Thursday, November 29, 2007

Throwback: King Karl


[Photo Credit: Numero.com]

There's a reason why Karl Lagerfeld is the designer of Chanel (along with Fendi and his own collection). There's a reason why everyone is willing to spend tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands for his cells and creative juice to be on the fibers of their dresses, bags, etc.

He. understands. Everything.

I was roaming and I found that the Numero 10's cover of Karl (taken by him!) says so much with so little. His posture, the curling of the fingers, the arch of the feet, the fluidity of his body as though he's lighter than air and blown eastward. The crown pendant, the high neck, the cheekbone, etc. So much details!, but the black and white brings it all back: the simplicity. When you look at Chanel, Fendi, & Karl L. collections, many times at first look, if you're not used to him, you kind of get taken aback and wonder what just happened. But as the days continues, maybe weeks or months and you look at the collection more and more, followed by the editorials, you start noticing the greatness that is Karl.

CHANEL SPRING 2008

[Rest of the collection: Chanel Spring 2008 ]
[Photo credit: Style.com

Honestly! Chanel Spring 2008, first look: what is going on? It may be because I'm more used to the traditional Grace Kelly & Audrey Hepburn glamour poofy-dress style that Oscar De La Renta and Valentino gives. But then I remember what Chanel stood for, adrogyny and that ambiguity of sportwear (not to the extrem of Hedi Slimane's Dior Homme) because she believed that women can be strong like men too. Reminded of what Chanel stood for helps me understand the Chanel collection better. As time went by, I could see the desire for it, the environment it could be placed in, the people that would wear it (aside from Chinese millionaire women, and some men probably). He creates structure and pieces that are foreign to the mind, possibly new so of course with the first reaction, you retract, you don't really have a good taste for it. But then a desire builds, and then he presents you the whole image and you lust afterward. And that whole process, that understanding, that desire at the end, all of these things, that's Karl.


What am I trying to say? The Numero Homme 10(top picture)'s cover is the epitome of Karl Lagerfeld.

Explore: Chanel Spring 2008 | Fendi Spring 2008 | Karl Lagerfeld 2008

2 comments:

Unknown said...

karl lagerfeld got nothin on you ;P
genius.. just genius.

underneath said...

I think what he did to jeans in this collection was great!