The spirit of the "House of Chanel" was re-created in the 2005 Met exhibition, which began with a presentation of Chanel's ground-breaking designs from the 1920s. It continued to examine its history thematically, focusing on the iconographical details of her work. Period examples were juxtaposed with the work of designer Karl Lagerfeld, who revitalized the house's spirit and identity in 1983.

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's journey into the world of fashion began in 1909 with a shop in Paris. There, she initially designed hats, which gained recognition for their simplicity, a stark contrast to the more elaborate fashion of the time. Chanel revolutionized haute couture and ready-to-wear clothing by introducing aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, and functional pieces. Her salon closed in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II. After Chanel died in 1971, Karl Lagerfeld took over as the head designer in 1983.