Karl Lagerfeld, the longtime creative director for Chanel and Fendi, was considered an icon in the fashion industry when he died in 2019 at age 85. At the time of his death, his fortune was estimated to be worth around $200 million.
Lagerfeld was close friends with Vogue Editor-in-Chief and Met Gala Chairwoman Anna Wintour, and his life and work served as the theme for this year's celebrity-studded event.
Lagerfeld was born in Germany. His career began when he took an assistant position with Pierre Balmain in 1995. Below, take a closer look at his life and fashion legacy.
Karl Lagerfeld was born Karl Otto Lagerfeldt in 1933 to a businessman and a lingerie saleswoman in Hamburg, Germany.
For years, the designer would play coy about his true age, claiming to be born in 1935. His assistant told the AP in 2019 that he preferred "to scramble the tracks on his year of birth — that's part of the character."
Lagerfeld possessed an interest in fashion at an early age, and his parents were largely supportive of his dream. He ultimately secured his parents' permission to move to Paris at the age of 14.
He bounced around, transforming labels all over the industry through freelance jobs. Chloé was one that stuck — he was there for more than 10 years, beginning in 1964.
Lagerfeld working with his designs at the Chloé studio in Paris.
Through his approach of shaving, coloring, and transforming furs, he introduced the concept of "Fun Fur" — which is reportedly where the iconic double-F Fendi logo got its start — to high fashion.
He was warned against joining the house and reportedly told The New York Times, "Everybody said, 'Don't touch it, it's dead, it will never come back.' But by then I thought it was a challenge."
Lagerfeld took that challenge and ran with it. He is most known for amplifying the original design concepts put forth by founder Coco Chanel, adding his own flair that reflected the changing times.
Caroline of Monaco, Karl Lagerfeld, and Claudia Schiffer following a Chanel fashion show in 1990.
"[Chanel was] a sleeping beauty. Not even a beautiful one. She snored," he said in the 2007 documentary "Lagerfeld Confidential." "So I was to revive a dead woman."
NPR's Susan Stamberg once described Chanel and the Karl Lagerfeld effect in 2005. She talked about the classic and timeless appeal of the original house, adding "The real Lagerfeld part: the illusion of unraveling wool, laced with color, at the skirt and cuffs."
Despite his reputation, Lagerfeld wasn't opposed to working with brands considered to be out of the realm of luxury or high fashion. In 2004, he collaborated on a collection with H&M.
It set the stage for future collaborations with brands and designers, including Stella McCartney, Comme des Garcons, Versace, Maison Martin Margiela, and Moschino. And in 2011 he designed a capsule collection for Macy's.
Throughout it all, he was known as both a collector and an auctioneer — he'd gather up things like furniture, books, and real estate for their connection to the aesthetic of their time, and then auction them off in a seemingly emotionally disconnected way.
Karl Lagerfeld cuts ribbon of Christie's Paris office with Kering founder François Pinault.
His spending habits landed him the label of a "squanderer." To that he said: "If you throw money out of the window throw it out with joy. Don't say: 'One shouldn't do that' — that is bourgeois."
Karl Lagerfeld presenting his new perfume, Lagerfeld Woman.
He also found himself at the center of controversy several times. He didn't hold back from sharing his opinions on topics like other people's appearance and the Me Too movement.
He said in 2018 that he was "fed up" with the Me Too movement, cast doubt on the testimonies of women who had come forward about sexual assault, and said young female models who objected to how they were treated by male stylists should "join a nunnery" instead.
He also once took a public dig at model Heidi Klum, saying, "Heidi is no runway model. She is simply too heavy and has too big a bust. And she always grins so stupidly. That is not avant-garde — that is commercial!"
Reuters
Source: Fashionista
He was also critical of his own weight at times. Around the early 2000s, he wanted to wear suits by Hedi Slimane, which had a slim fit, so he lost 92 pounds in a year.
In fact, he ended up writing a book about his diet titled "The Karl Lagerfeld Diet." In the book he talked about his love for Diet Coke and toast, calling toast "the height of luxury" and "the most delicious thing in the world."
His history of working with fur has also placed him at the center of some animal-rights controversy. PETA referred to the designer as its "nemesis" in a tweet that was meant to announce the "end of an era" that celebrated fur in fashion after his passing.
His career extended into the entertainment industry as well: he served as a costume designer, director, actor, and even writer in a number of films. He was also a photographer and shot many of his own fashion editorials over the years.
In the world of fashion, Lagerfeld was known for his timely taste and of-the-moment designs. But he also appreciated and paid homage to trends and styles of the past through his use of tweed and pearl accessories.
The fashion designer was survived by his Instagram-famous cat, Choupette. In 2013, Lagerfeld told CNN, "There is no marriage, yet, for human beings and animals ... I never thought I would fall in love like this with a cat."
He has said Choupette is the more famous of the two of them: "She has become the most famous cat in the world. I even get propositioned by pet food companies and things like that, but it's out of the question. I'm commercial. She's not. She's spoiled to death. Obviously."
He said the Birman breed cat, who has 221,000 followers on Instagram, would be one of the heirs to his fortune, adding, "Don't worry, there is enough for everyone."
"Thanks to his creative genius, generosity and exceptional intuition, Karl Lagerfeld was ahead of his time, which widely contributed to the House of Chanel's success throughout the world," Chanel CEO Alain Wertheimer said in a statement to CNN.
Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of Fendi owner LVMH said in a statement: "With the passing of Karl Lagerfeld we have lost a creative genius who helped to make Paris the fashion capital of the world and Fendi one of the most innovative Italian houses ... We owe him a great deal: his taste and talent were the most exceptional I have ever known."
Karl Lagerfeld and Bernard Arnault, left, in 2005.
Donatella Versace wrote in an Instagram caption: "Karl your genius touched the lives of so many, especially Gianni and I. We will never forget your incredible talent and endless inspiration. We were always learning from you."
Years after Lagerfeld's death, questions still remain about the benefactors of his estate, which was estimated to be worth more than $200 million at the time of his death. French newspaper Le Parisien reported in 2020 that a group of seven people close to Lagerfeld were listed in his will, but those heirs are still in dark about what they'll receive and when, WWD reported.
But the tributes haven't stopped, even four years after his death. The theme for the 2023 Met Gala was "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty." The event, which took place on May 1, served as a tribute to the late designer. Lagerfeld was close friends with Vogue Editor-in-Chief and Met Gala Chairwoman Anna Wintour.
The hyper-exclusive gala drew an eclectic crowd of fashion insiders, designers, models, and celebrities who raised money for the museum and dressed in adherence to the theme. This year, that included everything from Chanel-inspired tweed to homages to Lagerfeld's signature black-and-white aesthetic.
