Image via Billy Farrell Agency (BFA)
When Karl Lagerfeld requests fashion’s presence, the industry complies. Thursday night’s festivities at the reopening of the Soho store proved just that as models, editors, and celebrities put on their best Chanel pieces and joined the masterful designer in celebration.
On the model side of the fashion crowd, lovely ladies including Freja Beha Erichsen, Angela Lindvall, Jessica Stam, Erin Wasson, Elisa Sednaoui, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Molly Sims, Daisy Lowe, Chanel Iman, Magdalena Frackowiak, Heidi Mount, Julie Ordon, Lily Donaldson, and Poppy Delevigne appeared to show their love for Karl, while celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, Claire Danes, Diane Kruger, Leighton Meester brought the Hollywood effect. Around the perimeter of the store’s sidewalks, a huge light display separated guests from the street, allowing for an escape from the inside, while keeping up the enclosed atmosphere. Guests tagged the computerized walls with Chanel emblazoned spray paint cans, making sure to take a picture of their artistic design before it was electronically removed.
Given the sheer number of models in attendance, our heads were swirling, but with Karl’s list of muses, it’s hardly shocking that the store would be packed with runway mavens. We swooned over Abbey Lee’s blond locks, chatted with Angela’s sister, Rachel, who borrowed her super sister’s Chanel shoes for her first Fashion Week experience, and giggled with Molly and Brad Goreski, who were literally dying laughing over an upcoming issue of The Rachel Zoe Project featuring Molly.
“I remember when I first met Karl,” explained Angela. “It was backstage at his show and I was intimated by him because he has a very intimidating presence. But then I started working with the brand and realized he’s like a walking history book. I went with him to his place in Biarritz and we went shopping together. He bought me this gorgeous scarf. You can really sit and talk to him, it’s just the outside that’s a little intimidating. But he’s ones of the nicest people ever.”
Angela wasn’t the only one to reminisce about her loving memories of Karl. While Abbey Lee recounted her moment in a crane, shooting the Chanel campaign on the Lower East Side, Elisa equated her relationship to the Kaiser as something more than just model and designer. “Being with him is magical,” she said. “He enters the room and all of the sudden it’s out of reality. It’s fun and interesting and I learn. I just hope to pursue this relationship, which is one that goes beyond just work. We are also friends, and for me, family. I hope we can continue this relationship and do creative things together.”
