Fashion with Nik: Karl Lagerfeld: Fashion Icon

The German designer and creative director of Chanel has passed at the age of 85. Lagerfeld worked up until his death and will always be one of fashions most iconic figures. His signature ponytail, dark glasses, and all black apparel was envied and recognizable everywhere around the world. The House of Chanel has always been my favorite luxury and ready to wear brand since I was a little girl. Bruno Pavlovsky, President of Fashion at CHANEL, said: “Fashion show after fashion show, collection after collection, Karl Lagerfeld left his mark on the legend of Gabrielle Chanel and the history of the House of CHANEL. Karl's creativity, quick wit and style will always be remembered and never forgotten by everyone in the fashion industry.

Here is a timeline of Karls career, favorite quotes of mine, and photos of him along his journey with Chanel. Rest in Peace to a true fashion legend.

Timeline of Karl's fashion journey 1954-2019

1954

• Karl wins an award in the coats category at the International Wool Secretariat.

1955

•Lagerfeld is offered a job as Pierre Balmain's assistant, who quickly took his winning illustration to production.

1957

• Lagerfeld moves to work with French fashion designer Jean Patou, beginning to design two haute couture collections per year.

1958-1960

• A career break was much needed for Lagerfeld, who took two years away from Paris to spend mostly on beaches. He remarked, “I guess I studied life.”

1962

• Lagerfeld begins his freelance career by starting with the Italian couture brands Tiziani and Valentino.

1964

• Lagerfeld joined the French fashion house at Chloé as a freelancer. Karl worked with designer Evan Richards, which lead to him having one of his most famous clients being actress Elizabeth Taylor.

1965

• Lagerfeld joins Fendi as head designer for its ready-to-wear and fur collections.

1966

• After three years working alongside other designers at Chloé, Lagerfeld takes role as creative director for the brand.

1974

• Showing 200 looks, Lagerfeld’s Chloé show is said to have “set a new direction for the fashion world” in terms of the way he designed separates. Some looks included loose cardigans layered over V-necked pullovers and blouses with ruffled collars and sleeves.
• Lagerfeld is set to launch his first perfume under Chloé.

1977

• While Lagerfeld has become known at Chanel for his elaborate fashion show sets, he actually started the practice during his time at Chloé, most notably his “Fellini’s Casanova” show.

1983

• With the end of his contract, Lagerfeld leaves his role as creative director at Chloé. He signs on as the new couturier at Chanel.

1984

• Lagerfeld launches his namesake label, Karl Lagerfeld. He claimed it would be used to fashion “intellectual sexiness”.

1987

• Lagerfeld adds photographing to his list of job titles throughout his career. He was known for photographing his own campaigns for Fendi and Chanel. He also did photography for magazine editorials, such as Harper’s Bazaar and international versions of Vogue.

1988

• Partnering with Steilmann, Europe’s largest apparel manufacturing group, Lagerfeld creates KL by Karl Lagerfeld, a more affordable line than his namesake ready to wear brand

1992

• Lagerfeld rejoins Chloé for his second time designing for the brand.
• Dunhill Holdings PLC acquires the Karl Lagerfeld brand for a reported 16 million pounds, or $28.9 million.

1997

• Lagerfeld leaves Chloé.

1999

• Karl opens a book shop called 7L, in Paris. The store offers a large assortment of books on fashion, architecture and photography, among other topics.

2004

• In his first foray into the mass market, Lagerfeld teams up with H&M to create a collection of women’s and men’s clothing. The collection sells out immediately after launch.
• Tommy Hilfiger Corp. acquires the Karl Lagerfeld brand. The parent company has plans to grow the brand internationally.

2005

• Tommy Hilfiger Corp. shutters Lagerfeld’s contemporary label, returning the focus on the designer’s ready to wear collection.
• With its parent company, Lagerfeld launches K Karl Lagerfeld, his first denim line.

2008

• Lagerfeld’s name is added to Le Petit Larousse Illustré, France’s most iconic dictionary.

2010

• Lagerfeld receives the Couture Council Fashion Visionary Award from the Fashion Institute of Technology, a special honor which was created for him.

2012

• Lagerfeld teams with Carine Roitfeld on a traveling exhibition called “The Little Black Jacket” based on photographs taken by the designer of his favorite muses wearing Chanel’s famous jacket.
• Known for using the brand’s makeup for his fashion sketches, Lagerfeld teams with Shu Uemura for a holiday collection of color cosmetics.

2014

• The designer jumps back into the fragrance game, this time creating a line of women’s and men’s scents under Interparfums. Industry sources estimate the brand will earn $70 million in its first year.

2015

• For his namesake brand, Lagerfeld unveils his first kids’ collection, which includes 140 pieces.
• Lagerfeld received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the British Fashion Awards.
• The designer launches “The Karl Daily,” which is a satirical take on his sketches and photography and shows his brand’s latest collection. Some 150,000 copies are distributed in Europe and Japan.

2017

• The designer receives Paris’ highest honor: At the Chanel couture show.

• The house of Chanel shares its financial figures for the first time: £1.35 billion had been made the previous year.

2018

• Lagerfeld brings his namesake brand to SoHo with its first flagship.
• The designer teams with model Kaia Gerber for a capsule collection for the brand, which includes rtw, accessories, shoes and jewelry ranging from $35 to $1,045.

2019

• For the first time in his 54 years at Fendi, Lagerfeld designs a men’s look for the brand’s runway show.

My favorites of Karl

"Black and white always looks modern, whatever that word means."