Alexandra Austen Year 11
One of the most influential fashion events was hosted on the first of may 2023. This event is none other than the Met Gala, an exclusive gathering for the elite celebrities and fashionistas of the decade. Celebrities are given a chance to prove their glamour and express their taste in fashion through a carefully assigned dress code. This year’s Met Gala was a tribute to the late Karl Lagerfeld, one of the most talented designers in fashion of his time.
Singers, actors, models, and many more attendees came from around the globe to New York City to participate in such a monumental gathering. In memory of Karl Lagerfeld many personalities paid homage to his beloved pet cat Choupette. Namely celebrities such as Doja Cat who wore a prosthetic cat mask, or Jared Leto who decided a full head to toe hyper realistic cat costume was the way to go. Subtle looks were also present; guests such as Vogue correspondent, Emma Chamberlain, wore a Miu Miu skirt-suit in the patented colour ‘Choupette blue’.
On the other hand, Stars such as Rihanna, Cardi B, and Kendal Jenner chose to be inspired directly by the designer himself. These classy ladies sported looks inspired by his most iconic creations. Notably his re-design of Chanel’s Camellia flower, the iconic black glasses he wore, or his unique black suit.
Lagerfeld’s famed aesthetics created a fashion era that defined a generation. From the moment he first stunned the fashion scene in ‘54 to when he retired from working with Chanel in 2019.
He debuted by winning a prize in the coat category of the distinguished International Wool Secretariat competition; this accolade gained him the momentum needed to propel his career into the realms of high fashion. It is important to stress that he had no formal education in fashion. This statement is a reminder that Lagerfeld was a born talent, untamed by the conventions of the industry, further personified through his controversial designs. He cemented himself as an unorthodox designer when he brought out the shortest skirt of the season in 1960 at Paris.
His popularity rocketed as he began his employment with the Fendi sisters, a fur company aspiring to make ready to wear fashion. He began experimenting with unnatural fur colours and came up with the iconic FF (fun fur) logo. After propelling Fendi to massive industrial success Lagerfeld proceeded to work with major luxury brands such as Chloé, Balmain, and Patou before joining Chanel to make some of the most unforgettable collections of all time. In 1984, the same year he joined Chanel, he further expanded his reach and premiered his own Brand. Lagerfeld was remarkable in the way he could produce collection after collection for multiple of the aforementioned brands. In fact, he was the only designer to present two haute couture collections in Paris every season. In time his work ethic earned him many collaborations and notoriety within the entire fashion industry.
Lagerfeld’s dedication to his work produced some of the most memorable looks of the twentieth and nineteenth century. Some of his collections are still reminiscent of fashion trends today despite being created decades ago. Although throughout his entire career he had managed to spawn marvelous creations, his most revolutionary phase in the fashion industry was in the 90’s. This was the golden age of modeling, fashion editors’ prestige was at an all time high, and being a fashion designer was filled with lucrative perks. The buzz surrounding the high fashion industry put pressure on artists to create beautiful and interesting attire; the kind that made people want to turn on their TV and tune in to observe the wonders of the elite fashion world. Super models such as Shalom Harlow, Yasmeen Ghuari, and The Big Six (Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, and Kate Moss) brought much attention to Lagerfeld’s works of art, elevating their beauty and class.
Turning back the clock to reminisce about some of his most monumental outfits, first up is a Chanel look. This one was part of their fashion week runway collection in 1994, modeled by Eva Herzigova. The piece has been circulated around social media and admired by many, it’s a two piece composed of mini-shorts and a bralette topped off with a cropped jacket. The jacket and shorts were composed of a powder pink textured tweed. The bralette, however, was made with large, scale-like sequins that perfectly complemented the rest of the outfit. The completing touch was the tasteful chain belts that adorned the waist. They contained crystal inclusions shaped into hearts as well as bright colours that perfectly contrasted the soft pink clothing. This look was glamorous yet not conservative and its beauty caught the eye of many, even to this day!
Next is an outfit from Chloé’s spring summer collection in 1995, inspired by floral themes, Lagerfeld created a glorious collection of frilly pastel satin and silk dresses. Naomi stunned the catwalk with a two piece soft purple dress embellished with pink ruffled strands of chiffon and velvet. The dress was made of gentle purple chiffon and lined with satin. Its design was reminiscent of wisteria, the sleeves practically mimicking a tress of the lilac coloured flowers. The dress was equipped with a strip of chiffon tied around the waist and complemented with ethereal gold butterfly structures. Needless to say this dress was eye candy, mesmerizing to look at and full of character. Truly one of Lagerfeld’s masterpieces.
To conclude this trip down memory lane let’s take a look at a stunning dress that was resurfaced and worn by one of Lagerfeld’s 21st century muses. Chanel’s famous chain dress, from the 1992 spring-summer collection, was originally worn by Christy Turlington. This classy black dress is covered in gold chains and small glittering jewels but the real catch is the big red crystal right at the Center of the chest. This extravagant dress is legendary and has been used time and time again in tv shows, comics, and most recently at the 2019 met gala. Lily Rose Depp, one of Lagerfeld’s muses, turned heads as she wore the dress to the fashion event. Reminding everyone that this classy Lagerfeld creation never goes out of style.
Looking back, it’s an understatement to say that Karl Lagerfeld was an amazing designer, he was timeless and pioneered a fashion revolution. He dared to be scandalous so that he could be given the freedom to create unadulterated art. Karl Lagerfeld was a master of his craft, devoting his life time to it. He produced countless collections, working for multiple brands and creating numerous shows each season. It is safe to say that Lagerfeld will be remembered as fashion royalty because he was a stupendous designer.
