When it comes to Karl Lagerfeld we know that his design influence is defined by his unique life experiences, personality and the thousands of books and periodicals that he lives amongst and reads avidly. He’s a person of the future and of the past. He knows and understands the beat of contemporary culture and has the ability to anticipate what’s next. His genius is defined by his futuristic ability, backed with both the knowledge of and reverence for the past. In doing so he implements classical and traditional elements that makes all of his collections incredibly contemporary while also timeless. This undeniable understanding of craft and design can in part be attributed to his German roots and upbringing influenced by the Bauhaus and Werkbund mobements of the time. His modern appeal of simplified form with prevailing functionality is informed by these Bauhaus teachings of craft and industrialization. However, he has taken the style further, no longer is it devoid of ornamentation, but it is optimized by it, sometimes as functional, or by giving new life to a subject informed by the history and the traditions of the past.

The Bauhaus/ international styles may also be found in his homes and the Chanel boutiques around the world. The somewhat stark backdrop of black and white in orthagonal patterns perfectly showcases the design house’s collections and in affect has become part of the Chanel image…