We can look back at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2004 collection as many things. Perhaps we see it today as exemplary early 2000s, exemplary Lagerfeld, or exemplary Chanel. But its ability to be all of those things is really what Lagerfeld brought to his successful creative direction at Chanel. His collections were timely and fashionable whilst ever salient and chic. This was no exception. Pair the dresses, skirts, and jackets that scream Chanel with accented chains, chunky jewelry, graphics, and unexpected fabric combinations, and you get a collection quintessential to Lagerfeld’s creative direction at Chanel. You also get something that continues to inspire in the summer of 2020.
While in some ways this runway show was a Spring/Summer classic, Karl Lagerfeld was able to bring a real sense of versatility among the looks and garments. With the bathing suits as chic as the pantsuits, Lagerfeld takes the Chanel woman from the beach to the boardroom in this collection. Among the diversity of garments, the designer included traditional spring motifs like pastel pink and watercolor prints. Heavier tweeds and crochets were complimented by lighter fabrics in a way that was both on brand and in season.
Meanwhile, Lagerfeld seemed to make an attempt, while staying true to the salience and maturity of the brand, to nod to early 2000s grunge and youth culture. The designer delicately implements use of sheer black tulle, for example, as well as music motifs and statement accessories. Often, these looks are paired with or immediately followed by something as traditionally ultra-feminine as white and pink lace. Light layering and heavy jewelry here seems to pull looks together that are at once eclectic and simple.
What Karl Lagerfeld communicates in the Spring/Summer 2004 collection is a truly fun summer of ‘04. It is a summer to go for gallery walks and beach vacations. A summer of not only work and play but also one of laying out by the pool and listening to music with friends. With this Chanel collection, Lagerfeld creates a joyful fantasy for the warmer days of the year, and as we sit in our homes or hiding behind masks, it’s easy to fall for it right about now.
![Chanel ss 2004 muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4QebVSD0tDEbU02J2cSMTz/dc9d737869dac0e4c9695b1eb5e4ebfa/Chanel_SS_2004_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
- 1
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Azzedine Alaïa
Tatti Collection, Spring/Summer 1991
![Alaia tatti collection spring summer 1991](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5p4Pm7j8q4i6HF8C5Xf66c/eb3a829bdad2a65373ed671171f09b4a/Alaia__Tatti_Collection__Spring_Summer_1991.jpeg)
Braun
Electrical Tooth Brush Head, Enameled Lapel Pin, 1990
![Braun electrical tooth brush head enamelled lapel pin 1990](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1PmTwoxU386bib2dmwTd6e/75bcfb02dd283fff6717f4821dd95e67/Braun__Electrical_Tooth_Brush_Head_Enamelled_Lapel_Pin__1990.png)
New Order
Casette, 1980s
![New order casette 1980s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6LC0WiOpX5vigCWx7oitKV/690290560076210eccf7feee27a69574/New_Order__Casette__1980s.jpg)
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Now’s the Time, 1985
![Jean michel basquiat now s the time 1985](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6rNfU6X527mtgOyEfSGkO2/6f608094ca44dcf98fde46c99072d435/Jean-Michel_Basquiat__Now___s_the_Time__1985.jpg)
Vintage Floral Dress
1960s
![1960 s. floral dress](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/qwcK2o4v9PmI3J4W5Q6Nu/708852a4a8cf2e4f6f82f8b74bca1d4e/1960_s._Floral_dress.jpg)
Paul Rudolf
Chaise Lounge from the Residence of Mrs. Henry Kaiser
![Paul rudolf chaise lounge from the residence of mrs. henry kaiser 860 un plaza new york 1967](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1kGReyu3zi5YVWbKv4Gb82/645e4fb5b4b84944459c677c688e94ee/Paul_Rudolf__Chaise_Lounge_from_the_Residence_of_Mrs._Henry_Kaiser__860_UN_PLaza__New_York__1967.png)
Andrew Rebori
Florsheim Mansion, 1938
