Black, White and Karl all over: Karl Lagerfeld for NET-A-PORTER Launch

As I write this, the man brandishing a ponytail even more iconic than Peter Stringfellow's is gracing the streets of Paris for a live appearance at the now twitter-infamous cube for the launch of 'Karl', the 'affordable' collection by Karl Lagerfeld. I, on the other hand, am firmly based in my bedroom in the countryside and have opted (/had no other choice but) to take a more digital approach to the array of covetable classics with a directional twist.

Now, I won't lie - I'm a fan of the garish. But saying that, Karl's expected monochrome ensembles are classically cool. From LBDs to biker vests and embellished collars that would not look out of place on the icon himself. In a word the collection is, quite simply, Karl. Sleek, simple yet effortless strong; it is a collection that embodies that man who created it, even quite literally as his silouette adorns totes, canvas shoppers and even a PVC sleeved sweater.

As my staple 'bin bag' leggings suggest, I'm a big fan of the black and shiny so PVC sleeves and hooded tops combined with faux leather trousers are a big win with me. However, with some items heavily featuring silver and black sequins, has Net-A-Porter missed a trick by releasing the debut as the party season comes to a close?

As a whole, the collection is brilliantly self involved and that's probably why most people will scramble over themselves to get a piece. There are very few people who can get away with purposefully selling racer vests and tshirts with their own image on it without simply screaming egomaniac. Yet here he is, Karl Lagerfeld, posing and dancing across the torsos of  the masses clearly not giving a shit about any of that. He's an icon -the public know it and, most of all, so does he.

Thoughts?
Until the next.
C. x

The Passing Of The Dark Bardot.

Photography: Max Vadukul

To begin this blog with talk of endings is a tad morose, one cannot deny. However, with the passing of this grey July weekend came the passing of an icon – a certain Miss Amy Winehouse. An undeniable pariah in the music industry since bursting onto the scene in 2003 with her debut album Frank, the jazz mogul seemingly became better known for trawling the streets of Camden with her crippling addictions and stained ballet pumps in tow. As Russell Brand recalls in his tribute a “twit in a pink satin jacket shuffling round bars with mutual friends”, it seems hard to remember a time of aesthetic coherence with regards her appearance or demeanor. A nation’s sweetheart? Perhaps not, but surprisingly for many the fashion world and some of its leading figureheads will be shedding a silent tear for the troubled muse.

Described by Karl Lagerfeld as the ‘Dark Bardot’, the unique style of Winehouse – from the flashes of 1950s rockabilly to the 60’s grandeur of her bouffant hair – made waves in the industry and lead her to become one of the inspirations behind Chanel’s one off 2007 Paris-Londres Maison d'Art show in London. So perhaps in the midst of her turmoil she may have had more than one nipslip and the occassional hand drawn freckle disaster. So What? Despite her public struggles, her vintage swagger and intense eyeliner flicks made their way from the streets to the catwalks making her an international icon both musically and culturally. And of course, such things do not go unnoticed as Amy joined forces with the home of authentic British street fashion, Fred Perry to produce two collections of Winehouse inspired chic.

So let us take a moment to remember not a fallen woman, a fatality now lying in the arms of addiction, but a true icon as vulnerable as she was unique.

See Also:


Vogue TV -The Chanel Collection inspired by Amy Winehouse.