SEE: Karl Lagerfeld: ModeMethode

The Bundeskunsthalle museum - golly, try saying that three times fast! in Bonn, Germany is exhibiting the first comprehensive exhibit of Karl Lagerfeld's work - from his yellow wool coat which won the 1954 Woolmark prize and started his (and Yves Saint Laurent's) career to the pregnant bridal dress from the Chanel Autumn/Winter 2014 haute couture collection.

A trip down memory lane...

A vivid and lively version of Karl Lagerfeld's desk:

The coat that started it all: the winner of the 1954 Woolmark prize (recreated for the exhibit):

Karl for Chloe:

The brilliance of Karl: bringing some street creed to the house of Chanel:

The dream of Chanel haute couture realized by Karl:

Karl Lagerfeld: ModeMethode

28 March to 13 September 2015

Bundeskunsthalle Mueum

 

 xo, Juliana

In 1968, Gloria Guinness

In 1968, Gloria Guinness had given up wearing coats.  She gave up wearing coats because she had discovered in a shop, in Palm Beach called La Palapa, (does anyone remember this store?  If you do, I would love to hear from you!) the ruana.  

What is a ruana you might wonder or at least I wondered.  It is basically a sort of a blanket coat - a long strip slit almost to the center.  And I thought, wait a minute, let me just check the Chloe Pre-Fall 2014 collection and there it was!  A Gloria Guinness worthy ruana in a bright cornflower blue.

There is also one in a cream with a faded charcoal stripe - which is the one I think I will get...

When Hubert de Givenchy saw La Guinness wearing her Palm Beach ruanas, he had his Paris workroom copy the shape.

"I plan to go on dressing by my own ideas.  I have always known what I ought to wear."

Gloria Guinness

Love, kisses and let's do what G.G. does, Juliana

That Was Then, This Is Now AND This Is Now #6

That was then... surrealism on display from the Chloe archive on display at the Palais de Tokyo in 2012:

and this is now... Chloe from the Spring 2013 ad campaign...  isn't it interesting that houses are embracing their archives and rereleasing and reinventing pieces from their past?  I have not seen the reimagined arrow pantsuit but I suspect that although very wonderful, it will not have the handwork that went into the original...

and this is now and then at RARE vintage...  Karl Lagerfeld for Chloe dress with its mirrored arrows - Mon Dieu!  has been quite the project!  Sometimes when I buy vintage it is a story full of drama, mystery and an unspoken fragility.  It can come to RARE vintage in a weakened state, needing a care giver, an historian and a little love.  

This is an Ode to Love...

Karl Lagerfeld for Chloe mirrored arrow dress.  Silk.  Size 6/small 8.  

For more info or to purchase please email info@rarevintage.com or phone 212.581.7273

Chloe Spring 1999: Good Things Come to those who Wait

Patience is a virtue.

Good things come to those who wait.

Better late then never.

All in good time.

And my favorite, it's about fu*%king time!

Sometimes in life one drops the fashion ball and then one faces the morning, with nothing to wear, stirring your coffee and wondering why didn't you buy such and such when you had a chance.  

So flash back to Summer 1999 and I am in the South of France wondering why I am not wearing the super cool Stella McCartney for Chloe sunglasses with the rhinestone heart on the gradient lens.  Why? Why am I squinting unfashionably in the glare of the sun in St Tropez? 

Fast forward to 2013 and what do I find but those exact Chloe sunglasses.  14 years late but then again in time for the 60th anniversary of the house of Chloe when they are reissuing 16 pieces from Karl to Stella to Phoebe for Chloe - but not the sunglasses.

So, what do you think?  Is patience really a virtue or is it about fu*#king time?!

Chloe original ad campaign Spring 1999

The Chloe Girl: The Barefoot Boheme at RARE vintage

Isn't it wonderful that the Egyptian-French founder of Chloé, Gaby Aghion, 91 years old, was able to celebrate 60 years of the Chloé label with an exhibition, Chloé Attitudes,  at the Palais de Tokyo?!  The Chloé girl is a barefoot boheme, a free spirit. We are celebrating the house of Chloé at RARE vintage with this spectacular Memphis-style print silk dress with a flyaway panel on the back.

