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Lagerfeld Gallery: A Lesson from the Master
By: Godfrey Deeny
Photo by Gruber-FWD
Mar 11, 2002/ FWD/ --- Karl Lagerfeld has a strict rule of not inviting other designers
to see his collections, which is perfectly understandable, since he has been the source of
so many great fashion ideas for so long.
But it is a pity, because seeing one of Karl's shows would help young designers more than
a year at most fashion schools.
The Lagerfeld Gallery fall 2002 collection presented Friday in Paris contained a multitude
of brilliant lessons about cut, line and attitude from the master, lessons that even some of
those established, billion-dollar designers could use.
Halfway through his signature collection, surely the best since he retook control of it,
Karl sent out a dozen or so little black dresses and suits, mostly in satin, which were a
style tutorial in the use of darts, placement of zippers and construction.
All of them looked great, as did a series of long, impeccable German expressionist coats
with scalloped necklines.
A squadron of Parisian gamines opened the proceedings in paneled jeans and high-collar
dresses paired with off-the-shoulder, fire-engine-red fur jackets.
Karls' models had the air of posh sorceresses, aided by the glass baubles and chains
dangling from their waists and sleeves, and the artfully prepared hair extensions of
Odile Gilbert.
They looked tough and sexy in multi-buckled knee boots and semi-transparent tulle dresses,
but never vulgar, and always perfectly presentable to the family -- but also to a sizzling
hot rock star.
A white-haired and slimmed-down Lagerfeld took his bow as the neon letters of his new
intertwined logo alternated between different colors.
"I thought it was very cool, very sophisticated, very elegant," Mick Jagger told FWD as
the champagne poured backstage.
Does the Rolling Stone himself wear Lagerfeld? "I often do, though oops, not today," smiled
Jagger, attired in a navy cashmere jacket, black cargo pants and sneakers.
Lagerfeld and Jagger are great friends -- Karl, who is also a passionate photographer,
shot the cover of Mick's latest album.
Largerfeld Gallery
Largerfeld Gallery
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