Karl Lagerfeld, the legendary designer and all-around artist has recently passed away at the age of 85. The news broke on 19 February, a few weeks later after the Chanel creative director missed a few fashion shows and thus got people worried and talking.
The iconic designer was one of the most recognizable people in fashion. He was known for his out-of-this-world taste and for his quirky personality. Lagerfeld was an authority on beauty and always pushed the limits of sartorial artistry.
Ever since he emigrated from Germany to Paris as a teenager and got introduced to the fashion world, he has brought to the world much beauty and female grace. He worked for Pierre Balmain, Patou and Chloé and spent over 30 years at Chanel alone. Here, he was able to transform and adapt Coco's timeless aesthetic and to continue her legacy, all while adding much glamor and glitz to the brand, making it one of biggest fashion powerhouses in the world. In parallel, he also worked out collections for LVMH's Fendi and for his eponymous label.
Besides working on his fashion, Karl was also a photographer and signed a series of great images. In all aspects of his work, he knew how to combine the artistic with the commercial, how to integrate the money-making aspect into a creative work without diminishing its artistic value. He was also great at marketing and always found great ways to engage society in his projects. A great example of this was the project which involved the renovation of the Trevi fountain, as well as of other fountains in Rome by Fendi, for which he took a series of great architectural photographs published under the title "The Glory of Water". This endeavor drew attention to both the brand, to his art and also offered something back to the Roman community.
Controversy was also something surrounding Karl, as he often shared views that left people staggered or offended. In 2011, after the wedding of Prince William with Kate Middleton, in the midst of all the talk about Pippa and her dress, he commented "I don't like the sister's face. She should only show her back." In 2013, during an interview on French television, he claimed that nobody really wants to see curvy women on the runway and even wrote a similar comment in a book he was releasing at the time, saying "It's the fat women sitting in front of televisions with their pack of crisps who say slim models are hideous." A French organization claiming to fight for the rights of "curvy" women said the comments were "defamatory and discriminatory".
Karl also had a strong position when it came to sweatpants. He once said that "you lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants", which was a comment some found funny, while others found offensive. He even made some honest remarks about affluent, yet not very elegant women of the world. In 2012, he claimed that "If you come and ask me, "I want to be chic", there is little hope to become chic. Because there are peasants in the country who are beyond chic in their poor rags, and very rich women who are not chic in the most expensive dress." Politics was also a subject from which Karl did not shy away. He once called French president François Hollande an "imbecile" after he introduced new taxes for the wealthy and was also vocal about Angela Merkel's migration positions.
In a Numéro interview, he dissed the overblown state of the #MeToo movement, saying he was "fed up with it", a view many people shared.
For many, he was a daring person who spoke of (sometimes funny, sometimes true) things others didn't want to say, while others saw him as a bad, misogynistic or outdated man whose views are to be... tolerated. It is probably true that at many times, people took Karl's public persona more seriously than he took it himself. He always claimed that he was like a caricature of himself and that he liked that.
The great thing about Karl was that he was very specific and had a clear perspective and personality. He was an integral part of a vision, and having a clear point of view is often met with controversy and even anger.
Karl's complete persona was what made him amazing. He was able to be on-trend while timeless and he was invested in many young people.
"The most Parisian of Germans" was a true legend. This word is thrown around a lot these days, but Karl embodied its meaning to the fullest and in the most authentic way.
His clothes and art will enter the history of arts as some of the most amazing works ever to be created and to have inspired millions.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. We want to hear from you! What do you think of Karl's legacy? Which of his collections/works is your favorite? Why? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!
