When I think of haute couture fashion designers, the image of Karl Lagerfeld, with his trademark black sunglasses, high starched collar and white sleek ponytail, immediately comes to mind. If you are not familiar with Karl Lagerfeld, he is the creative director for a few of the most iconic fashion houses such as Chanel and Fendi as well as his eponymous brand, Karl Lagerfeld. As one of the world’s most celebrated fashion designers, Karl Lagerfeld is known for his cutting-edge approach to style and aesthetic creativity. He recently expanded his personal label, which includes top quality accessible-luxe apparel and accessories. The brand delivers distinct styles including ready-to-wear for men and women and incredible accessories that range from bags and shoes to watches and eye wear.
I was recently invited to attend a viewing of Karl Lagerfeld’s upcoming collection and can’t wait to get my hands on some of his latest designs; luxury at its finest! The showroom was sectioned off and featured certain items based on each season. The summer collection was filled with lightweight fabrics and soft colors such as blush silk blouses, white button down shirts and knitted sweaters. The fall collection included darker tones such as auburn and brown but blush was still prominent as it is now considered to be the “new neutral”.
The evening wear collection was incredible and I fell in love with various pieces that were beyond beautiful and needless to say, luxurious. There were a few sequined dresses with cut-away back detailing that immediately caught my eye. No matter the season, the collections were refined and reflected Karl Lagerfeld’s ability to design alluring and highly structured styles.
The shoes and accessories were also incredible and so unique. Some of my favorite items include the fingerless gloves, detachable collars, embroidered hats and the staple T-shirts that bear the designers infamous profile.
Karl Lagerfeld says that his collection gives insight into his personality; a graphic idea of what he likes. It was interesting to learn that Karl wanted to stray away from working with other couture design houses as he did not want to be in competition with Chanel or Fendi. Designing at the luxury end of the industry would be too similar to what he has been doing since the beginning of his career. Branching off into the mid-range market was his goal, as he believes, (and I quote) “the middle class does not have enough class that I think the middle class should have”. Using his incredible skills to design an attainable collection that would still be considered as cutting-edge was a goal he beyond surpassed. As the incredible designer once said “sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life, so you bought some sweatpants” – Karl Lagerfeld. Although the Karl Lagerfeld line is considered as attainable luxury, one would never know as the designs mirror many of those found in his couture houses.
