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To many fashion fans, the immortalised image of the late Karl Lagerfeld , will always consist of his white ponytail, high collared shirts and signature black sunglasses.
But, there was one element of Lagerfeld’s well-regarded wardrobe that he was almost never seen without; a pair of leather fingerless gloves.
From black and red, to those that came studded and punctuated with zips, gloves became the designer’s signature accessory.
So much so, that he even sold reimagined versions under his eponymous fashion line.
You’d be forgiven for assuming, then, that Lagerfeld’s decision to wear gloves was aligned solely to fashion.
Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designsShow all 13 1 /13Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs 70s chic at Chloé Before he worked at Chanel, Lagerfeld designed for bohemian-inspired label Chloé. Here, he's pictured alongside a model ahead of showcasing his spring ready-to-wear collection in 1974 for the French fashion house. While there, Lagerfeld became renowned for cementing the label's romantic roots via bold prints and flowing dresses.
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Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs His first collection for Chanel Lagerfeld presented his first collection for Chanel in January 1983, which was widely praised by the press at the time for reinvigorating the brand by bringing hemlines up and adding some pizzazz to the label's accessory line.
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Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs The power suit Thanks to Chanel, the suit has become one of the most adored silhouettes during the 21st Century, with a focus on bolero jackets, tweeds, and chiffons. Following years experimenting with denim, faux rips, hot pants, and concrete beads on the suits, for his spring/summer 2016 haute couture collection the designer hinted at the brand’s focus on sustainability, adorning one suit from the collect with finely cut pieces of wood.
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Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs The interlocking logo It's one of the most recognisable logos in the world, but the famous interlocking "C" logo might not be on Chanel's products today had it not been for Lagerfeld. The designer modernised the label when he took over as artistic director in 1983, proceeding to put the now-iconic logo on a whole host of Chanel garments and accessories. Some believe the double "c" stands for Coco Chanel, in reference to the brand's founder. But others claim it was inspired by a visit by Chanel herself to Château de Crémat in Nice, where she's believed to have attended several parties hosted by her friend, socialite Irene Brez. Here, the logo is seen on one of Chanel's most sought-after products: the chain-strap handbag.
Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs The pink ruffle gown It was the gown that sparked a thousand "oohs" and "aahs". Lagerfeld ended his spring/summer 2017 show with a thrilling ruffled pink gown as modeled by Lily Rose Depp, whose casting in the show was made all the more significant given that her mother, Vanessa Paradis, was also a model for the brand.
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Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs The Fendi 'baguette' It is probably Fendi's most famous item. The slim, baguette bag was designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, who is the only family member still working at the Italian label. But under Lagerfeld's reign, it has become a cult fashion item, having been reworked season to season with new designs continuously emerging.
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Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs CC-logo-ed guitar At Chanel's spring/summer 2009 ready-to-wear collection, the designer sent one model down the runway carrying a CC-logo-ed guitar and matching case.
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Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs The Dying Swan dress Lagerfeld might be better-known for his fashion designs, but he also dabbled in costume and produced this tutu for the English National Ballet in 2009 as part of a special production by the dance company Ballets Russes, for whom Coco Chanel was a benefactor.
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Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs The 'lampshade' dress Keira Knightley struck a distinctive silhouette in this Chanel dress, which she wore to Paris Fashion Week in 2014 to attend the brand's autumn/winter show. The corseted layer dress was from the brand's couture spring 2014 collection.
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Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs The multi-layered pearl necklace One of Lagerfeld's most contemporary contributions to Chanel was accessories. The multi-layered pearl necklace continues to be a prominent feature of his collections, and have been firm favourites among celebrities, too. In 2006, it even made an appearance in the cult fashion film "The Devil Wears Prada", in which it was worn by lead actor Anne Hathaway to illustrate her character's newfound fashionable taste.
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Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs The Karl Lagerfeld x H&M collaboration In 2004, Lagerfeld was the first designer to collaborate with the Swedish retailer, who has been partnering with major fashion brands ever since. The collection prompted huge excitement among Lagerfeld's fans as they reveled in the fact that they could now purchase his designs as a lower price point.
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Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs The pregnant bride For the Chanel autumn 2014 couture show finale, Largerfeld walked hand-in-hand with a seven-month pregnant model down the catwalk. The model was dressed in a crêpe de Chine dress with a gold, brocade cape and a line of buttons along the bodice. The model’s hair was teased into a quiff.
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Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs Cara Delevigne's space-age outfit for the Met Gala The model has been a Chanel muse for several years and chose to support the brand at the 2017 Met Gala by wearing a dramatic sci-fi-inspired suit. The suit featured a plunging neckline and bold shoulders, contrasting with the star's smooth metallic-painted silver bald head. The model-turned-actor accessorised the look with a dusting of silver body glitter and a wide silver belt at the waist.
But it seems there was actually much more to them that.
In an interview with Lagerfeld in the inaugural issue of M Magazine in 2012, the designer spoke candidly about his personal style, discussing everything from his aversion to flip-flops to his view on socks.
He also gave insight into his love of gloves, revealing a number of reasons for wearing them so fervently.
“In the old protocol, it is impolite to say hello to somebody who is wearing gloves,” Lagerfeld said.
“It also makes the arm longer. And you know what it means in French to have a long arm?
“It means you are influential.”
The late designer also explained that he preferred fingerless versions because he could still sketch while wearing them.
However, Lagerfeld's fascination with gloves may be aligned to his lifelong dislike for his hands from a young age.
“When I was 14, I wanted to smoke because I wanted to look grown-up,” he once said.
“But my mother said: 'You shouldn't smoke. Your hands are not that beautiful and that shows when you smoke’.”
The German designer also admitted he avoided wearing hats because of something else his mother had said.
“I love hats, in a way, but when I was a child, I'd wear Tyrolean hats, and my mother – I was something like eight – said to me, 'You shouldn't wear hats. You look like an old dyke.'
“Do you say such things to children? She was quite funny, no?”
On Tuesday 19 February, Chanel confirmed that Lagerfeld had passed away at the age of 85 in Paris.
The company has since announced Virginie Viard – Lagerfeld’s “right hand woman” – as his successor.
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