Cover Photo Courtesy of Olivier Saillant
It was just this year that the great Karl Lagerfeld passed away, leaving behind a legacy of fashion, art and luxury. And so, on the 20th of June, the Houses of CHANEL, Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld joined hands to pay tribute to the late designer and artistic director. The event was designed, directed and staged by Robert Carsen and celebrated the many facets of Lagerfeld himself through a series of videos filmed throughout his life. Testimonials from people who knew him, “live” contributions of highly talented actors, musicians, dancers who interpreted some of the music and literature Karl loved so much were all part of the celebration.
To top it all off, actresses Tilda Swinton, Fanny Ardant, Cara Delevingne and Helen Mirren, friends of Karl Lagerfeld, read excerpts from works by his favorite authors – such as Virginia Woolf, Stéphane Mallarmé, Colette and Edith Sitwell – while a series of artists paid homage to Lagerfeld, who was both an inspiring figure and a friend. That said, these artists – from the likes of Charlie Siem to the likes of Pharell Williams – alongside 2500 invited guests, witnessed a spectacular exhibition of 56 giant enlargements of portraits taken throughout Lagerfeld’s life by some of the most famous photographers, in a setting designed by Robert Carsen. The setting, inspired by Karl’s favorite colors – black and white – was enhanced with a touch of red. Truly a memorable night that could only be described as the celebration of Karl Lagerfeld’s influence on both the Fashion and Art scenes.
