Fashion Quote:
Karl Lagerfeld
“When I hear old fools say elegance is dead, I tell them: no, it's not, its face has changed”.
Illustration by Tina Wilson
Karl Otto Lagerfeld was born on September 10, 1933 in Hamburg, Germany.
In 1955, in his early career, he was hired as Pierre Balmain’s assistant. Three years later he moved to Jean Patou where he designed two haute couture lines per year for five years. It was said that his collection was well received but not spectacular at all. In 1963, he teamed up with Evan Richards, a Texan, for a line of ready-to-wear under the label “Tiziani-Roma – Made in England.” The label was loved by Elizabeth Taylor. Gina Lollobrigida, Doris Duke and Princess Marcella Bonghese were customers. Karl was replaced by Guy Douvier in 1969.
In 1964, he freelanced for Chloé, at first for a few pieces each season, and then designing the whole collection.
In 1965, he collaborated with Fendi, the Italian fashion house, designing furs, clothing and accessories.
In 1970, he began a brief design collaboration with Roman haute-couture house Curiel.
Since the 1970s he has worked occasionally as a costume designer for theatrical productions.
He also maintained a relationship with the Japanese department store, Isetan, to create collections for both men and women through the 30 licenses that Isetan owned.
Karl also had a lingerie line in the U.S., produced by Eva Stillmann, and also designed shoes for Charles Jourdan.
In the 1980s, Karl Lagerfeld designed the “CC” monograph of Coco Chanel by interlocking two letters. This remains the style pattern for the House of Chanel.
In 2002, Karl Lagerfeld sought a collaboration
with Diesel and crated a special line of denim.
The five-piece collection was presented at the
designer’s catwalk show during Paris Fashion
Week and was sold as a limited edition at
Lagerfeld galleries in Paris and Monaco, as well
as at the Diesel Denim Galleries in New York
and Tokyo. The show was sold out despite
prices ranging from $240 to $1,840. The show
became a success as the prêt-à-porter of
casual wear.
Lagerfeld designed some outfits for Madonna
for her “Re-Invention World Tour.”
In November 2004, in a collaboration with
H&M, a limited range of Lagerfeld’s clothes for
men and women were sold in certain outlets.In 2007, Vogue created a feature-length
documentary film on the designer called
“Lagerfeld Confidential.”
In September 2010, the Couture Council
of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of
Technology presented Lagerfeld with an award
created just for him, The Couture Council
Fashion Visionary Award, at a benefit luncheon
at Avery Fisher Hall in New York.
Throughout his life, Karl Lagerfeld caused many
controversies. The one worth mentioning
was his use of animal fur. He became the
target of the People for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals (PETA) in 2001. In 2010, for the
Chanel collection, he used fake fur.
Today, he is the head creative director of Chanel, the French fashion house, as well
as Fendi, the Italian fashion house, and of course, the head of his own fashion label.
Lagerfeld's last Chanel show:
Paris Fashion Week 2019
Courtesy of: The Sun at youtube
Karl Lagerfeld’s last collection for Chanel opened with a minute’s silence for the late designer on Tuesday (March 5), as friends, collaborators and fans turned out in Paris to remember his 35 years as the creative force behind the French couture house.
Conceived before his death at 85 in late February, the catwalk was transformed into a typically over-the-top winter wonderland setting, complete with wooden chalets and smoking chimneys, sealing Lagerfeld’s reputation at the pinnacle of fashion showmanship.