Beyond Fashion: Lessons from Karl Lagerfeld's Multifaceted Career

Why being a 'Jack of All Trades' isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Apr 30, 2023

Tomorrow Monday, May 1st, the Met Gala honors the legacy of legendary fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who passed away in 2019. The theme, "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" pays tribute to his remarkable contributions to the fashion world and the impact he had on the industry.

Karl Lagerfeld is one of the most influential fashion designers of his time who transformed the industry with his larger-than-life artistic vision. However, his career was marked by several instances of criticism, including controversial comments he made about various subjects such as race, body image, and religion. While these comments should not be ignored or excused by any means, they should not negate the fact that Lagerfeld’s career was also marked by incredible versatility and fearlessness when it came to expressing his many talents.

Karl Lagerfeld was a multi-faceted and multi-talented individual, and he expressed his creativity in a variety of different fields beyond fashion. In addition to designing, he was also an incredible photographer, writer, interior designer, and art director. In this article, we will explore how his career can teach us important lessons about creativity, self-expression, and embracing our diverse talents.

The Designer

Over the course of Karl Lagerfeld’s career, he worked in many different roles within the fashion industry, including creative director of Fendi, Chloe, his eponymous brand, and most notably, Chanel. Lagerfeld’s innovative and daring designs played a significant role in revitalizing Chanel at a time when the brand was struggling to stay relevant in the rapidly changing fashion industry. His transformative vision for the brand helped to redefine Chanel's aesthetic and ethos, and it continued to shape and define the brand for decades to come.

Karl Lagerfeld reimagined the iconic Chanel silhouette, characterized by tweed jackets and quilted handbags, infusing it with a fresh and youthful spirit. He achieved this by introducing more boxy shoulders, cropped sleeves, and vibrant colors, resulting in a look that was both classic and contemporary. His innovative approach attracted a new generation of fashion-conscious consumers while staying true to Chanel's timeless elegance.

Karl Lagerfeld, being acutely aware of the need to remain relevant in a constantly evolving world, took deliberate steps to ensure that Chanel remained at the forefront of the fashion industry by embracing innovative technologies such as digital printing and 3D printing. He also collaborated with contemporary artists and musicians to create collections that were fresh and exciting. He consistently demonstrated an unflagging curiosity and openness to new ideas and trends which kept the brand at the very top.

His tenure at Chanel was marked by many iconic designs that continue to influence and inspire the fashion industry today. For example, who doesn’t know the Chanel 2.55 handbag or the popular tweed jacket? And how about the Little Black Dress? Not to mention his countless Chanel couture wedding dresses. The talent!

The Photographer

While Karl Lagerfeld was primarily known for his fashion designs, photography was a significant part of his artistic output and played an important role in his creative process. He once said, "Photography is part of my life. It completes the circle between my artistic and professional restlessness."

Karl Lagerfeld was an award-winning photographer who shot many of his own fashion campaigns and collaborated with high-profile publications such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and V Magazine. His portfolio includes the 2011 Pirelli calendar, campaigns for Dior Homme, and self-portraits, amongst others.

Lagerfeld’s campaigns were known for their iconic imagery and bold visuals, with some set against grand backdrops such as the Eiffel Tower or the Grand Palais. His photography work was characterized by its striking visuals and innovative approach to fashion photography. Lagerfeld’s lens captured some of fashion's greatest legends, including Naomi Campbell and Diane Kruger.

Karl Lagerfeld also exhibited his photography in galleries and museums around the world. In 2013, he held an exhibition of his photography titled "Fire Etchings" at the Galerie Gmurzynska in Switzerland. The exhibition featured a series of unique large-scale prints inspired by the textures and patterns of flames.

While fashion design was his primary artistic focus, photography was a significant part of his creative output and helped to further establish him as one of the most multi-talented and innovative figures in the world of fashion and the arts. His unique vision helped to redefine the world of fashion photography and continues to inspire and influence photographers around the world.

The Writer

Behind this international fashion designer and accomplished photographer was a man who was a great storyteller and prolific reader, with over 30,000 books in his private collection.

