My favourite fashion designer and icon, the man behind the most successful fashion shows and the icon to handle the brand - Chanel! Karl Otto Lagerfeld was a German designer, creative director, artist, photographer and caricaturist who lived in the fashion capital, Paris. He worked until his very last day, passing away at the age of 85, last month. Known to handle brands like Chanel, Fendi and his very own Karl Lagerfeld.
He is known as the monochrome man, the man with his iconic ponytail and his signature look of white hair, black sunglasses and fingerless gloves.
About Karl Lagerfeld
Wanting to be a caricaturist, Karl entered a coat designing competition somehow and won the competition gaining entry to work with Pierre Balmain. After working for brands like Chloe and Valentino, he started working for Fendi until his death.
In the 1980s he was hired by Chanel, which was then not a successful brand since Coco Chanel had just passed away, but Karl bought back the essence of Chanel - The monochrome looks, pearls, tweed jackets, little black dresses, gloves and classy headgear.
Lagerfeld also collaborated and worked with brands like Diesel, H&M , Macys etc.
He also directed a few short movies, ventured into photography, designed fashion shows that were so unique and attractive and also designed art sculptures , mirrors, consoles etc
Unique facts about Karl Lagerfeld
●He started working at the age of 17 and worked until the very end of his life.
●He hated cell phones and technology and rather preceded faxes and letters.
●He carried a fan wherever he went.
●His personal library consisted of 300000 books all rotated so that he didn't have to tilt his head to read the titles.
●He owned 300 iPods, all designed for different genre of music. All of these were stored in a specially designed limited edition Louis Vuitton trunk.
●He owned a fridge in his bathroom to keep his skincare products.
●He didn't smoke or drink but was addicted to diet coke
●The iconic pony has been with him since 1976
●He was very close to his cat, who has an Instagram page, 2 maids and said once if it was legal he would have married her.
Karl Lagerfeld and his fashion shows
Karl created fashion shows like movie sets, so advanced and designed so minutely that it would feel like you are in the moment so much, making it an illusion, a dream, Karl believed in grandeur and imagination.
From designing a whole winter wonderland, adding effects of snow covered areas instead of a standard ordinary ramp, adding winds and mountains, yes it was all possible by the man.
Some of his shows include creating a beach, fountains and gardens , and much more.
Last week, the final show designed by Karl was presented post his death and it was based on the winter collection. The models were in tears bidding farewell to the man who bought so much imagination and thought into a fashion show.
This is my version of a Classic Chanel inspired outfit as a tribute to Karl Lagerfeld.
Using the important and the famous elements of the house of Chanel, I integrated the look like Coco Chanel or Audrey Hepburn would have worn.
The little black dress or LBD is a concept that was developed by Coco chanel which was further taken up by Karl Lagerfeld. Adding to the look are the gloves that Karl himself wore. Chanel is also a fan of embellishments and bows that add to the vintage look.
Not to forget, the elegant hair bows and hats that call for what Chanel is about. It would have been a sin if I would have missed out on that.
The little black dress goes well with classy black pumps accentuated with embellishments.
Monochrome looks are synonymous to Karl Lagerfeld. He was always dressed in black and white and that is what is my inspiration to this look. I wanted to create a whole breakfast at tiffanys look, an Audrey Hepburn in Chanel kind of illusion.
Karl often added many pearls his look. It is what added to the elegance and charm. I was myself thrilled to be surrounded in so many layers of pearls.
Vintage backgrounds, old style chandeliers and black and white looks were all a part of looks created by the man.
This is a look inspired from the Fendi fall 2019 collection that showcased black frilled skirts and dressed along with bows. I created it with a vision of what Karl's traditional look would be thus adding white to it.
Karl was about sleek dresses as well grand frills and layers as he frequently dressed celebrities for award functions, often sticking to his monochrome tones and old style vintage looks with contemporary twists.
Also a tribute to his last collection, that showcased winter and spring looks that can be worn in the cold weather yet add a fashionable style.
Fendi
Fendi is an Italian luxury fashion brand that Karl joined in 1965 and became the creative director for fur and women's ready to wear.
The brand is 93 years old and is known for its eyewear , fragrances , leather goods and fur, shoes , bags and accessories.
The well known baguette and pequin handbags is what Fendi is popularly known for.
The final work of Karl was shown by Fendi at Milan fashion week a few days back.
The show showcased Eskimo designs, medieval armor and kimono inspired winter looks.
Chanel
Chanel is a French brand that specialises in haute couture, fashion accessories and ready to wear clothes. The name is taken by Gabrielle Chanel who used her nickname Coco along. Karl was the man behind promoting the CC logo short for coco chanel.
110 year old brand chanel went through a downfall when in 1983, Karl took over as the chief designer. He incorporated the traditional tweed and fold accents in the looks.
Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld started his own brand in 1984. His brand with his own name and his iconic look as a logo is known mostly for designer handbags, shows and more.
He also has a fragrance by the same name and logo.
His collection has a modern and contemporary edge to classic black and solid colour designs. Adding his own monochrome looks and texts, his cat images , optical illusions look like striped looks and spikes and embellishments is what his collection is about.
