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Karl Lagerfeld, seen at the Chanel SS93 parade, died on February 19, 2019
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L Tuesday, February 19, 2019, will be inscribed in history the day the world has lost one of the greatest designers of the 20th and 21st centuries. But again, Karl Lagerfeld has never seen himself as being entirely of this world. "I do not want to be real in the lives of others," he said in the 2007 documentary Lagerfeld Confidential . "I want to be like an apparition, it appears and then disappears." capabilities. During her lesser known years of Chloe, Lagerfeld cemented the bohemian aesthetic for which the brand is now known. At Fendi, where he served as creative director for more than five decades, he transformed the staid furrier into a luxury ready-to-wear brand – now designing his indelible "Double F" (Fun Fur) ). But he will forever immortalize himself as a man who reinjected modernity and flair into Chanel, where he was creative director from 1983 and who had dissipated over the 12 years that followed the death of its founder.
Legendary, visionary, iconic, prolific … It is impossible to find a word in the four languages (English, French, German and Italian), of which Lagerfeld speaks, which perfectly summarizes its impact on the world of fashion and beyond. of the. Vogue asks some of his closest friends and collaborators to share their memories.
Claudia Schiffer
One of the original muses of Lagerfeld, the supermodel and German actress closed many of Chanel's shows in the 1990s and remained a staunch supporter of the designer all his life.
Claudia Schiffer with Karl in Paris in 1993 [19659002] Getty Images
"Personified creativity, Karl's support has turned a shy German teenager into a supermodel. As intuitive as it was innovative, his advice, his spirit and his inexhaustible energy were both contagious and inspiring. For his muse, he was my mentor, a deeply cultivated, kind and charismatic man, with an extraordinary mind and an unparalleled vision. I will miss him terribly.
Baz Luhrmann
The director worked with Lagerfeld on a Chanel number 5 campaign starring award-winning actress Oscar Kidman.
"Over the last 20 years, my costume- Catherine Martin and his wife, production designer, knew Karl as a creative collaborator and, more importantly, as a friend. Every moment spent with him was seductive, majestic, funny and insightful. We had the feeling of being out of the world, in the best possible way, with formal dinners where exotic guests came and went and disappeared, and even if Karl held your attention, it sometimes seemed that he held a court one, two, three different tables, at four different places. Yet behind the magic arras, there was always an artist and an extremely hardworking craftsman.
"More than 15 years ago, we collaborated with Chanel to rethink the campaign to create its signature fragrance No. 5 with Nicole Kidman. Now, the attraction of this project was largely based on the fact that we were going to work with the legendary Karl Lagerfeld. During our first meetings, we presented Karl with some visual references that allowed him to make the costumes for the film, in particular a large and extraordinary pink couture dress, extremely difficult to insert in a taxi, but nevertheless surprising to the touch. his way to Times Square. The meetings with Karl, the dinners with Karl, watching him improvising a speech at the UN were easy, enjoyable. It was harder to ask Karl to deliver the sketches, especially this essential pink dress.
"So I followed him around the world until I finally trapped him at the Mercer Hotel in New York, where we sat together. I said to Karl, "We really need the dress, because we have to make three. One for the film, one for the waterfalls, and one in case it's crying. He looked at me and said, "Oh, three years? It's a lot of dresses … "He pulled out a towel and drew it perfectly on the napkin. The voluminous layers of ostrich feathers and chiffon, the shape of the bodice, & c. And he goes, "Hmm, I think it's perfect." He took the napkin, put it in his pocket and so I knew the construction would begin, I'm happy to say that after the shoot From the movie, he came in and drew a beautiful gouache in his famous style of illustration, which he gave copy to Nicole and I.
"This is Karl, the eternal improviser : At the present moment, his synapses are alive, entertaining, always in the background, thinking, planning and plotting.Boy, he will be missed.Karl has learned that he is just as important not to look back when your creation was a success, but not when.He was moving relentlessly and hated nostalgia.He scorned to call a genius and a legend while alive, he always believed that the best was always in front of him. "
Karlie Kloss
The model, entrepreneur and founder of Kode With Klossy walked for Chanel and Fendi., and was photographed by Lagerfeld several times.
