Karl Lagerfeld Vintage 1980s Ballerina Dancer Embellished Black Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 41 in (104.14 cm)Marked Size: FR 38, US 8 (runs small) (EU)Bust: 33 in (83.82 cm)Waist: 30 in (76.2 cm)Hip: 38 in (96.52 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Excellent except for one small pull at sleeve, see description and photo.
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU354219145462
Karl Lagerfeld
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.” During his five-decade career designing shoes, handbags, evening dresses and other items 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. He 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, Lagerfeld 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, he 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.
From Lagerfeld's first Chanel collection, he injected the venerable house with a frisson of modernity. He riffed on its iconography — tweed skirt suits, pearls, camellias — accenting a lexicon of Chanel-isms with tastes of the moment. 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.
Lagerfeld’s collections for Chanel, in particular, 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), Lagerfeld used each season’s inspiration to conceive Chanel’s signatures anew.
Browse a collection of sophisticated designs by Karl Lagerfeld on 1stDibs, including handbags and evening gowns for Chanel, vintage cocktail dresses for Chloé and more.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: San Francisco, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Lanvin Navy Crown and Shield JL Logo Vintage Belted Shirt Dress, 1960sBy Lanvin ParisLocated in San Francisco, CALanvin vintage 1960s by Jules Francois Crahay navy blue long sleeve shirt dress with buttons to waist and belt. Features crown and shield design with Lanvin JL logos throughout in re...Category
1960s American Casual Dresses
- Vintage Genny Brown Wool Long Sleeve Mini Dress with Black Silk Quilted TrimBy GennyLocated in San Francisco, CAVintage Genny brown long sleeve mini dress with black satiny quilted trim at collar, cuffs, and hem. Decorative cloth covered buttons at each cuff. (Unkno...Category
1960s Italian Shift Dresses
- 1960s Lanz Originals Button Back Little Black Dress from Bullocks of WilshireBy Lanz OriginalsLocated in San Francisco, CAVintage 1960s little black dress by Lanz Originals for Bullock's of Wilshire Collegienne department. Crossover wrap detail at back. fastens with snaps, hook and eye, and four cloth ...Category
1960s American Day Dresses
- Dolce and Gabbana Unworn 2006 Black Lace Dress with Gold Laurel Trim Ad CampaignBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in San Francisco, CADolce and Gabbana black lace dress with band below bust featuring gold laurel embroidery. Slightly peekaboo black built in bra (a si...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Unworn Alexander McQueen Cape Back Black and Red Floral Poppy Print Silk DressBy Alexander McQueenLocated in San Francisco, CAAlexander McQueen black silk crepe dress with red poppy floral print. Sweeping back cape is attached at the side seams. Short sleeve with a wide ruffle hem. Back zip is concealed by ...Category
2010s Italian Casual Dresses
- Oscar de la Renta Purple Ombre Houndstooth Check Silk Cocktail DressBy Oscar De La RentaLocated in San Francisco, CAOscar de la Renta silk pencil cut cocktail dress in a purple checked houndstooth pattern and ombre mid section. Back zip and hook and eye. 100% silk. Made in USA. Size 8. Runs sli...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Sheath Dresses
- S/S 1998 Gucci by Tom Ford G Buckle Purple Knit Sleeveless Cutout DressBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting two-in-one, this dress can be worn with either an exposed back or a plunging neckline. Sexy and versatile, this dress represents one of Tom Ford's most popular and iconic ...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 1998 Gucci by Tom Ford Leather Strap Black Knit Runway DressBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a form-fitting knit Gucci dress, designed by Tom Ford. This dress debuted on the Spring/Summer 1998 runway as look 5. Constructed of black knit viscose, this long sleeve d...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2002 Gucci by Tom Ford Knit Hook Closure Runway Black Knit Dress SetBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a slinky hook and eye closure accented sweater dress set designed by Tom Ford for Gucci's Spring/Summer 2002 collection. This set debuted as look number 23 on Erin Wasson on the Spring/Summer 2002 runway and was seen on Debra Messing at the 2002 Screen Actor's Guild Awards and in the March 2002 issue of L'Uomo Vogue...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Mid-Late 1990s Gianni Versace Couture Black Dropped Hem Bias-Cut Wiggle Gown LBDBy Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a vintage midi Gianni Versace dress, designed by Gianni Versace. This is the little black dress your wardrobe is missing. Simple and classy, th...Category
1990s Italian Day Dresses
- F/W 1991 Gianni Versace Couture Runway Black Stretch Bouclé Wool Mini Dress LBDBy Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a runway-ready little black dress designed by Gianni Versace for his iconic Fall/Winter 1991 collection. This piece debuted as runway look number 27 on Marpessa Hennink an...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 1996 Gianni Versace Couture Rhinestone Black Silver Medusa Sleeveless DressBy Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a black sleeveless Gianni Versace Couture dress, designed by Gianni Versace. From the Spring/Summer 1996 collection, this knit dress is finished with silver stitching and ...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses