Is Karl Lagerfeld "Winding Down" at Chanel?
Insiders are speculating that this week's Chanel Resort show in Paris could be the 83-year-old designer's last.
It is not the first time Chanel has staged its Resort show in France—in recent years, its models have walked the quay of Saint-Tropez, the gardens of Versailles and the grounds of the Hôtel du Cap in Antibes. But according to Chanel sources, this show was originally planned for Lisbon, and was switched to Paris because, as more than one put it, “Karl is not doing well.” When asked about the venue change, a Chanel spokesman said, “I can’t comment on that.”
The talk of the Greek-themed luncheon afterward in the Mini Palais restaurant downstairs was 83-year-old Lagerfeld’s unstable curtain call walk, with its distinct limp and a firm grasp on eight-year-old godson Hudson Kroenig’s hand, and the unusual “no backstage” policy that blocked well-wishers and reporters from approaching Lagerfeld following the show. “You can feel the winding down in-house,” a Chanel source said. “It definitely feels like an era is coming to an end.”
