Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
If your summer plans bring you to New York City any time between now and July 16th, I hope you take the opportunity to visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art to see Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.
The exhibit, made possible by Chanel, is an extraordinary look at Lagerfeld's work through the years. Karl Lagerfeld was a fashion industry icon and among the most talented, most hardworking, and most decorated designers of the 20th century. He began his fashion career in the 1950s, working for several leading houses including Balmain, Patou, and Chloé before joining Chanel in 1983, where he served as creative director until his death in 2019. Karl spent much of his career collaborating and designing ready-to-wear and couture collections for Chanel, Fendi, and later, his own label. Not long ago, I walked through the exhibit to see some of his beautiful dresses, suits, and ensembles.
Enjoy my photos. And please watch this video I posted on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48 earlier this year. I had the great pleasure of interviewing Karl Lagerfeld for my television show years ago in Paris in the Chanel atelier - it was such a fun time.
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- Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty is among the many wonderful exhibitions now on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art located along Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue Museum Mile. Banners of some of the current presentations are always displayed above the iconic front steps of The Met. (Photo by BFA.com/Angela Pham).
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- The exhibit features beautiful pieces in a wide array of fabrics – some classic and elegant, others more colorful and intricately threaded. This black ensemble and dress are both from House of Chanel, autumn/winter 1986–87.
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- Here is a more modern ensemble showing the signature Chanel suit and his “disappearing hem” from House of Chanel, spring/summer 2003 haute couture. The entire set design was done by the renowned architect, Tadao Ando, whose unadorned backdrops allowed Karl’s pieces to stand out.
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- Lagerfeld was not limited by color – his pieces also included audacious color palettes. This coat is from Fendi, autumn/winter 2000–2001.
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- This colorful coat is from Fendi, autumn/winter 2018–19 FENDI couture. Karl was such a talented designer – he could make any piece of fabric fashionable.
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- This coat is an earlier style from House of Patou, autumn/winter 1958–59. It is still quite relevant today.
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- And here’s another classic look – an ensemble from House of Chanel, spring/summer 2005 haute couture.
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- I admired his wedding ensembles. This one, displayed on a pedestal, showcases organza silk flowers and trousers of white piqué. It is from House of Chanel, spring/summer 2018 haute couture.
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- At the top is a suit from House of Chanel, 2017–18 métiers d’art. The middle is a suit from House of Chanel, spring/summer 1988 haute couture, and the bottom is called his “Policewoman,” an ensemble from the Fendi, autumn/winter 1983–84 line.
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- This suit in a shimmering bronze color is from House of Chanel, autumn/winter 1996–97. Lagerfeld made designs that were both luxurious as well as everyday – this shows the combination of both styles.
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- From a straight lined suit to this very opulent coat from Karl Lagerfeld’s Fendi, autumn/winter 2003–4 line. His designs were unique, bold, and stylishly feminine.
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- This ensemble is part of House of Chanel, spring/summer 1994.
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- These dresses are from House of Chanel, spring/summer 1996 haute couture.
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- Karl’s ready-to-wear ensembles included this one from House of Chanel, 2018–19 cruise – Karl made even denim look high fashion.
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- This coat featuring very feminine curves is from House of Chanel, autumn/winter 2017–18. haute couture.
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- This shimmering floral dress was part of one of Karl’s last collections from the House of Chanel, spring/summer 2019 haute couture.
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- Here is another intricately designed floral wedding ensemble from House of Chanel, spring/summer 2015 haute couture.
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- This silk gown is called “Lassie and the Prince” from an autumn/winter 2016–17 haute fourrure.
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- And this is “Pixel magic view cocoon” dress, autumn/winter 2017–2018 haute fourrure.
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- As part of the exhibit, some pieces represented Karl Lagerfeld, the man, including his trademark fingerless black leather gloves, House of Chanel, ca. 2000. If you can, go see this exhibit in The Met’s Tisch Galleries. You’ll find it enjoyable, interesting, and informative. The exhibit lasts through July 16th.
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