berlin, BE
Junya Watanabe Comme Des Garçons spring summer 2010 runway architectural light coat Brand: Junya Watanabe / Comme Des Garçons Designer: Junya Watanabe Collection / year: Spring / ...
GUCCI By TOM FORD F/W 2001 Runway Satin Backless Dress - With Original Tags
By Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in Berlin, BE
Gucci by Tom Ford Fall Winter 2001 Runway Silk Satin Dress Brand: Gucci Designer: Tom Ford Collection / Year: Fall Winter 2001 Material: Silk satin Color: Black Size: IT38 Made in I...
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.
