Evening suit

Designer Karl Lagerfeld French, born Germany

fall/winter 2003–4

Not on view

Mrs. Kempner irreverently mixed designers and collections by introducing a lace-trimmed blouse by Valentino to Lagerfeld's "Le Look Concierge." Lagerfeld's four-ply cashmere evening cardigan is the designer's sly reference to Paul Poiret's description of the austerely modernist Chanel style as misérablisme de luxe. Mrs. Kempner has paired it with a chiffon version of Lagerfeld's popular "Car Wash" skirt from another collection. As Valentino was quoted in the 16 January 1994 Independent, "Mrs. Kempner is one of the few women who knows how to mix old and new, different designers, and make it superb."

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Exhibition History

Title: Evening suit
Design House: House of Chanel (French, founded 1910)
Designer: Karl Lagerfeld (French (born Germany), Hamburg 1933–2019 Paris)
Date: fall/winter 2003–4
Culture: French
Medium: a) wool, silk; b) silk
Credit Line: Gift of Thomas L. Kempner, 2006
Object Number: 2006.420.26a, b
Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute

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