Karl Lagerfeld’s Most Memorable Fashion Shows

By Cat Williams. 19 Feb 2019 12:12 PM

As the creative director of Fendi and Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld was no stranger to creating a memorable fashion moment. In light of the fashion designer’s passing at age 85, here’s a look back at some of his most over-the-top and noteworthy runway shows.

Chanel, Paris Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2006

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Chanel, Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter 2008/2009

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Chanel, Ready-To-Wear Spring/Summer 2012

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Chanel, Paris Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2012

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Chanel, Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter 2014/2015

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Chanel, Ready-To-Wear Spring/Summer 2015

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Chanel, Paris Haute Couture Week Fall/Winter 2015/2016

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Chanel, Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016

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Chanel, Paris Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2016

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Chanel, Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019

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Chanel, Paris Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2006
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In 2006, fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld showcased his mostly black-and-white Spring/Summer 2006 Haute Couture collection on a towering spiral staircase, which the audience was situated around.
Chanel, Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter 2008/2009
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Lagerfeld got playful with his Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter 2008/2009 collection when he outfitted a massive carousel with giant pearls and Chanel bags.
Chanel, Ready-To-Wear Spring/Summer 2012
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For the fashion designer's Chanel Spring/Summer 2012 show, Lagerfeld created a magical underwater world, which included vocals from Florence Welch inside Paris' The Grand Palais.
Chanel, Paris Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2012
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Moving away from his whimsical, white backdrops, Lagerfeld injected some sky blue into his Spring/Summer 2012 couture show, which was arranged like the inside of an high-tech airplane.
Chanel, Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter 2014/2015
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In 2014, the German-born fashion designer was joined by his model muse Cara Delevingne inside The Grand Palais, which was transformed into a consumer-happy, Chanel shopping centre outfitted with stacks of Chanel-branded products, including Gabrielle Chanel handkerchiefs and a chainsaw with a real Chanel chain.
Chanel, Ready-To-Wear Spring/Summer 2015
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Set on an imagined Boulevard Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld's models took to the Spring/Summer 2015 collection runway in a peaceful protest, chanting slogans and holding female empowerment signs.
Chanel, Paris Haute Couture Week Fall/Winter 2015/2016
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Bringing back a sense of play, Lagerfeld quite literally inserted roulette tables into his casino-inspired show, where he outfitted some of his Chanel muses, including Kristen Stewart, Julianne Moore and Lily-Rose Depp, who played in the middle of the glamorous runway.
Chanel, Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016
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For his Spring/Summer 2016 show at Paris Fashion Week, Lagerfeld returned to his love of flight, creating the inside of a chic Chanel airport, which had a lucky few VIPs situated in the waiting area, as the models walked around with luggage.
Chanel, Paris Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2016
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In one of his most memorable Haute Couture shows, Karl Lagerfeld brought serenity with the creation of a massive doll house situated in front of a zen, green garden and pristine blue skies.
Fendi, 90 Years Anniversary
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As the creative director of Fendi as well, Karl Lagerfeld made an impact with his show for the fashion house's 90 Years Anniversary in Rome, set against the backdrop of the famed Trevi Fountain, which was restored by Fendi in 2015. In a magical moment, models appeared to walk on water on the plexiglass runway.
Chanel, Cruise Collection 2018/2019
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For his cruise collection show, Lagerfeld constructed a massive 330-foot-long ocean liner in the middle of The Grand Palais, after the designer was unable to find a boat big enough to host his show.
Chanel, Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019
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In one of his most show-stopping set designs, Karl Lagerfeld brought paradise to The Grand Palais by creating a literal beach, which had the models carry their shoes for his Chanel Spring/Summer 2019 show at Paris Fashion Week.

Karl Lagerfeld’s Most Memorable Fashion Shows

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