Five years ago today he died, “Emperor Karl”. His death on February 19, 2019 turned the fashion world upside down, as Karl Lagerfeld (1933-2019) had a lasting impact on it with his creations for the House of Chanel. And the fashion czar himself was also a phenomenon, whether with his humorous sayings like “Stress? I only know rhinestones!”, his muses like Claudia Schiffer (53) and Toni Garrn (31) or his unmistakable style of braids, sunglasses, shirt collar and gloves. But even if the Hamburg native is no longer with us today, his fashion empire lives on – as does his cat Choupette.
A year after Lagerfeld’s death, Virginie Viard (62) took over the creative direction of Chanel. The Frenchwoman was Lagerfeld’s assistant for years and also a close friend. She presented her first couture collection for Chanel in July 2019, using a library as the backdrop. Her signature style quickly became apparent: Viard rejuvenated the classic Chanel designs, jazzing them up with 1980s details without losing the house’s traditional style. The demand for the coveted fashion items has been steadily increasing since then.
She herself once said in an interview with the magazine “Madame Figaro”: “Karl is the encounter of my life. When I saw him for the first time, there was an immediate spark.” The two worked together for more than 20 years. She probably knew his style and his work better than anyone else. It was therefore hardly surprising that Viard inherited the fashion czar after his death.
Viard designed her latest spring collection again with Xavier Veilhan (60). The two have already worked together three times. When you look at the collection, you immediately notice this year’s skirt suit trend, which has replaced the classic costume or, let’s say, interpreted it in a more modern way. The combination of skirt and matching blazer can be found almost everywhere this year.
The costume was developed in its original form by the French fashion icon Coco Chanel (1883-1971). She designed the skirt and blazer two-piece suit in the 1950s and presented it as a modern suit for women at the opening of her fashion salon in Paris. While the costume initially met with harsh criticism, it has since become an absolute fashion hit.
In her collection, Viard has designed the skirts with, among other things, tulle borders and the blazers with playful collars. The modern costume can be combined, for example, with a turtleneck top or a crop top, knee-high socks and trendy Mary Jane pumps or loafers.
And while Virginie Viard continues Lagerfeld’s work, the famous couturier, best known for his dark sunglasses, white ponytail, half-open gloves, high shirt collar and silver jewelry, was honored last year at the fashion event of the year – the Met Gala.
The stars gratefully accepted the motto “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”: Black and white looks with silver jewelry and pearl necklaces filled the red carpet in New York. Singer and actor Jared Leto (52) particularly stood out: on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art he posed as Choupette, Lagerfeld’s French Birman cat.
Speaking of which: How did the Hamburg native’s beloved pet fare?
As a reminder: Choupette was born in August 2011 and originally belonged to the French model Baptiste Giabiconi (34). A little later, Giabiconi asked Lagerfeld to look after the cat. The designer is said to have quickly been fascinated by the pet. “I realized that Choupette gave Karl great pleasure,” Giabiconi told the newspaper. So he decided to leave the kitten with him.
Choupette subsequently became a social media and advertising star. Among other things, she accompanied Lagerfeld in a custom-made $3,000 Louis Vuitton handbag.
After Lagerfeld’s death, the fashion designer’s former housekeeper and close friend took the cat into her home. She lives in a country house in Paris, where Choupette has been having a good time ever since. Videos and photos of her are still shared every day on her Instagram account with more than 250,000 followers.
