It’s been almost four months since Karl Lagerfeld passed away, but fashion A-listers still aren’t done paying tribute to the icon.
On Thursday, June 20, Chanel and Fendi hosted a joint memorial service with guests like Gigi Hadid, Cara Delevingne, Tilda Swinton and many others in attendance to honor the legend.
Held at the Paris’ Grand Palais — a space that the designer used for many of his most elaborate and celebrated shows — the “Karl For Ever” event commemorated the life and achievements of the late creative director.
Looking nearly as beautiful as one of his runways, black and white chairs were arranged to look like a chessboard while large images of the late designer hung on the walls. Black, red and white carpeting mirrored Lagerfeld’s studio to set the stage. Created by theater and opera director Robert Carsen, he told WWD, “I wanted something full of life and unexpected.”
Some of his closest companions participated in the service on Thursday afternoon. According to WWD, Delevingne (who starred in many of Lagerfeld’s campaigns and walked in countless shows) read a poem by French writer Colette who was said to be one of the designers’ favorite authors. Donning a gorgeous dress covered in light pink feathers, she recited a few verses about cats as images of Lagerfeld’s pet cat Burmese Choupette was shown on the screen behind her.
Looking chic and sharp in a black pantsuit with a white blouse underneath, Helen Mirren read excerpts from a book of quotes he published in 2018 called “The World According to Karl.”
Swinton, in a bold tweed peplum jacket and bloomers, read a line from another one of Lagerfeld’s favorites — Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando.” According to WWD, she told the audience, “Clothes wear us and not we them. They change our view of the world, and the world’s view of us.”
Pharrell Williams performed for the audience in a blazer-and-shorts combo, as well as Chinese pianist Lang Lang.
Other attendees included fashion powerhouses like Hadid, Claudia Schiffer, Anna Wintour as well as top designers like Valentino Garavani and Stella McCartney.