![Andrew rebori florsheim mansion 1938](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6gRS9YyhejYjSasrUIPKhY/5e8bb49a62bd6765ca83400d3eadd7bf/Andrew_Rebori__Florsheim_Mansion__1938.png)
Art Moderne
Home, Tweed, Ontario
![Artt moderne home tweed ontario](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1Nw4lXZzRjMxvYXEi6SLAu/90819d4e7671253f73db3c0f659e7242/Artt_Moderne_Home__Tweed__Ontario.jpg)
Bill Blass
Dress, 1960s
![Bill blass dress 1960s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4Tle7iWnqAQe84NeEnvNQQ/ed2f41f3ea672ee594e4197cbebf6117/Bill_Blass__Dress__1960s.jpg)
Brigitte Bardot
Shopping in London, October, 1963
![Brigitte bardot shopping in london october 1963](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/40sOGtGwwcbPm4b7U7XfOz/47bae6c9bd31804298e759263e284a73/Brigitte_Bardot_Shopping_in_London__October_1963.jpg)
Chanel Haute Couture
Trompe l'oeil Evening Dress, 1983
![Chanel haute couture trompe l oeil evening dress 1983](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7u6HqDtHyxl6qix26r3PAV/2c2530d477ca25a64dad8a65c0af2e2c/Chanel_Haute_Couture__Trompe_l_oeil_Evening_Dress__1983.jpg)
Cristobal Balenciaga
Baby Doll Dress, 1957
![Cristobal balenciaga baby doll dress 1957](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/VnOX08YZk5TAwLZV0wGvO/4b36f840b39f94b0facabf52baea347c/Cristobal_Balenciaga___Baby_Doll_Dress__1957.jpg)
Gilbert Rohde
Armchair, 1935
![Gilbert rohde armchair 1935](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/8kgcK5nQuLhoyHeXujrVV/42d4ed69e9ce1e078a60eb90479cd368/Gilbert_Rohde__Armchair__1935.jpg)
Lyle Owerko
BOOMBOX 27, 2010
![Lyle owerko boombox 27 2010](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2WC8gJ2E5mN6Y3uVjglqEn/f72c277e65cedd72530074186313cf56/Lyle_Owerko_BOOMBOX_27__2010.jpg)
Marc du Plantier
Chair, 1971
Norman Norell
Flower Evening Coat, 1965
![Norman norell flower evening coat 1965](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2HCvWkzWYxTi86DKv08paQ/c91ea848dbe8f4f9f4a64c29b92d981a/Norman_Norell__Flower_Evening_Coat__1965.jpg)
Pan Pacific Auditorium
Los Angeles, 1930s
![Pan pacific auditorium los angeles 1930s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3P9859Y89ByzkV5Zl2Uenf/3964d74ee7b4430474d00ddd81f7a929/Pan_Pacific_Auditorium__Los_Angeles__1930s.jpg)
Revox A77
Teal-to-Reel Tape Recorder, 1967-80
![Revox a77 teal to reel tape recorder 1967 1980](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6rJYpEYuV9Mo62yknhgJ1j/1a8a3c9bee84b5bd89335e3909cd726d/Revox_A77__Teal-to-Reel_Tape_Recorder__1967-1980.jpg)
Richard Prince
Woodstock Poster
![Richard prince s woodstock poster](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4IsNP6ma3HbpRzaJbSNkg1/ea6c7404cbeab63aa51548551e16e978/Richard_Prince_s_Woodstock_poster_.jpg)
Tom Sachs
Boombox, 2002
![Tom sachs boombox 2002](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6q5OermfWGHW9Ypsm48ZC/0cac5194615961cfcfc73efad7bd9278/Tom_Sachs__Boombox__2002.jpg)
References
![Alaia tatti collection spring summer 1991](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5p4Pm7j8q4i6HF8C5Xf66c/eb3a829bdad2a65373ed671171f09b4a/Alaia__Tatti_Collection__Spring_Summer_1991.jpeg?w=1000&q=70)
Azzedine Alaïa
Tatti Collection, Spring/Summer 1991
1 of 20
![Braun electrical tooth brush head enamelled lapel pin 1990](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1PmTwoxU386bib2dmwTd6e/75bcfb02dd283fff6717f4821dd95e67/Braun__Electrical_Tooth_Brush_Head_Enamelled_Lapel_Pin__1990.png?w=1000&q=70)
Braun
Electrical Tooth Brush Head, Enameled Lapel Pin, 1990
2 of 20
![New order casette 1980s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6LC0WiOpX5vigCWx7oitKV/690290560076210eccf7feee27a69574/New_Order__Casette__1980s.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
New Order
Casette, 1980s
3 of 20
![Jean michel basquiat now s the time 1985](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6rNfU6X527mtgOyEfSGkO2/6f608094ca44dcf98fde46c99072d435/Jean-Michel_Basquiat__Now___s_the_Time__1985.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Now’s the Time, 1985
4 of 20
![1960 s. floral dress](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/qwcK2o4v9PmI3J4W5Q6Nu/708852a4a8cf2e4f6f82f8b74bca1d4e/1960_s._Floral_dress.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Vintage Floral Dress
