Karl Lagerfeld’s Shanghai Surprise Chanel Show

By Kendra Gilbert on December 7th, 2009

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Karl Lagerfeld is out to conquer the fashion world one continent at a time. It’s safe to say he reigns over Europe as head of Chanel, and is, at least, a high-ranking fashion general in North America too. Now he’s invading Asia. Again. In 2007, as creative director of Fendi, Lagerfeld staged a runway show for the Italian fashion label on the Great Wall of China. Now his pre-Fall 2010 collection for Chanel, held recently in Shanghai, proves that he is well on his way to conquering Asia for good.

What Karl Lagerfeld does is truly remarkable. Beyond genius. He’s the head of two major fashion labels (Chanel and Fendi), as well as of his own eponymous label. This means that with in-between collections, like resort and pre-fall, becoming a bigger part of the business, Lagerfeld is designing eight to ten individual collections each year. How one man’s brain can come up with so many unique creations each year? It is unfathomable.

His latest collection for Chanel is a bit like ladies-who-lunch meets Eastern exoticism. At the show in Shanghai there were classic tweed suits done in sleek navy and black with Mandarin collars as well as quilted black patent coats and gorgeous gowns in sheer black silk and fiery red, some with floral embroidery too. There were also over-the-knee boots in bright red. And, oh, the long tassel earrings!

Chanel’s signature pieces worked in perfect harmony with the Chinese influences. Karl Lagerfeld is good like that, letting his influences take the stage, but never turning his back on the Chanel foundation. One doesn’t over shadow the other and you can still instantly tell you are looking at Chanel.

All of this from a 76-year-old man. How does he know exactly what women want? Over, and, over, and over? Here’s to more Chanel, Fendi, and Karl Lagerfeld for years to come!