Cocktail dress

Karl Lagerfeld|House of Chanel

fall/winter 1990–91 · silk · Costume Institute

German-born designer Karl Lagerfeld became creative director of the House of Chanel in 1983. He has focused his design strategies on reimagining the iconography of the house founded by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel in 1913. Lagerfeld continues to rework Chanel’s most iconic designs, including the tweed suit, quilted handbag, twotone pump, and camellia flower, by combining innovative technologies and unorthodox materials with traditional methods of construction and embellishment. In 2002, he launched his first Métiers d’Art collection, which celebrates the artistry of the various fashion métiers, which the House of Chanel had been acquiring since 1985 to preserve and revitalize the skilled craftsmanship essential to the haute couture.

Artist

Karl Lagerfeld|House of Chanel

Date

fall/winter 1990–91

Medium

silk

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1993