01 The legend of the three years after his death remains
These are his exclusive marks
Although It has been three years since Galeries Lafayette's death, the news about him has never stopped.
Just today, a collectible bearbrick figurine created by Lafayette and his best friend Sébastien Jondeau (which is based on the image of Galeries Lafayette in his later years) is on sale at the flagship store of St-Germain in Paris.
The collectible statue, called "Caesar", will be produced in limited editions in 1999 pieces, says Sébastien Jondeau: "It's not just a doll, it's a work of art." It was also the last collaborative project approved by Lafayette before his death.
"Caesar"
Sébastien Jondeau, who worked with Galeries Lafayette on the project, was also appointed product consultant for his eponymous brand Karl Lagerfeld after his death, and Jondeau published a memoir about Galeries Lafayette, "How Are You, Dear Karl (Ça va, Cher Karl?"), co-authored with French journalist Virginie Mouzat.
Sebastien Jondeau
On December 13, 2021, in Paris, France, Sotheby's exhibited the personal collection of the legendary Galeries Lafayette. More than 1,000 of the collections, once housed in Galeries Lafayette's residences in France and Monaco, will be auctioned. These include: Jeff Koons' sculpture Dom Pérignon Balloon Venus, estimated at €20,000 to €30,000; Takashi Murakami's 2014 portrait of Karl Lagerfeld, estimated at €80,000 to €120,000; and a ceramic and woven piece by Joana Vasconcelos called Choupette, karl The name of Lagerfeld's beloved pet cat, estimated at 5,000 to 7,000 euros.
These collections with the trajectory of Lafayette's life are like his soul sustenance, each of which is exquisite and unique.
Not only that, but just two months ago, the THE KARL LAGERFELD officially opened in Macau. The hotel is located at the Integrated Resort Of Lisboa in Macau, with interior design by Galeries Lafayette himself. As early as the project was just released a few years ago, it was unanimously expected by the hotel controllers.
Galeries Lafayette designed many hotels in Paris, Morocco, Singapore and other places. The KARL LAGERFELD is the world's first and only hotel building designed entirely by Galeries Lafayette.
Galeries Lafayette poured more than five years of effort into completing the design and validating every detail of the hotel building before leaving. The hotel is full of Lafayette's unique fashion style, combining the classical atmosphere with Chinese style elements, and the perfect interweaving of fashion and classicism.
Even more impressive is the details of the Expo Court in the hotel lobby, which displays more than 4,000 carefully selected books by Galeries Lafayette's bookstore, inspired by the design of the library in his private mansion in Paris. These treasures not only have a cultural atmosphere, but also carry the label of Lafayette.
Expo Court
The private library of The Galeries Lafayette's Paris mansion
In addition to the auction of the collection and the opening of the hotel, the story of The Pet Cat Choupette, the love of Lafayette's life, is also very exciting.
Since The Galeries Lafayette died in 2019, he himself has mentioned in his will to leave most of his inheritance to the one that "if you can marry a cat, you will marry it." "Love pet Choupette. This cat with a private jet and an exclusive maid is undoubtedly the most wealthy pet in the world.
There has been speculation about how much of Lafayette's inheritance is, but it is worth mentioning that in French law, there is no provision for inheriting the inheritance to pets. "A law does not allow it" has made Lafayette's huge inheritance a topic of discussion.
Whether it is the cat-loving housekeeper who inherits on behalf of him, or someone else, the accountant who has worked with Lafayette for decades said: Lafayette once made a secret medical order, of which there are 7 heirs to the estate.
These 7 people are all the most closely related to Lafayette before his death.
1. The French model who gave Miss Shupert to Galeries Lafayette, Baptiste Giabiconi.
2. Because nude photos attracted Galeries Lafayette's model, Brad Kroenig
3. Also The godson of Lafayette, Hudson Kroenig
4. Galeries Lafayette's favorite British model, Jake Davies
5. A bodyguard and driver who worked for Galeries Lafayette for 20 years, Sebastien Jondeau.
6. Caroline Lebar, who worked for Galeries Lafayette for over 30 years, helping him with public relations
7. Miss Shupert's nanny, the cat butler Miss Cact.
Galeries Lafayette and the love cat Choupette
Three years after Lafayette's departure, the question of inheritance remained a mystery. People concerned have spoken out: Don't let the masters of art and fashion be discussed because of worldly issues.
In fact, than Lafayette's legacy, his works and ideas are more valuable than Lafayette's legacy. It is precisely because of his unparalleled talent that his deceased successor is under pressure.
Vigne Viade had been a close companion of Lafayette before, and she was born in the Silk House, which was fascinated by the family culture, and she was greatly promoted in the years she worked with Lafayette. In the chanel show in the past two years, Virginie Viad also handed in a good answer.
Chanel Spring/Summer 2022
02 Half a century classic
The titan of the fashion world
Classics are hard to surpass is by no means a rhetorical one, and at Paris Fashion Week in March 2019, Chanel's Fall/Winter 2019 collection was Lafayette's last work. The show is themed around snow, and the ice and snowflakes on the invitation create a Chanel world of ice.
Chanel 2019 Autumn/Winter Show Invitation
The Grand Palais de Paris has transformed into a snow-capped countryside with rime, snow and ski equipment. The Chanels of the Galeries Lafayette era never lacked new elements, starting with the classic black-and-white check coat at the beginning, followed by bright blue, pink and red, and finally with a white rose waiting to bloom. Under a quiet snowy landscape, this is Lafayette's dying work, and chanel's endless thoughts about him.
Chanel Fall/Winter 2019
In 2019, Galeries Lafayette completed the curtain call in Chanel, back in 1983, when everyone told him not to take over Chanel, but the stubborn Galeries Lafayette still decided to dedicate himself to Chanel. At that time, he came to Chanel's first couture fashion show:
Galeries Lafayette perfectly distilled the elegant essence of Coco Chanel to retain loyal guests. It also injects sports and rock elements into a moderate way to attract young people. And the haute couture exquisite craftsmanship is carried forward, and the button workshop Desrues, feather jewelry workshop Lemarié, embroidery workshop Lesage, shoe factory Massaro, hat maker Michel, gold and silver jewelry goossens and floral workshop Guillet are also included.
Chanel's Fall/Winter 1985 collection
From 1983 to 2019, the legend about Lafayette was much more than 36 years.
Karl was born in September 1938 in Hamburg, Germany. His father was a merchant selling condensed milk, his mother was a lingerie salesman, and the family later moved to Paris. He once said, "When I was four years old, I told my mom that the birthday present I wanted was a clothes rack."
Later, KarlJin became a master of designing 8 series for Chanel every year, including early spring vacation, spring/summer ready-to-wear, spring/summer haute couture, early fall collection, autumn/winter ready-to-wear, autumn/winter teaser series, autumn and winter haute couture, haute couture series, 5 collections for Fendi, and design for his own brand.
In 1954, Carl won the Woolmark Coat Category at the Woolmark Awards held by the Wool Bureau's International Wool Secretariat and began to emerge.
1955 The following year Karl was favored by designer Pierre Balmain as a fledgling young designer, recruited as an assistant, and studied under his brand.
In 1958, he left Balmain to work as a Jean Patou designer, beginning a two-season year of haute couture design, leaving five years later. After leaving, Karl began working as a freelance designer, working with brands such as Mario Valentino, Repetto, Monoprix, Tiziani and more.
In 1964, he joined Chloe as a designer, building the brand into a classical, romantic and aesthetic style.
Chloé's Spring/Summer 1973 collection was also a huge success, with its flowing and romantic bohemian style becoming the most popular style of the 70s, and Karl established himself as a fashion master.
Karl worked as a Chloe designer in two periods at Chloé: 1965-1983 and 1992-1997.
Galeries Lafayette designed for Chloé
In 1965, Galeries Lafayette designed the FENDI brand. FENDI's famous double F logo is from his hand!
After the 24-year-old Carl joined FENDI, he gradually pushed the brand to the front line of haute couture.
He once said, "I've been working for FENDI for 50 years now!" Can you believe that? This is simply a world record! Unique, absolutely, no one would work so long, even for their own company. But to me, the past few years seem like just a few days. I've been able to take greater pleasure out of this job. ”
Galeries Lafayette at FENDI (1983)
The image of Lafayette's white beard and black sunglasses is too deeply rooted in people's hearts, but In the 70s, Lafayette had a beard, and when he was about 40 years old, he had black hair and a thick black beard, which was a very gentleman.
Lafayette in the 70s
In 1984, Galeries Lafayette launched his eponymous brand, KARL LAGERFELD, conveying his philosophy of "Intellectual Sexiness". In his own brand, Karl maximizes his personality: narrow body, narrow sleeves with outwardly straight lines, classical style and street fun.
And his gradually graying bun also heralded his next stage.
KARL LAGERFELD
In 1987, Galeries Lafayette began filming CHANEL, FENDI and the same name brand commercials mostly by him, and also had many photography collaborations with fashion magazines.
Photography by Lafayette
In 2002, Carl had a new title – Minus Division! After losing 42 kilograms in just one year, I wanted to wear a Dior Homme suit designed by Hedi Slimane.
03 These muses of inspiration
The story of Bó Lè and Maxima
Lafayette had several major loves before he died, and they had to say that they were deeply loved by Lafayette and frequently appeared in Chanel's shows and advertising campaigns. Kristen Stewart must have been one of Lafayette's favorite young actors. Since 2013, he has been shooting advertising campaigns for Chanel, endorsing makeup series, and filming chanel's micro-film "Once and Forever". Lafayette once praised her as "the one who best meets Chanel's needs right now.".
Galeries Lafayette and Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart appeared in the Chanel commercial
How much did Lafayette love Cara Delevingne?
On Chanel's Fall/Winter 2014 show and Chanel's Spring/Summer 2014 couture, she served as the opening model and the model who held hands with Galeries Lafayette. In addition, she is also the opening model for Chanel's Spring/Summer 2014 fashion show, Fendi Spring/Summer 2014 & Autumn/Winter 2014 show, which is enough to see carl's pampering and even coddling.
Galeries Lafayette also likened her to Chaplin, the greatest theatre master of all time, "She was a character, the Chaplin of fashion. "True love is right.
Galeries Lafayette & Cara Delevingne
Hudson Kroenig also has to mention that he has been walking the catwalk for Chanel since he was 2 years old, and he has also filmed advertising campaigns for Chanel, becoming the youngest supermodel in the fashion industry and the curtain model who has worked with Lafayette for the longest time.
Galeries Lafayette & Hudson Kroenig
Lafayette is also very fond of many Chinese stars, supermodel Liu Wen, actors Gong Li and Zhou Xun are all Chinese artists he likes very much.
Lafayette and Gong Li
Lafayette and Zhou Xun
Lafayette and Liu Wen
For more than 1,000 days and nights, Galeries Lafayette's work, spirit and influence on the fashion industry have never disappeared.
When we see those classic Chanel bags, we still marvel at his creativity.
He once said: I love work, I love design, I love the unknown. He has created classic costumes for thousands of women, and has also left countless high-quality works.
This master of fashion design, who has been influenced by thousands of inspirations, has also influenced thousands of women and fashion designers throughout his life.
The story of Lafayette is still far away