CELEBRATING KARL LAGERFELD: AS BOTH ILLUSTRATOR & DESIGNER

Karl Lagerfeld Sketches His Life video (Video Hyperlink:  You Tube)

In honor of the upcoming MET exhibit entitled “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Magnificence,”  we wish to have a good time Lagerfeld’s work as an completed trend illustrator, in addition to a prolific clothier. It’s a frequent delusion that all trend designers are in a position to conceptualize their trend designs by way of trend illustration. The reality is that only a few designers know ‘illustrate‘. It’s way more frequent for designers to execute a fast trend ‘sketch‘ to get their design thought throughout.

One other false impression is that all trend illustrators can ‘design’. Nicely, simply because one can illustrate trend doesn’t imply that they’ll additionally design trend. Actually, it’s fairly uncommon when a clothier can do each. As lots of our subscribers know, there are different expertise together with draping, sample making and stitching that must be honed to develop into a profitable designer.

Subsequently, in lieu of the upcoming MET present, this week’s weblog submit will spotlight Lagerfeld’s work as each a designer and illustrator. And, since we simply celebrated World Creativity Day on April twentieth, we can even be highlighting different well-known designers/illustrators whose illustrations are quick changing into collector’s gadgets, which are both bought at public sale homes or on their web sites for hundreds of {dollars}.

KARL LAGERFELD: THE ILLUSTRATOR

The upcoming Lagerfeld MET exhibit, which runs from Might 5 to July 16, is predicted to attract trend fanatics and trade insiders from around the globe desirous to expertise the life and work of one in all trend’s most influential designers. It is going to function Lagerfeld’s most iconic designs, together with his re-imagined Chanel jackets, Fendi fur items and his signature equipment. The exhibit can even embody quite a lot of private gadgets belonging to Lagerfeld, comparable to his sketchbooks, private correspondence and pictures. That is positively a designers’s dream present come true!

Karl Lagerfeld and his treasured cat Choupette in Paris 2018. (Photograph Credit score: Annie Leibovitz for Vogue)

All through his profession, Lagerfeld created a wealth of trend illustrations that captured the essence of his designs and his distinctive inventive imaginative and prescient. His illustrations have been typically used to advertise his collections and even right now, they proceed to encourage and captivate trend fanatics.

In Lagerfeld’s early illustration work, you’ll be able to see that he had a a lot tighter hand as proven within the pictures under that he did for the Home of Tiziani earlier than he joined Chanel in 1983.  His illustrations have been characterised by their daring, graphic type and a focus to element. Over time nonetheless, Lagerfeld’s hand turned looser and fewer inflexible and subsequently was in a position to seize the motion and movement of materials, typically extremely stylized, with exaggerated proportions and abstracted shapes. Regardless of their summary nature, Lagerfeld’s illustrations at all times conveyed a way of class and class.

4 of the style illustrations by Karl Lagerfeld auctioned on April 18, 2019 (Picture Credit score wwd.com)

Whether or not Lagerfeld was illustrating a Chanel jacket or a Fendi robe, he at all times managed to convey the distinctive character and magnificence of every piece. Used as promotional supplies, Lagerfeld’s illustrations helped construct anticipation and pleasure for every of his upcoming exhibits.

Illustration of Chanel coat, fall 2017. (Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Artwork)

Lagerfeld’s work was additionally a mirrored image of his bigger inventive imaginative and prescient. He was identified for his love of artwork, literature and tradition, and his illustrations typically integrated components from these fields. For instance, he ceaselessly integrated references to classical artwork, comparable to Greek statues, Renaissance work or iconic monuments such because the Statue of Liberty. These references added an additional layer of depth and which means to his work and helped to ascertain Lagerfeld as a real visionary within the trend trade.

Lagerfeld’s illustration – Anna Piaggi for Liberty of Vogue, Barney’s New York
1986 (Picture Credit score: 1stDibs.com)

The work of some trend designers and trend illustrators at the moment are extremely collectable and are bought on web sites like 1stDibs.com, iCanvas.com and Artsy.web or in public sale homes around the globe.

A Karl Lagerfeld illustration circa 1960-1970: authentic yellow and white coat coloured pencil trend sketch – 10k Appraisal 
Features a Certificates of Authenticity – bought for US$6,950 (Photograph Credit score: artsy.web)

Along with illustrating his collections, Lagerfeld additionally created a variety of illustrations for different functions, comparable to books, magazines and even a calendar, showcasing his various abilities and his potential to adapt his type to completely different contexts. Lagerfeld’s illustrations have been at all times imbued together with his signature type and creativity, making them immediately recognizable as his personal.

A Chanel illustration for Woman Gaga created by Karl Lagerfeld. (Photograph Credit score: Fb.com)

KARL LAGERFELD: THE DESIGNER

The MET’s Lagerfeld exhibit will consist of roughly 150 designs and in line with the MET, it should “discover the inventive methodology and stylistic vocabulary of Karl Lagerfeld’s designs by way of recurring themes throughout greater than 65 years, from the Fifties to his closing assortment in 2019”. The Costume Institute Profit (also called The Met Gala) will happen on Monday, Might 1, 2023.

Along with showcasing Lagerfeld’s designs, the exhibit will discover the designer’s life and legacy. Lagerfeld was identified for his larger-than-life persona, his love of artwork and literature, and his tireless work ethic. The exhibit will delve into Lagerfeld’s background, together with his formative years in Germany and his rise to fame within the trend trade. Guests will achieve perception into Lagerfeld’s inventive course of, his inspirations, and his collaborations with different artists and designers.