Spring / Summer 2012 Chanel Haute Couture
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"The only thing that inspired more than Karl's vision, talent and creativity was his heart. He was one of the first designers with whom I worked in Paris, and this first collaboration – and every time we've worked together since – shaped my perspective of the fashion industry . He showed me that fashion is not limited to what we perceive. At its best, fashion is an expression of art and creativity, hard work and pbadion. I think Karl had a more irreverent mind than anyone I had ever met and he was always the first to embrace the future. I remember the first release of the iPhone and its first person I know. He always had a way to another world to keep his thumb on the pulse, not afraid to kiss the new, sharing his vision of the future and leading us there. His work ethic, pbadion, dedication and unparalleled love for his job are essential life lessons in themselves. Karl was a legend – a true artist, and although his loss was profound, so was his work, and we can all be grateful for it. "
Kris Jenner
Kardashian television personality, author and" momager "Jenner has been a prominent player in the Lagerfeld parade for years, especially when his daughter Kendall was on the track.
The Matriarch the Kardashian family, Kris Jenner, takes a selfie with Karl in New York in 2015
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"The first time I met Karl, was when his daughter Kim was photographed by him in Paris and I accompanied him. When I saw the call sheet for the photo shoot, I was so excited. Karl was filming Kim and Riccardo Tisci was doing the art direction. I said to Kim, "Have you seen that? It's wild! 'And I went there and I immediately repacked my suitcase with all my vintage Chanel. When we arrived, we were in Kanye's apartment in Paris. I was getting ready for the shoot but Kim said it was really embarrbading because I was dressed from head to toe in the vintage Chanel. I wore boots, chains, earrings – all the 80s of Chanel. But when we arrived on the set, Karl was delighted. He told me how much he loved what I wore. But then he said "wait!" And went to the next room. When he returned, he was carrying a black and white Lego bag that had just run down the runway. He said, "That's what you need to complete your look!" Kim was really grumpy – she did not expect him to be so happy with my outfit. But then, Karl told me that the fit of my Chanel gloves was not quite right. He said, "Honey, I'll do it to you!" And he did it! He made me fingerless gloves of all colors. A few years later, while Kendall was walking around in his shows all the time, he said to him, "Please, give it to your mother" and send me some presents. He always supported it and he always remembered me. He was the kindest and most generous man. "
Joan Smalls
The American supermodel participated in her first solo campaign for Chanel's 2015 Cruise collection and has appeared on several occasions in Lagerfeld's creations.
Joan Smalls in a 2012 Fendi advertising campaign taken by Karl
with the kind permission of Fendi
"He really demonstrated what dedication and love to your craft looked like. His wit and sense of arid humor have always seduced me, and the few times he took off his iconic hues, you could see his sweet soul inspiring and redefining what fashion should be. He challenged the norm with his extraordinary creativity that will live forever. I am so lucky and honored to have worked alongside a fashion genius who has given me the opportunity to be part of something big. "
Diane Kruger
Longtime muse and friend of Lagerfeld, the German-American actress often dressed by the designer for her appearances on the red carpet and a regular at FROW haute couture Chanel
] Diane Kruger, actress and muse of Chanel, with Karl Lagerfeld
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plane from Paris to Hong Kong Everyone was asleep, but we stood talking for 13 hours on his childhood and his education.I noticed that he was holding a very old embroidered travel cushion.His mother had given it to him as a child and he never traveled without.We always spoke German to each other. Even when his entourage woke up in the morning, before landing, we were in our little world.I remember that he finally got up to go to the bathroom and that the white powder that he was using was for his hair had left a stain on the o seat he was sitting I do not know why, but I & # 39;. Always think about it. Wherever he went, he left a mark. He was larger than life. "
Karen Elson
As a young model, Elson found a friend in Lagerfeld who embodied her as Chanel's face and nicknamed it a beauty for the new millennium. [19659040] Karen Elson with Karl in New York in 1997
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"I remember meeting Karl at the age of 18. I entered his wonderful studio, with books piled up and Karl sitting at a large oval table, sketching ideas furiously and speaking in German, then in French, and then in English, I remember his fierce intelligence and his spirit, he was instantly so tender and protective of me. I said that I looked like silent movie actress Louise Brooks and that I was dreaming about my alabaster skin.There was such a myth behind Karl.Outside, he seemed unattainable – hidden behind a fan and his dark glbades – but personally, his warmth and his generosity was so sincere.
