Karl Lagerfeld's free couture exhibition of Chloé, in a sublime private mansion

Attention fashionistas, nostalgia buffs and couture archive enthusiasts - from July 3 to 9, 2025 (excluding the weekends of July 5 and 6), the prestigious Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr auction house is opening its doors to a free exhibition dedicated to a pivotal decade in fashion: the Karl Lagerfeld years at Chloé, from 1974 to 1984.

Through 80 carefully selected pieces, this fashion exhibition showcases a wardrobe emblematic of luxury ready-to-wear, conceived by the man who was to become one of the most influential designers of his era. Soft-lined dresses, bold prints, romantic silhouettes... each model reflects the creativity and freedom that marked this period.

The centerpiece is an embroidered ivory silk evening gown from the Spring-Summer 1984 collection, presented on October 14, 1983, during the last collection Lagerfeld imagined for Chloé before his departure for Chanel.

Around this visionary wardrobe, the couture trail also unveils a selection of historic pieces signed byother great Maisons: Pierre Balmain, Yves Saint Laurent, Emanuel Ungaro and Guy Laroche. All these signatures place the sale in a rich and broad perspective of fashion history.

• To be read
• This week's top deals in Paris and Île-de-France, from February 16 to 22, 2026
• Free museums and monuments in Paris and the Ile-de-France region: cultural tips

This period at Chloé, although sometimes less publicized, reveals a fundamental chapter in the evolution of Karl Lagerfeld's style. As Hubert Felbacq, Head of Fashion and Accessories at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr, points out, his work at Chloé laid the foundations for a singular stylistic language, still influential today.

Founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion, the House of Chloé championed quality ready-to-wear from the outset, with noble materials - silk crepe, lace, broderie anglaise - and soft hues inspired by its Egyptian roots. With the support of Hélène Lazareff, founder of Elle magazine, the brand quickly won over a clientele in search of modern elegance.

In the heart of the 8th arrondissement, this exhibition resurrects the decade when Karl Lagerfeld, at Chloé, fashioned a timeless elegance that continues to inspire fashion today. A great opportunity to coincide with Paris Fashion Week haute Couture!