Probably the most thrilling features of the exhibit is the chance to see Lagerfeld’s designs up shut and private. Guests will have the ability to research the intricate particulars and craftsmanship that went into creating every bit. From the impeccable tailoring of his jackets to the intricate embroidery on his robes, Lagerfeld’s designs are a testomony to his ability as a designer. Right here’s a pattern of what is going to be featured within the exhibition:

Marriage ceremony costume by Chanel Haute Couture from the Fall 2005 Assortment. (Photograph Credit score: Julia Hetta. Courtesy of the MET)

A Fendi coat from the autumn 2000 Assortment. (Photograph Credit score: Julia Hetta for the MET)

The exhibit can even function interactive components, together with digital actuality experiences and interactive shows. Guests will have the ability to discover Lagerfeld’s designs in quite a lot of methods, from 3D projections to digital runway exhibits. The exhibit will present a very immersive expertise, giving guests an opportunity to step into Lagerfeld’s world and see the style trade by way of his eyes.

KARL LAGERFELD’S INFLUENCE IS STILL FELT TODAY

A classic photograph of Karl Lagerfeld. (Photograph Credit score Getty Photos)

Lagerfeld served because the inventive director for Chanel for over three a long time, earlier than his passing on February 19, 2019.

Maybe one in all Lagerfeld’s biggest contributions to trend was his potential to maintain Chanel related. When he took over as inventive director in 1983, the model was struggling to stay contemporary. Nonetheless, Lagerfeld breathed new life into the heritage model, infusing it together with his personal distinctive type and imaginative and prescient. He was unafraid to take dangers and experiment with new concepts, whereas nonetheless remaining true to the model’s basic aesthetic.

Lagerfeld’s re-invention of the Chanel jacket, which he launched within the Nineteen Eighties, was a contemporary replace of the basic silhouette. The jacket turned an on the spot basic and stays a staple of the Chanel assortment, in numerous iterations, right now. Though he’s now not with us, Lagerfeld’s affect on trend will proceed to be felt for years to come back.

A few of Karl Lagerfeld’s greatest moments at Chanel. (Photograph Credit score: Harper’s Bazaar)

OTHER GREAT FASHION DESIGNERS/ILLUSTRATORS

Most designers working within the trend trade right now have little time to sit down down and illustrate their concepts. Most execute fast, tough sketches that they hand off to their assistant or to their sample maker. However there are trend designers preferring to  illustrate their creations and who possess a particular expertise that permits them to higher talk their imaginative and prescient in a novel and artistic method. Most designers will rent knowledgeable trend illustrator to showcase their work for press functions, for instance, the illustration under is by trend illustrator Janka Letková for Marc Jacobs. See the illustrator’s signature in small script alongside the vertical sash.

Vogue illustrator Janka Letková for Marc Jacobs (Picture Credit score: iCanvas.com)

Different designers are extra inclined to advertise their work utilizing their very own distinctive type of illustration. Right here a a number of of the proficient trend designers who illustrate their very own creations.

DIOR’S MARIA GRAZIA CHIURI

Maria Grazia Chiuri, the inventive director for Dior, creates beautiful illustrations which are characterised by their romantic, ethereal high quality. Her illustrations showcase the small print and beautiful craftsmanship of her designs which provides an additional layer of depth and which means to her work.

Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri trend illustration for recording artist Georgia  for her 2019 tour (Picture Credit score: trend press.it.com)

CHRISTIAN LACROIX

French clothier Christian Lacroix can also be identified for his illustration expertise, that are characterised by their whimsical, and fantastical type. Lacroix’s illustrations typically incorporate components from artwork historical past, comparable to Rococo motifs and Baroque ornamentation. His illustrations showcase his distinctive inventive imaginative and prescient and his potential to mix completely different types and influences into his designs.

Vogue Illustrations by Christian Lacroix (Picture Credit score: Pinterest.com)

ALBER ELBAZ

Alber Elbaz, the previous inventive director of Lanvin who sadly handed away on April 24, 2021, was identified for his playful and  cartoonish type. His illustrations typically featured exaggerated proportions with vivid, daring colours and have been used to advertise his collections. His illustrations have been thought of art work in their very own proper.

A trend illustration by Alber Elbaz for Lanvin (Picture Credit score: Pinterest.com) 

CHRISTIAN SIRANO

Christian Siriano is a designer who has constructed a profitable profession by creating clothes that celebrates variety and inclusivity. He’s additionally an completed illustrator whose illustrations are playful, but with a way of drama and impression. Siriano is likely one of the designers who sells his limited-edition illustrations, starting from $75-$1,200, on his web site ChristianSiriano.com.

Christian Siriano displaying his restricted version trend illustrations (Photograph Credit score: ChristianSiriano.com)

JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER

Jean-Paul Gaultier is a designer identified for his daring, unconventional designs. He’s additionally an completed illustrator. Gaultier’s illustrations typically function exact, graphic strains, just like the one under that he did for Madonna’s MDNA 2012 tour.

Vogue illustration by Jean Paul Gaultier for Madonna’s MDNA Tour 2012

In search of extra data on trend illustration as collectable gadgets, view our weblog from March 14, 21, entitled Trying For a Scorching Funding Tip? Attempt Collectioning Vogue Illustrations.

With the appearance of computer-assisted design, trend illustration has develop into a luxurious for many trend designers as of late. Nonetheless, at UoF we nonetheless promote hand drawn trend by way of our Vogue Artwork self-discipline consisting of 27 Newbie, 39 Intermediate and 17 Superior classes. We train how to attract, render and illustrate trend design and equipment and so it’s no marvel that we’re head-over-heels excited to see the Lagerfeld present on the MET. Viva La Vogue Illustration!  Viva Lagerfeld!

SO TELL US, DO YOU KNOW OF OTHER FASHION DESIGNERS THAT CAN ILLUSTRATE?