Chloé presents rare Karl Lagerfeld archive ensemble at 'Hidden Treasures' exhibition in New York

For a new exhibition, 'Hidden Treasures: 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories,' Chloé brings a rarely seen archive ensemble by Karl Lagerfeld to New York. "Lahore," a coordinating cape and skirt from the Spring-Summer 1971 collection, illuminates a defining era for the Maison — infused with joy, freedom, and creative camaraderie. 

Chloé was founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion. An advocate for women, Gaby offered liberation from the formal fashion of her time by introducing luxury ready-to-wear. Following Karl Lagerfeld's appointment, Chloé experienced a meteoric rise in the 1970s — an influential moment that still resonates today. It was shaped in part by a dynamic circle of young New Yorkers that Karl invited to Paris, setting them up in an apartment on rue Bonaparte. Alongside illustrator and photographer Antonio Lopez and his partner, Juan Ramos, were the model Pat Cleveland and Andy Warhol acolytes Donna Jordan and Jane Forth. Eccentric, sensual, and individual, these women lived in Chloé — in the city's cafés, nightclubs, and on the runway. Their New York energy, spontaneity, and instinctive style fed into Karl Lagerfeld's designs. 

"Lahore" is an expression of that energy and exchange. Cut from silk crêpe de chine and hand-painted in vivid, pop-inflected motifs, the cape and skirt comprise two half-circles: a fluid silhouette designed for freedom of movement. The ensemble reflects the joyful, free-spirited attitude that has long defined Chloé and is presented alongside a film commissioned by the Maison and directed by Lisa Rovner featuring images from the Antonio Lopez archives of Lagerfeld and his American bande d'amis. 

"Hidden Treasures: 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories" runs from 26 to 31 May 2026 at The Shed, Hudson Yards, New York. The exhibition is presented by the Comité Colbert, the French non-profit association dedicated to promoting and transmitting French savoir-faire and creation.