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The Indiana Daily Student

arts

COLUMN: Karl Lagerfeld was one the most inventive designers of his era

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German fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld will stand as one of the most inventive designers of the 21st century who set the standard of modern luxury fashion. Lagerfeld’s death at the age of 85 was announced by Chanel on Tuesday in Paris. 

Lagerfeld, born in 1933, left Paris as a teenager and in 1954 entered a fashion competition called the International Wool Secretariat, winning the coat category. Another young designer by the name of Yves Saint Laurent won the dress category the same year. 

After this accomplishment, Lagerfeld was hired at the couture house of Pierre Balmain until he left for Jean Patou in 1958. The Fendi family then brought in Lagerfeld in the late 1960s to transform the brand into a hip name in the fashion world, where he served as creative director starting in 1965 until his death. He also was Chanel’s creative director, a job he started in 1983. 

Lagerfeld was known for his stand-out style, complete with dark glasses, a white ponytail, starched collars and his fingerless gloves that achieved global fame. Even if someone does not know him by name, everyone has seen the famous gloves and serious look. 

Lagerfeld was a genius whose legacy in the fashion world was not creating a new silhouette, but reinventing pre-existing looks and adding elements of pop culture into it. Lagerfeld was able to capture the beauty of form and translate its fundamental characteristics into a reflection of the modern world. 

As a fashion design student, I am inspired by Lagerfeld's passion and matter-of-fact personality. He said in the past his one fear was being bored, which is something I fear as well. However, the fear of being bored creates opportunity for creativity and productivity. 

Watching interviews with Lagerfeld, I could see his train of thought constantly changing and redirecting, creating inspirational, interesting conversation. Lagerfeld said he credits his mother with his forward manner of speech and vast conversation. 

Toward the end of his career, Lagerfeld was questioned by media outlets about when he would retire. The designer had a lifetime contract with Fendi and Chanel, and he said if he ever stopped designing he might as well stop breathing. To me, this further speaks to the creative drive that propelled Lagerfeld to the top of the industry. 

The fashion industry has lost the creative director of Chanel and Fendi that has dominated the industry for decades. The genius behind the runway curtains brought us art, life and honesty. Just as he reshaped garments of the past, his greatness will continue to be reinvented and altered. 

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