The Bite Magazine - issue 16

Women’s Wear Daily praised the collec- tion and said Lagerfeld ‘takes the Chanel chassis and adds a lot of chrome: fur trim, crown-shaped jewellery, Fabergé-like embroidery, dozens of chain necklaces and belts, and even his bride goes to the altar in an ermine Chanel jacket.’ His first ready-to-wear collection for Chanel hit the catwalk in 1984 for spring/ summer and was entitled ‘A Faster Beat’. This collection was designed for a new generation of women and he didn’t even have to try hard to seduce fashion critics. Susie Menkes writing for The Times at this point, called the collection ‘a daz- zling Chanel show [in which] Lagerfeld brought us young fresh clothes full of Mademoiselle’s taste and his own wit’. While Vogue said that “in capturing the essence of Chanel and giving it a slightly faster beat, [Lagerfeld] has given a whole new momentum to modern dressing.” Lagerfeld worked with unexpected fabrics, particularly blue denim which was cut into classic suits, day dresses, and matching hats while his ‘faster beat’ translated into a sporty touch including a Chanel motorbike outfit. There is no doubt that you will be mes- merised by over 300 pages of iconic and eye-catching Chanel styles that will make you appreciate the legacy that Coco Chanel left behind. It is all because of the creative mastermind behind the unstoppable Lagerfeld that prevented the Chanel fashion house from staying dormant forever. An intriguing and fasci- nating man with trademark dark shades, high wing collar, dark suit and gloves, the 82-year-old Karl Lagerfeld has an air of extreme importance and myste- rious streak. He may be famous for his acid tongue but his cutting edge ideas know no boundaries and for this we are grateful. Chanel Catwalk – The Complete Karl Lagerfeld by Patrick Mauriès and Adélia Sabatini published by Thames & Hudson is available on their website now. www.thamesandhudson.com bite book review Autumn/Winter 2005 2006 Ready-to-Wear © firstVIEW