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Dark glasses, ponytail, and a crisp starched collar: even for those outside of the fashion industry, designer Karl Lagerfeld (1933 - 2019) was an immediately recognizable self-made icon. Known for his acerbic wit (quoted eagerly in the press) and irreverent... Read Article ››
Karl Lagerfeld straw boater
Boater Spring/Summer 1988 Karl Lagerfeld Straw, cotton Museum Purchase 2007.5.5 Mariner hats—known as boaters—have been popular with women since the 1880s, when they were stylish accessories for yachting ensembles and tailored suits patterned... Read Article ››
Chanel evening ensemble, 1985
Designed by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, this dramatic evening ensemble includes a floor-length silk crepe evening gown and feathered cape. Covered with iridescent coque (rooster) feathers, the cape is a true show-stopper. Because of the inherent... Read Article ››
Chanel “Scuba” jacket, spring/summer 1991
Evening jacket Spring/Summer 1991 Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel Gift of Steven & Linda Plochocki 2009.899.2 This ready-to-wear evening jacket, inspired by the sand and sea, appeared in Chanel's seasonal portfolio for elite clients and on the January 1991... Read Article ››
Chains of Chanel
Gilt chains are a recurring visual theme in the Chanel lexicon. Beginning in the 1920s, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel promoted costume jewelry as an alternative to jewelry made of gold and studded with pearls and precious stones. Chanel didn't just... Read Article ››