Kim Kardashian Dips Into the Chanel Archives Ahead of the Met Gala

When it comes to archival fashion, Kim Kardashian is a devoted collector of some of the most sought-after pieces. From Alexander McQueen’s infamous spring 2003 “Oyster dress” to the ultra-rare fall 1990 Azzedine Alaïa cheetah-print bodysuit, the entrepreneur’s personal archive is an impressive collection of important fashion pieces.

For her latest red carpet appearance at the Time 100 gala she delivered another vintage look, wearing an ivory satin John Galliano slip dress with jeweled straps and a perfectly cinched waist. It’s an unusually simple choice for Kardashian, but she added drama with layers of crystal necklaces, with pieces from Bulgari, Messika, and XIV Karats. However, the standout feature of Kim’s look was her pearlescent Chanel clutch bag, a rare item designed by the late, legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld.

Straight from Chanel’s spring 2012 runway (notably the spectacle where Florence Welch arose like Botticelli’s Venus from a half shell to perform “What the Water Gave Me”), the conch-inspired piece is integral to the oceanic theme of the whole collection. While the little seashell-shaped bag isn’t currently available to purchase anywhere, avid collectors are certain to be able to source the piece from luxury resale sites like 1stDibs, Vestiaire Collective, and Farfetch Second Life, to name a few.

If anyone needs a reminder, next Monday the annual Met Gala will celebrate Karl Lagerfeld’s brilliant career and the dress code for the event is “in honor of Karl”. Kim’s exploration of the Chanel archive may be a sign of what we can expect from her appearance on the famous steps of the Metropolitan Museum and a signal that she has been doing her fashion history research.

Kardashian always takes her Met Gala outfits very seriously, and today she shared on Instagram pictures of her at Karl Lagerfeld’s office in Paris “getting a little inspiration for the Met.” In the pictures she examines original sketches and lies on a bed with Karl’s cat Choupette, plotting for her next Met Gala triumph.