"I kept walking and closing the illustrious Chanel show. I was young and I had only a meager bank account, even though Topshop was not very complicated, Karl then let me into Chanel's store of the rue Cambon and told me to get everything I wanted. I felt like Cinderella was dressed for the ball. I've had so many beautiful sets of twins, bags, cashmere, dresses and coats. I always have most of them and the feeling that I have for that moment still persists with me. Rags to riches at least in appearances! I lived in an apartment belonging to a so-called "slum lord" in Chelsea, New York, and every day I wandered outside my sullen home dressed in Chanel. I'm sure it was funny to see. Karl educated me, he taught me the photographic techniques he used, he gave me books about artists I had never heard of, he told me about the great legends of the fashion. Between Karl and Amanda Harlech, I learned so much about fashion and the great allegiances hidden behind the scenes.
"Over the years, I shot with Karl for many Chanel magazines and campaigns. Sometimes we could spend a few years without seeing each other, and as fashion evolved and waned, every time I saw Karl, we sat there talking as if nothing had happened, and that's what I'll miss most . These tender moments, not his unusual statements, or the myth he has portrayed, will be missed by the man who just wanted to talk about what inspired him and dreamed all day of pop culture. I will miss his gentleness and generosity, as well as the legacy of elegance and daring that he brought to fashion. "
Suzy Menkes
" Fashion is the question of change – and I love change, "Lagerfeld told Menkes an interview in 2018. The two men were friends during a much of their career.
Vogue International writer Suzy Menkes with designer behind the scenes at Fendi's SS09 parade
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"My favorite memory of Karl was when he was organizing a party in his Parisian house on the left bank in honor of Gianni Versace, who became the new darling of fashion in the early 1990s. It was the wrong way for Karl to drown the competition with kindness, and with each platter of champagne, every plate of caviar on a toast, every arrival of another fashion guru, the flamboyant Gianni, seemed to falter. Like a cat – even if Karl did not go crazy for a cat at that time. Gianni went away hiding behind a tiny band of Italian friends, while Karl stood at the top of the stairs, meeting and greeting triumphantly. It's called stealing the show.
"Karl devoured books like most of us, fashion people, devour dark chocolate. He talked about books, he sent me – and asked for my answer. Like his photographs, when each image seemed to tell a deep and mysterious story, the books were stories expressed with words, not images. He kept books at home, batteries. And the last time I talked to read with him last year, he said that he had opened his house with glbad partitions, rather than the original walls. But how to find a book that he liked? "Life is too short," said Karl. "I just bought another one."
Natalia Vodianova
Russian supermodel and philanthropist Vodianova collaborated with the designer on several occasions, including at an Alice in Wonderland theme shoot for American Vogue in 2003 , photographed by Annie Leibovitz and styled by Grace Coddington.
The supermodel Natalia Vodianova with Karl in London in 2007
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"Karl was one of the people who strengthened my confidence in my own instincts. He said: "Do not doubt your instinct, they are your only impartial advisers." Shooting on Alice in Wonderland has been a very fun experience. Grace wanted Karl to be the duchess, but Karl would not have it. He wanted to be himself and not a character in the book. In the end, Grace told him that it would be just Karl, but slipped a baby piglet into my hands. I'm sure Karl really knew what was happening because he must have read Alice in Wonderland. He had only pretended to take himself seriously, but Grace and I had the impression that we were two girls who came out with a little silly thing. He was larger than life, but a nice giant at the end. Karl, you were a silent force of love and support for so many people, including me. I am so grateful for everything you did for me. "
Lara Stone
The Dutch model is a fixture on the Chanel track since her memorable debut in 2006.
