2023 would have marked not only the 40th anniversary of Karl Lagerfeld's arrival at Chanel, but also the designer's 90th birthday. A visionary, Karl Lagerfeld left his mark on fashion with his iconic silhouettes. While Gabrielle Chanel launched the 2.55 in 1955, he redesigned the lines of the famous bag in 1983. When he arrived, he imagined a more contemporary version, while remaining in the tradition of the founder.The Timeless was born. He went on to sketch other emblematic models, such as the Boy and the Gabrielle. He also invented limited editions, presented at spectacular fashion shows. For example, a "Lait de Coco" minaudière in the shape of a milk carton for the Shopping Center show at the Autumn-Winter 2015 fashion show, a red and white leather mini-bouée bag for the 2018/2019 "La Pausa" cruise collection, where Karl imagined a huge liner under the glass roof of the Grand Palais, and a transparent vinyl "Sand By The Sea" timeless with double walls filled with sand for the "Chanel beach" at the Spring-Summer 2019 fashion show. These pieces are all the more coveted since the death of the designer.
"The death of Karl Lagerfeld in 2019 has led to a sharp increase in demand for the designer's creations: Timeless, Gabrielle, Boy... Furthermore, the limited editions of iconic fashion shows such as La Pausa, Chanel Shopping Center and La Plage are highly sought-after, and their prices are rising steadily on the second-hand market."
Sara Bennani, Handbag Department Director
Karl's creations for women's fashion have also influenced jewellery and watchmaking by playing with the codes of the House of Chanel: the Chanel Première watch with its bracelet that imitates the chain from the Timeless bag, the Camélia collection that comes in rings and earrings, and the Coco Crush collection inspired by the quilted motif that is emblematic of Chanel.
Collector Square offers a rare opportunity to buy one or more essentials from the Chanel wardrobe by Karl Lagerfeld: bags, watches, jewellery and collectibles.