Chanel was the fashion house featured in the 2005 Met Gala exhibition The House of Chanel.
The exhibition examined the history and visual language of the French fashion house founded by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. It highlighted signatures associated with Chanel, including jersey clothing, relaxed women’s tailoring, the little black dress, costume jewelry, and the house’s interlocking double-C identity.
Chanel’s influence extends beyond individual garments. The house helped establish a modern vocabulary of understated luxury that combined practicality with strong branding. Later designers, especially Karl Lagerfeld, expanded and reinterpreted those codes for new generations.
The exhibition title refers to the fashion house rather than a separate Chanel perfume or product line. The 2005 event is also distinct from later Met exhibitions devoted to individual designers or broader national and cultural themes.