1960s
5 of 20
![Paul rudolf chaise lounge from the residence of mrs. henry kaiser 860 un plaza new york 1967](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1kGReyu3zi5YVWbKv4Gb82/645e4fb5b4b84944459c677c688e94ee/Paul_Rudolf__Chaise_Lounge_from_the_Residence_of_Mrs._Henry_Kaiser__860_UN_PLaza__New_York__1967.png?w=1000&q=70)
Paul Rudolf
Chaise Lounge from the Residence of Mrs. Henry Kaiser
6 of 20
![Andrew rebori florsheim mansion 1938](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6gRS9YyhejYjSasrUIPKhY/5e8bb49a62bd6765ca83400d3eadd7bf/Andrew_Rebori__Florsheim_Mansion__1938.png?w=1000&q=70)
Andrew Rebori
Florsheim Mansion, 1938
7 of 20
![Artt moderne home tweed ontario](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1Nw4lXZzRjMxvYXEi6SLAu/90819d4e7671253f73db3c0f659e7242/Artt_Moderne_Home__Tweed__Ontario.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Art Moderne
Home, Tweed, Ontario
8 of 20
![Bill blass dress 1960s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4Tle7iWnqAQe84NeEnvNQQ/ed2f41f3ea672ee594e4197cbebf6117/Bill_Blass__Dress__1960s.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Bill Blass
Dress, 1960s
9 of 20
![Brigitte bardot shopping in london october 1963](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/40sOGtGwwcbPm4b7U7XfOz/47bae6c9bd31804298e759263e284a73/Brigitte_Bardot_Shopping_in_London__October_1963.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Brigitte Bardot
Shopping in London, October, 1963
10 of 20
![Chanel haute couture trompe l oeil evening dress 1983](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7u6HqDtHyxl6qix26r3PAV/2c2530d477ca25a64dad8a65c0af2e2c/Chanel_Haute_Couture__Trompe_l_oeil_Evening_Dress__1983.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Chanel Haute Couture
Trompe l'oeil Evening Dress, 1983
11 of 20
![Cristobal balenciaga baby doll dress 1957](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/VnOX08YZk5TAwLZV0wGvO/4b36f840b39f94b0facabf52baea347c/Cristobal_Balenciaga___Baby_Doll_Dress__1957.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Cristobal Balenciaga
Baby Doll Dress, 1957
12 of 20
![Gilbert rohde armchair 1935](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/8kgcK5nQuLhoyHeXujrVV/42d4ed69e9ce1e078a60eb90479cd368/Gilbert_Rohde__Armchair__1935.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Gilbert Rohde
Armchair, 1935
13 of 20
![Lyle owerko boombox 27 2010](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2WC8gJ2E5mN6Y3uVjglqEn/f72c277e65cedd72530074186313cf56/Lyle_Owerko_BOOMBOX_27__2010.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Lyle Owerko
BOOMBOX 27, 2010
14 of 20
Marc du Plantier
Chair, 1971
15 of 20
![Norman norell flower evening coat 1965](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2HCvWkzWYxTi86DKv08paQ/c91ea848dbe8f4f9f4a64c29b92d981a/Norman_Norell__Flower_Evening_Coat__1965.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Norman Norell
Flower Evening Coat, 1965
16 of 20
![Pan pacific auditorium los angeles 1930s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3P9859Y89ByzkV5Zl2Uenf/3964d74ee7b4430474d00ddd81f7a929/Pan_Pacific_Auditorium__Los_Angeles__1930s.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Pan Pacific Auditorium
Los Angeles, 1930s
17 of 20
![Revox a77 teal to reel tape recorder 1967 1980](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6rJYpEYuV9Mo62yknhgJ1j/1a8a3c9bee84b5bd89335e3909cd726d/Revox_A77__Teal-to-Reel_Tape_Recorder__1967-1980.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Revox A77
Teal-to-Reel Tape Recorder, 1967-80
18 of 20
![Richard prince s woodstock poster](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4IsNP6ma3HbpRzaJbSNkg1/ea6c7404cbeab63aa51548551e16e978/Richard_Prince_s_Woodstock_poster_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Richard Prince
Woodstock Poster
19 of 20
![Tom sachs boombox 2002](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6q5OermfWGHW9Ypsm48ZC/0cac5194615961cfcfc73efad7bd9278/Tom_Sachs__Boombox__2002.jpg?w=1000&q=70)