Karl Lagerfeld was a brilliant writer who published several books over the course of his life, including collections of his own photography, sketches, essays on fashion and culture, and even a children's book. His writing was often witty and insightful, reflecting his unique perspective of the world.

One of his most popular works was a 2011 book he published called "The Glory of Water" which is a book of photographs by Karl that showcases the beauty and majesty of fountains and water features from around the world. The book features color and black-and-white images of fountains, from the grand public fountains of Rome and Paris to the intricate water features found in private gardens and estates. Karl was drawn to the unique beauty and symbolism of fountains, and the book is a celebration of their power and magnificence.

Another popular book was a 2012 book he released called "The Little Black Jacket: Chanel's Classic Revisited" which was inspired by the classic Chanel jacket and featured portraits of celebrities wearing the iconic piece.

His love for literature was a testament to his insatiable thirst for knowledge, learning, and cultural awareness that set him apart from his contemporaries.

The Interior Designer

Yes, Karl Lagerfeld was also involved in the world of interior design, and he created a number of high-profile interior spaces over the course of his career.

He was particularly known for his work designing numerous luxury hotels, including interiors of the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Switzerland and the pool redesign in the Hotel Metropole in Monaco. He also lent his vision to the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, the Grand Lisboa Palace in Macau, and the Estates at Acqualina, where his signature modern and sophisticated aesthetic shone through.

In 2016, he debuted an international hospitality brand called “Karl Lagerfeld Hotels & Resorts” which includes luxury hotels, residential buildings, and private clubs. And just in time for the Met Gala, the stunning five-star Karl Lagerfeld Macau Hotel is set to open later this year!

His interior design work can be found in places like Paris, Macau, Miami, Berlin, Taiwan, Monte-Carlo, Singapore, Toronto, and more.

The Visual Artist

And that’s not all.

Karl Lagerfeld was also known for his ability to fuse his passions for art and fashion, as he often incorporated elements of his artwork into his fashion designs. His artwork included a variety of different mediums, such as paintings, drawings, sculptures, and mixed media. He was well-known for his large-scale installations.

One particularly memorable example is his Spring/Summer 2014 Chanel runway show, which was presented at Paris Fashion Week. This collection incorporated elements of classic art styles like Cubism and Surrealism.

Karl designed 75 pieces of oversized art that lined the runway at the Grand Palais, making the runway show look like an enormous art gallery, complete with walls covered in paintings and sculptures. All of the custom-made artworks referenced the codes of Chanel’s fashion house— a quilted sumo wrestler, a robot made from bottles of 'Chanel No 5', and ladders made from the chain used on the signature 2.55 bags (some images shown).

However, Karl Lagerfeld's artistic talent was not limited to his work for Chanel. He was also involved in a number of other artistic projects throughout his career, including collaborations with contemporary artists and designers. He worked on a number of projects with the Italian furniture brand Cassina, designing furniture pieces and installations that blended his signature style with Cassina's modern aesthetic.

In 2008 he collaborated with architect Zaha Hadid to release the “Mobile Art Container”, a handbag-inspired, portable pavilion that was built to house 20 artists’ works to mark the 50th anniversary of the release of Coco Chanel’s black-and-white, quilt-stitched bag.

Overall, his ability to fuse his own art and fashion was a hallmark of his creative vision.

Karl Lagerfeld’s ability to embrace and express all facets of his creative self played a key role in his becoming one of the most innovative and dynamic figures in the fashion world and beyond. By never limiting himself and saying yes to all parts of his multifaceted personality, he was able to leave an indelible mark on the fashion industry.

His legacy continues to inspire and influence designers and creatives around the world, reminding us all of the importance of embracing and expressing our own unique talents and interests.

Jack of all trades, master of none? In this case, we can debunk that phrase. More like Karl of all trades, master of all!

How do you perceive the wisdom encapsulated in the phrase, "Jack of all trades, master of none"? Does it resonate with your experiences or challenge your beliefs?