Karl Lagerfeld is the creative director of Chanel for 25 years, safeguarded the towering legacy of Coco Chanel but has also enhanced it by turning the house into one of the most powerful and profitable brands in the world. Born in Hamburg, he moved to Paris in 1952 and made fashion history.
“Part of my business in fashion… is not to look the way the things are but to make believe what it should or could be.” – Karl Lagerfeld
Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s opening her first store in 1913 and never dream that little millinery shop in Paris become one of the world’s most illustrious fashion houses. World War I broke out the very next year, but the popularity of Chanel’s new kind of chic doesn’t fall apart. Throughout the twenties and thirties, the House of Chanel continued to revolutionize the way women dressed popularization of the Chanel suit, the “little black dress”, however Chanel No. 5 still the best-selling fragrance in the world all these decades later. This designs of Chanel couture made popular the “flat-chested” fashions that were the opposite of the fashions of the late 19th century, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel used masculine colors to denote feminine boldness of character. It was a revolution on woman’s fashion world.
Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel
Fashion revolution – Woman suit
“One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a Little Black Dress.” Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld — the face behind Chanel | The little black dress – MoMA exhibition
The first lady of fashion died in 1971 at the age of 86 at the Hôtel Ritz in Paris, where she had lived for 30 years, but she still designing at the time of her death. While a design team kept the label on life support, it wasn’t until 1983, when Karl Lagerfeld assumed creative control, that the house was reborn in all its glory. Today, the company is privately owned by Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, the grandsons of Pierre Wertheimer, who originally funded Chanel No. 5.
Marilyn Monroe & No 5 campaing
Karl Lagerfeld joined Chanel to design haute couture, his résumé was already impressive, he was serving simultaneously as creative director of Chloé, Fendi and house of Valentino. He become something of a legend himself. With his white powdered ponytail, signature black sunglasses, and fingerless black gloves, he is the most recognizable fashion designer in the world.
Haute Couture by Karl Lagerfeld – House of Chanel
Chanel Prêt-a-Porter 2013-2014 | supermarket fashion show
Lagerfeld went on to launch his own label, offering what he termed “intellectual sexiness”, with bright colors and softly shaped knitwear. Owns a bookstore in Paris, where you can buy books of Karl’s art photography.
His achievements were many, including the box jacket with denim mini skirts, black fishnet body-stockings with Chanel branding over the breasts. Lagerfeld’s strong sense of humor has led to such pieces as the shower-dress, the car-dress and a range of wacky hats!
Karl Lagerfeld last year open some stores with his name, “The Karl Lagerfelf Stores” giving his sense of taste though the world. You can also see his last opening in Dubai HERE.
Source: Karl website
Source: Style
