Karl Lagerfeld’s Spring 2013 presentation during Paris Fashion Week was held right off one of the most high-end shopping and dining streets in Paris, rue Saint-Germain. In a beautiful high-ceiling studio, models circulated the two main rooms wearing Lagerfeld’s designs while guests were offered fine champagne to enhance their experience. The low volume of the soothing music and hushed voices inside his palatial showroom and offices made one feel as though he had just entered a church. Since many might go as far as to say that Lagerfeld’s creations are worthy of being worshiped, the atmosphere was fitting.
The clothes were classically elegant and beautiful, with Lagerfeld adding edge this season with a theme of zippers and intricate cut outs. Working from a base palette of black, white and metal, every item of clothing has some sort of geometric design or detail. Dresses and jeans have zippers that can reveal as much or as little as you want, buttons line the collars and cuffs of tailored blouses and shirts, and shades of blue, green and pink are snuck into the linings and seams to add a feminine touch, in contrast to some of the non-conforming shapes of the pieces.
I also noted that many of his dresses and blouses have a color or cut-out scheme evocative of that of a tuxedo, with a low black scoop neck design painted over a white high-neck and buttons sewn in a vertical line down the middle. Many of the items of clothing are loose fitting and simple in their shape, but are made sexy by the possibility that the zippers and cut-outs suggest.
The accessories of this season are very similar in their color scheme of black, white and petroleum blue, and continue the theme of zippers and buttons on snakeskin, metallic or matte leather canvases. The sunglasses are offered in deep, rich colors as well as brown and black, and are classic and simple for the most part in their design. The shoes, which are always one of my favorite parts of a new line, are very geometric in their shape with pastel or dark metallic color blocking and thick, chunky heels.
Overall, I felt that Lagerfeld’s new collection is similar to his past designs for Chanel in its simplicity and elegance, but geared towards a younger, sexier, and maybe more daring clientele. I honestly did not see one piece that I didn’t like—Sade and I even would have worn some of the sweaters and jackets featured in the Men’s showroom! Every item was beautiful and unique. Nothing was too avant-garde to only be shown on the runway, and they were all outfits that any girl would love to own someday. But, let’s be real: would you expect anything less from one of the most influential designers today, a God in the world of fashion? After seeing this latest testament, I must confess that I’m a believer.
