Ensemble

House of Chanel|Karl Lagerfeld

spring/summer 2011 · cotton, acrylic, nylon, polyester, leather, metal · Costume Institute

Since becoming creative director at Chanel in 1983, Karl Lagerfeld has consistently demonstrated an affinity for exploiting the iconography of the house. Over the years, he has regularly mined the archives, transposing a modern viewpoint onto classic looks. This ensemble represents a masterful subversion of one of fashion’s most enduring status symbols: the Chanel tweed suit. In contrast to the tidy bouclé and tweeds favored by Coco Chanel, Lagerfeld’s expertly tailored ensemble appears to be made from a field of tattered cloth, suggesting allusions as diverse as moths, punk, and Japanese design. Upon close inspection, all the hallmarks of a Chanel creation are in place, including the equal amounts of attention bestowed on the inside and outside of the garment. Each hole is backed with fine net, and the edges are delicately stitched to prevent unintentional fraying.

Artist

House of Chanel|Karl Lagerfeld

Date

spring/summer 2011

Medium

cotton, acrylic, nylon, polyester, leather, metal

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of CHANEL, 2013