Karl Lagerfeld for Chloé, "Shower Dress", Fall 1983

This famous dress is known as the “Shower Dress” and was designed by Karl Lagerfeld for the French fashion house of Chloé, where Lagerfeld was first a designer from 1966–83, and later artistic director from 1992–97. At Chloé, Lagerfeld was a prolific creator, producing some of his most playful and irreverent work. Such whimsy is prominent in Chloé’s 1983 autumn/winter collection, where a parade of models strutted down the runway in garments inspired by shower heads dripping with dazzling crystals. The various iterations of the shower dress became signature pieces of this collection.

Below are examples of the various versions of the Shower Dress:

- The runway version of this dress can be seen in various Getty images, including: (https://www.gettyimages.dk/detail/news-photo/outtake-models-wearing-splashy-beaded-faucet-dreses-in-silk-news-photo/1438042639?adppopup=true)
- A Getty image of this dress appeared in a March 2023 Vogue.com article titled Karl Lagerfeld-Era Chloé Should Be Your Next Vintage Investment
- A version of this dress appeared in the 1983 Ebony Fashion Fair runway presentation Fashion Extravaganza. This same dress was showcased in the Chicago History Museum’s 2013 travelling exhibit Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair. This dress was then acquired by the Chicago History Museum (2018.1.14a).
- British actress, Vanessa Kirby, wore another version of this dress to the 2023 MET Gala, which honored the work of Karl Lagerfeld with the exhibit, Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
- Vanity Fair wrote a May 2023 article on this dress and Vanessa Kirby’s connection to it in A Proper Museum Piece: Vanessa Kirby Honored Lagerfeld’s Legacy in the Iconic Chloé Shower Dress at the 2023 Met Gala
- Variations of the Shower Dress can be found in the Kyoto Costume Institute (AC5309 1986-60-13AB) and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (2020.53)

Evening dress of purple acetate/rayon blend, trimmed with rhinestones, glass beads, and sequins. The dress is cut with a halter neckline, fitted body, and long flared hem. The dress closes with a hook and eye at the base of the right back shoulder strap and side zipper.
Label: Chloé
Retail Label: Giorgio's of Beverly Hills
Size Label: Not sized
Style/Serial No.: N/A

Approximate Measurements:
Chest: 28"
Waist: 29"
Hips: 35"
Length (side waist band to hem): 55.5"

Property from Isabella Racco

This lot is located in Chicago.

Karl Lagerfeld for Chloé, "Shower Dress", Fall 1983

Karl Lagerfeld for Chloé, "Shower Dress", Fall 1983