Andrea Felsted, Columnist

Karl Lagerfeld’s Legacy Is More Than Just Chanel Suits

Under his leadership, the brand became a master of both fantasy chic and selling cheap.

February 19, 2019 at 4:49 PM UTC

Andrea Felsted is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering consumer goods and the retail industry. Previously, she was a reporter for the Financial Times.

Cosmetics alongside high-end handbags? Lagerfeld nailed it.
Photographer: Michael Buckner/Getty Images North America

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Karl Lagerfeld, who has died at 85, was a master of fashion. There won’t be any more like him.

He joined Chanel in 1983, when it was languishing after the death of founder Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. He quickly took it from classic to cutting edge. Today, what was once associated with staid older ladies is now desired by young Chinese millennial and generation Z shoppers. His extravagant fashion shows encompassed everything from a floral fantasy to a faux street protest, burnishing the halo around the label.