KARL LAGERFELD
In
addition to his own label, fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has been a major
creative force behind such well-known brands as Tommy Hilfiger, Chanel, and
Fendi.
One of the most acclaimed
fashion designers in the world, Karl Lagerfeld was born in Hamburg, Germany.
While he's never revealed his true birthday, it's been reported he was born
September 10, 1933. Known for his bold designs and constant reinvention, he's
been hailed Vogue magazine as the "unparalleled interpreter of the mood of
the moment."
Career Beginnings
Sensing his future
lay elsewhere, 14-year-old Lagerfeld made the bold decision, with the blessing
of his parents, to move to Paris. He'd been there just two years when he
submitted a series of sketches and fabric samples to a design competition. He
ended up taking first place in the coat category and meeting another winner,
Yves Saint Laurent, who would become a close friend.
Soon, Lagerfeld had
full time work with French designer Pierre Balmain, first as a junior
assistant, and later as an apprentice. It was a demanding position, and the
young designer remained in it for three years. He took work as a creative
director with another fashion house before finally, in 1961, striking out on
his own.
Good work soon
followed, with Lagerfeld designing collections for Chloe, Fendi (where he was
brought on to oversee the company's fur line) and others. Lagerfeld became
known in the fashion industry for his innovative, in-the-moment styles. But
Lagerfeld also had an appreciation for the past, and he often shoped in flea
markets, finding ld wedding dresses to deconstruct.
By the 1980s, Karl
Lagerfeld was a major star in the fashion world. He was a favorite among the
press, who loved to chronicle his changing tastes and social life. Lagerfeld
kept company with other major stars, including his good friend Andy Warhol.
While he's developed
a sort of hired gun reputation for jumping from one label to the next, he's also
put together a track record of success that few designers can match. At Chanel
in the early 1980s he did what few thought possible: He returned what was
perceived to be a near-dead brand back to life with a revamped popular
ready-to-wear lineup.
In recent years,
Lagerfeld, whose work has crossed over into film and photography, has continued
to maintain a busy schedule. In 2011 he designed a line of glassware for the
Swedish company Orrefors. That same year, he signed on to create a new clothing
collection for Macy's.
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