Karl Lagerfeld - Designer

[NYLA22]

The two YSL French films and the recent Balenciaga series got the look of the fashion world convincingly good— and didn’t turn the characters into cartoons. Can’t say if that’s how the fashion world really looked, behaved and dressed back then as I didn’t live through those eras LOL Never watched Devil Wears Prada as the story itself was a huge turnoff: Can’t suffer modern-day Meryl and never could suffer Anne. The industry is a joke in many ways— more so now than ever, as the current plague of creatives (that apparently seemed weened on Tyra’s ANTM/Rupaul's Drag Race/Gaga’s discount DIY faSHON) that have taken over the industry are exactly the brand of caricatures that was was spoofed by everyone from French & Saunders to SNL. Just that whenever a movie— especially a very commercial Hollywood movie, makes fun of he industry, like Devil and Zoolander, it’s so obnoxious. But someone devastatingly clever like Sasha Baron Cohen’s Bruno mocking the industry however, is hilariously deserving.

Unfortunately there's a lot with Karl to easily turn him and this series into a cartoon for mass consumption. Will this be more like the solid but all-too serious Cristobal Balenciaga (doubt it)— or more like that awful queer-eye-for-the straight-guy Halston (sadly likely)…??? (Haven’t bothered with the Dior series either…)

I'm curious about your take on Phantom Thread, have you seen it?

 

[Phuel]

^^^ Still haven’t watched Phantom Thread!

I’ve (re)watched Rosemary’s Baby and The Omen recently— not so much for the horror component; although the seething creepiness remains potent to this day, but more for the aesthetic. Those films capture the era of their setting/mood/style so supremely that’s so easy to get lost in. Great, strong storytelling of course, and Mia and Lee look impeccable. However, it’s always the styling of these films that hooks me in. Mahogany is also highly recommended. Not so much for the acting and story; Diana’s acting is Tyra-level of soap opera OTT cringe LOL But the wardrobe, her wardrobe, and that 70s-aesthetic is to die for.

Hoping if nothing else, this Karl series will at least get the wardrobe, and his Chanel, right. What a hilarious travesty that Ridley Scott Gucci movie was all-around, including the costuming LOL

 

[MulletProof]

^^^ Still haven’t watched Phantom Thread!

!!!!
You need to watch this today. Fashion’s okay but it’s just such a wholesome type of sadism. You’ll love it lol.

 

[NYLA22]

!!!!
You need to watch this today. Fashion’s okay but it’s just such a wholesome type of sadism. You’ll love it lol.

I've seen it three times and still can't get enough. The obsession and rigidity with which Woodcock lived his life was endlessly fascinating and perversely inspiring in a way. Set design was also so gorgeous.

 

[Creative]

I miss his interviews and his thoughts so much. The last couple of years he was alive he kind of stopped offering as many interviews as he did in 2007/2014.

He was so smart, funny and interesting. I don’t know why young people are so boring and uninteresting.

 

[LadyJunon]

Loic Prigent on Lagerfeld's Chloe in the light of the incoming Disney+ series:

 

[Scotty]

 

[gallianostan]

the interviews where he drew were my favourite ones he ever did. they were so therapeutic

 

[blueorchid]

the interviews where he drew were my favourite ones he ever did. they were so therapeutic

My favourite detail about his Met exhibit was that you could hear the sound of him sketching throughout the exhibit, because they played clips from Karl Lagerfeld Draws His Life. It gave it all such a nice atmosphere.

 

[blueorchid]

Harper's Bazaar March 1985
"Keep Your Eye on Fashion... Karl Lagerfeld's Extraordinary Talent"
Photographers: Francesco Scavullo, Bill Silano
Featuring: Karl Lagerfeld, Ashley Richardson


Harper's Bazaar Archive

 

[blueorchid]

Karl Lagerfeld in His Apartment in Paris, Vogue (Originally Appeared in Vogue September 1974)
Photographer: Horst



artsandculture.google

 

[blueorchid]

Karl Lagerfeld, 1960 by Willy Rizzo


willyrizzo

 

[Creative]

I love that he could do refined and super tacky when he wanted.

His couture collections had something I’ve never seen from any other designer, a kind of lightness, refinement, royalness and delicacy that is unparalleled. A little bit Versailles in a way…

 

[LadyJunon]

Does anyone know where this show was held? The location is beautiful.

 

[Creative]

Does anyone know where this show was held? The location is beautiful.

The Ritz hotel, you can even see Place Vendome from the windows ☺️

 

[blueorchid]

Vogue Pattern Book December 1959 – January 1960


makeminevogue.wordpress.com

 

[Lola701]

It’s a pity nobody dared to ask him why he chose « Roland ». It’s so odd lol

 

[Cocteau Stone]

Enamoured by this snippet of Chanel Fall 1998 show. So simple, chic and Mitford sister-esque. You can see a strong calling towards the likes of Watanabe, Yamamoto and Garcon (and others) entwined with post war 20s Chanel. Just fantastic, and so smooth to look at with those buttery autumnal colours and textures:

 

[Creative]

I must say I’m not the biggest fan of that Chanel era, but I appreciate that version of himself as well. More austere, quite focused in the silhouette, more elegant and relaxed… cute.

Crazy how sloppy the background was 🤣

 

[Lola701]

I love that transition period following the arrival of Amanda Harlech, the departure of Victoire de Castellane and coinciding with Karl’s public tax issues. It’s more austere, catching the minimalist vibe but also pushing things forward in terms of fabrics, way of cutting clothes and things like that. Clothes with no lining, light fabrics, the essence of his work and his obsession with lightness.

The accessories were interesting, forward looking. I learned that it was a period of doubts at Chanel as the classic bag wasn’t selling as well as before. Karl was understanding that something was changing but didn’t necessarily found the right answer…But still pushed forward.

The irony is that it’s at the same moment that Fendi started to boom with the baguette and he really started to put more edgy RTW collections for the house.

This collection with FW 1997 were some of his best RTW collections of the time. FW1999 however is probably my least favorite Chanel collection ever by him.