“My job is to bring out in people what they wouldn't dare do themselves.” -Karl Lagerfeld

Karl Lagerfeld has become somewhat of an enigmatic caricature these days. From his outrageous sound bites to the Karl Lagerfeld teddy bear, it’s easy to overlook the talent that lies beneath his dark glasses. At the age of 17, Lagerfeld moved from Hamburg to Paris in order to work as a design assistant for Pierre Balmain. From then on his freelance work was far reaching. Lagerfeld spent time at Charles Jourdan, Valentino, and Max Mara. In 1963 he was made head designer of Chloe and stayed at the label until 1983 when he was given the reigns to the fashion powerhouse, Chanel. During his years at Chanel, Lagerfeld continued to design at Fendi and he currently remains head designer of both lines.

Karl Lagerfeld’s signature collection, started in 1984, focuses mainly on his tailoring skill. Simplistic yet chic, the KL collection highlighted bold colors and soft knitwear. The vintage pieces from his self named line are timeless and expertly constructed. In 2004 he launched an exclusive line with H&M and the collection sold out in record time. Lagerfeld has proven that eccentricity aside, his garments stand the test of time.