Karl Lagerfeld was born in 1939,
the year that Coco Chanel retired. The connection between them just
started for Karl Lagerfeld was destined to take over the rein of Coco's
empire in 1983.
This talented man not only creates
high-priced ready-to-wear with a couture look, he also makes anyone
he "dresses up" and photographs a star. Such is the influence of Karl
Lagerfeld in the fashion world.
Karl Lagerfeld worked in the
couture as an assistant becoming a freelance designer. In 1964, he worked
as a freelance designer for Chloe until 1983. His fashion philosophy
is based on light, fluid clothes. (He eliminated linings and extra seaming,
and would sometimes substitute overcasting for turned up hems to get
this effect.) At that time period, he also worked with Elizabeth Arden
to present his fragrance, "Chloe."
Karl Lagerfeld is well known
for his "philosophical" quotes. Once, he said "When people ask me what
I do, 'designer' seems inadequate. I tell them that I'm in the fashion
business. But that is what happens with ready-to-wear. You become an
enterprise." [Bernadine Morris, "A Designer Gets
Ahead of Himself," The New York Times (September 21, 1976), p.42.]
Twenty years later, in an interview
by Elle Magazine in 1997 for the 75th anniversary celebration of Chanel
No. 5, Karl Lagerfeld was asked the question, " Was it not every man's
desire in life to leave a lasting impression on the world? " His answer
was, ""May I tell you something terrible? Maybe, it was worth it to
think that way in the past, but maybe today, one lacks consideration
for the world if one thinks that it's important."
Ponytailed, always hiding behind
his sunglasses that bears his initials, together with his quintessial
fan, Karl Lagerfeld remains one of the fashion force of this century.