The Chloe woman has been photographed by Guy Bourdin

Photo by Guy Bourdin.  1979

Inspired by the erotic art of the Victorian artist, Aubrey Beardsley

She loves a light, casual chic frock, inspired by the Bauhaus or the Memphis Art movement.  And we are thrilled to have this late 1970s/early 1980s Memphis-style print silk dress with a fluttering flyaway panel on the back of the dress in yellow with a pink and blue trim.

"Chloe's fashion director at the time, Karl Lagerfeld, turned to art books for inspiration: he tore out a page whenever he found a cubist or floral motif that he liked.  Then four draughtsmen were in charge of reproduction, before the silk and wool merchants carried out their meticulous work.  I found scarves that as a child I stole from my Mom's wardrobe to dress up my Barbie dolls.  I thought they looked much prettier and much more elegant dressed up in Chloé."   Helene Schoumann.  Daughter of the owner of the Chloe boutique.

A few images of the barefoot boheme Chloé girl from the Assouline book, Chloe:

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Where the Wild Things Are

The wild things were at Miu Miu in Spring 2010

style.com

and the wild things were at Victoria by Victoria Beckham for Spring 2012

style.com

and there were more wild things at Deyrolle for Opening Ceremony Fall 2011

Deyrolle for Opening Ceremony

and the wild things are in store at RARE vintage.  Sweet fawns a-leaping on a Karl Lagerfeld for Chloe silk bias cut dress in a pale buttercup yellow.  Dress slips on like a chemise.  Size 4.

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Valentino Busy as a Bee

When Valentino retired in 2008, a certain kind of beauty also retired.  It was a beauty that loved beautiful things, beautiful places and beautiful people.  But it was a beauty that also understood the true meaning of being beautiful; it has nothing to do with perfect features, beauty is an attitude.

The bee is one of the oldest emblems of the sovereigns of France.  And of the last emperor, Valentino.

A Lesage embroidered cream wool jacket by Valentino Couture from the 1970s with decorative top stitching.

The armholes are high and the sleeves are narrow to the arm.

Beautiful bee embroidered in silk floss and a golden metal thread.  Tiny black beaded eyes.

Why don't you wear it with...

Chloe wide-legged courduroy pants for a Seventies meets 2011 look.

Chloe pants available on Net-a-Porter

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A Girl's BFF is a LBD

There is a best friend every girl and woman should have in her closet.   The LBD is your BFF because it never lets you down.  It is there for you when neon orange bursts in on the scene to become your new favorite, only to discover that neon orange is capricious and can leave as quickly as it came.  Black is your BFF because it is romantic, playful, discreet, elegant, poetic, classic, timeless and because it can be fun and thoughtful.

And there is also the designer best friend every girl and woman should have: Karl Lagerfeld.  Whether it is Karl for Chloe or Karl for Chanel.  Karl's got your back.  And it is always in something fabulous!


Early 1980s Karl Lagerfeld for Chloe art deco inspired asymmetric black crepe dress with silver beading.  

Early 1980s Karl Lagerfeld for Chloe.  Size 6.

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Chloe in the Afternoon

If you have been a very, very good girl you may want to buy yourself or sublimaly suggest to someone who may gift it to you, this incredible, amazing, we might even say, f#%&*! amazing, Karl Lagerfeld for Chloe dress.

There are tiers of micro pleated ruffles and fushia  'Memphis' style print. More Karl for Chloe tomorrow and our Chanel haute couture pieces will be on the blog too!  Stay tuned!!

And it comes with its original wide suede fuschia belt!

Late 1970s/early 1980s Karl Lagerfeld for Chlope Dress.  Size 6.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273

Woman in the Dark

The Chloe girl is hip without trying to be. She is sweet and bohemian. She is an artist and a dreamer. She is ready to travel without a lot of planning. She is naturally spontaneous. She is unconsciously sexy.

This 1980s black lace Chloe dress is innocent for the day and unexpected for the evening. The lace is beautiful, soft, romantic and slightly mysterious. It is an ideal dress for the city, the country and a holiday which means that it is also the ideal multi tasker to add to your wardrobe.

1980s black lace Chloe dress. Size 6/8.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273