Karl on the Chanel SS10 track including models Lara Stone
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"The first time I worked with Karl, I came across his fashion show. I was mortified and as I got up, I remember thinking it was like that, you had it blown up. He will never work with you again. Fortunately, Karl was more tolerant and I had the chance to work on many projects with him over the years.
Milla Jovovich
The actress, model and musician directed campaigns for Chanel and walked for Fendi – a product of her friendship for two decades with the designer.
"If you were at the Fendi show, you knew you had arrived. And I was there. I looked around me during my editing and saw some of the most famous and beautiful faces of the industry at the time. At that time, I had met Karl Lagerfeld several times during my career, but I had never worked with him officially. I knew it would be one of the most exciting moments of my life. And that was. During the rehearsal we had a lot of direction from the organizers. They even put huge billboards: no laying, no twirling, no dancing, no stopping. And most importantly, the producers said, looking at us all sternly: "NO INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC!"
"Well, my heart sank. I mean, why would they hire me for this show if all they wanted was that we were walking on this complex track like zombies? The track was arranged to face the public, sometimes on the right, sometimes on the left, in a big circle. And since we were walking almost at ground level, we could not wait to meet top people I knew. And no dance? I mean, who can stop dancing a bit when you look so fabulous and the music is so good? I finished the rehearsal with a big heart like a good little mannequin.
"The time was finally here and Karl personally checked the final look of each girl. When he approached me and started giving directions to the stylists about my outfit, he noticed that I was not as cheerful as usual and he asked me what was going on. I was so happy that someone cares about my list of complaints. "Oh Karl! They said we could not do anything! No dancing, no whirling! We can not even talk to the public! I mean, it's so … boring! He stopped working and looked at me from beneath his dark glbades. I have frozen. Had I gone too far? I mean it was his show. Then he laughed. Milla darling. The rules do not apply to you. And he pbaded to the next girl.
"When I went out, I stopped, I shot, I danced, and I had a great time. The girl behind me did not stop whistling: "Move!" Because I would make those sudden stops to say hello to someone and that she would almost come into me. But I had Karl's blessing. After I went backstage, blushing at my incredible success on the track, there was a silence. Everyone was watching me with horror. I was a loose cannon. Totally out of control. I had ruined everything! Needless to say, I've never done another track season after that. People were terrified of me.
"A few months later, I booked my first Chanel campaign. Shot by Karl Lagerfeld. In his mansion in the heart of Paris. From there, I collaborated with Karl on many other campaigns and art projects. It's become a friendship of 20 years. Karl loved lost guns. He loved creative and pbadionate people. He particularly liked those who did not follow the rules. Not surprisingly, because it was all of it himself.
Soo Joo Park
Born in South Korea and raised in California, the model and DJ considered Lagerfeld as one of his most fervent supporters of the fashion industry. She played in Chanel's campaigns, participated in their shows and even appeared on the Chanel podcast at 3.5 pm 25.
Soo Joo Park parade with Karl's podium at the Chanel Cruise show in Korea in 2015
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"Karl's always encouraged me to be expressive and creative. I will never forget when I first sent my drawing to him six years ago and, a few months later, during a shoot, he took it out of his diary where he kept it. He said I had talent – which, of Mr. Lagerfeld, could be the biggest compliment – and told me to do more. Every season, I drew for him, as love and gratitude. What can I give to a man who has everything? I was amazed that he bestowed on a girl like me any time or recognition, and that showed me how much he was a generous and lively man. His energy, charisma and intelligence were unparalleled from beginning to end. He and Chanel's house have changed my life and I am always grateful. I will miss him terribly. I will love, respect and remember him for all eternity. My deepest and most sincere love for you and my Chanel family. "
