KARL LAGERFLED: DESIGNER, VISIONARY & ICON

KARL LAGERFLED: DESIGNER, VISIONARY & ICON

by | Apr 30, 2019 | Admire, Style

As Creative Director of Chanel and Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld defined the world of modern age fashion–reinventing fading labels and challenging preconceived notions to create a new language of fashion. We traveled with him to the pastel streets of Havana, Cuba to a country frozen in time. Then in our metallic space blankets and mod glitter boots we were transported to galaxies far away for an out of this world fashion experience. In this issue our style arbiter Tori Johnson of ThesToriBook.com pays tribute to a legendary man who was gifted with the ability to make fashion experiential and whose creative force inspired us all.

THE BIRTH OF FASHION

Karl Otto Lagerfeld was born in Hamburg, Germany on September 10, 1933. Lagerfeld used to insist that no one knew his true birthday and would frequently claim his birth year to be as late as 1938. Photo courtesy of Women’s Wear Daily.

ARTISTIC BEGINNINGS

In 1955 Lagerfeld entered a coat design competition and caught the eye of Yves Saint Laurent and shortly after became the assistant for Pierre Balmain. Photo courtesy of Karl Lagerfeld.

TWO TIMES THE CHARM

In 1963, Lagerfeld joined the designer team at Chloe. He went on to be the Creative Director of the brand in 1974 and 1992. Photo courtesy of Women’s Wear Daily.

IN THE NICK OF TIME

Karl Lagerfeld joined Chanel in 1983 when the brand was quickly fading after the death of Coco Chanel a decade prior to then. His ability as a marketing strategist not only saved the brand yet also propelled it into being one of the most famous fashion houses ever. Photo courtesy of Karl Lagerfeld.

SCENT OF ROMANCE

These Jane Leslie sterling silver and rose gold plated cascade earrings are accented with mother of pearl and pink enamel for a scrumptious jewelry statement. $450. Photo and availability courtesy of Lee Michaels.

NOTES ON A DESIGNER

Fans and clients continue to be inspired by what also inspired Lagerfeld himself.

FENDI’S FUN FURS

Karl Lagerfeld designed for the famed luxury label, Fendi, for 51 years and modernized their fur line. He invented the brand’s double “F” logo which stands for fun furs. Photo courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

Chanel’s last Lagerfeld show was started with a moment of silence and attendees received a sketch by Lagerfeld of him standing with Gabrielle Chanel. Photo courtesy of Women’s Wear Daily.

CUBAN CATWALKS

Lagerfeld transformed a Cuban colonial boulevard into a catwalk for the Chanel 2017 resort collection. Photo courtesy of CNN.

3, 2, 1…BLAST OFF

Lagerfeld’s runway shows were always an impressively dramatic experience, but Chanel’s Fall/Winter 2017 Paris show was truly out of this world. Models sported space age fashions, metallic space blankets, mod glitter boots and the spectacle was concluded with a mock launch of a real size rocket. Photo courtesy of Elle.

A PLACE AT THE TABLE

Only 500 of this Christofle “Mood Karl Lagerfed” limited addition 24-piece flatware service was produced. It features Lagerfeld’s signature engraved on the side and is made in France. $3,500. Photo and availability courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

TIME OUT

The “Code Coco” watch is set with 52 brilliant-cut diamonds, two dials with 172 diamonds and one set with a princess-cut diamond. $15,500. Photo and availability courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

GOLDEN GODDESS

Sublimage La Crème features a new breakthrough ingredient to help renew vitality, enhance regeneration, firmness, skin tone, hydrations and radiance. $400. Photo and availability courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue.