At Paris Fashion Week, Designers Remember Karl Lagerfeld

On February 19, three weeks before the fall 2019 shows in Paris, Karl Lagerfeld passed away. The longtime creative director of both Chanel and Fendi was 85. He left an indelible mark on the industry, and many of his peers used their Fashion Week presentations as an opportunity to honor his legacy.

Throughout his career Lagerfeld worked at various fashion houses (on top of Chanel and Fendi, he spent some years at Chloé) and with designers like Jean Patou and Pierre Balmain. His decades in the industry influenced many, including a new generation of designers that includes Brandon Maxwell, Stella McCartney, and Olivier Rousteing. With his final collections set to debut in Milan (Fendi) and Paris (Chanel), the brands he created for paid homage to Lagerfeld during their fall 2019 shows, as did many other creatives who were touched by his work.

Though the first proper tribute occurred during Milan Fashion Week, at Lagerfeld's final presentation for Fendi (the show closed with a video of the designer sketching and talking about his inspiration), it was in Paris that his presence was felt most strongly. It's fitting, since that's where Lagerfeld spent most of his design career. Mourners left flowers outside Chanel's flagship boutique on Rue Cambon; the Chloé show notes included old photos of Lagerfeld from his time at the house; Dior dedicated its fall 2019 show to him. These moments are a testament to his impact. Ahead, see how the fashion community honored Lagerfeld during Fashion Week.

At Chanel Fall 2019

Chanel's fall 2019 show, held at the Grand Palais in Paris, as usual, included several tributes to commemorate its late creative director. Black-and-white illustrations of Lagerfeld and Coco Chanel, with the quote "The beat goes on…," were left on each seat.

The show notes indicated that this collection had been designed by Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, who's been named his successor.

The show opened with a dedicated moment of silence; then a recording of an interview with Lagerfeld was played before the models stepped out.

Brand muses Cara Delevingne and Penélope Cruz walked the runway, in another nod to Lagerfeld's legacy. Cruz carried a white flower with her, seemingly as an homage to the designer.

At the end of the show, models took the customary final turn down the runway—but this particular walk turned out to be more emotional, as many held hands and wiped away tears.

Neither Viard nor any other member of Chanel's design team stepped out to take a final bow.

At the Chanel Flagship Store in Paris

Chanel's flagship store in Paris became a site of remembrance for Lagerfeld as people left bouquets of white flowers and cards outside 31 Rue Cambon. It's a few doors down from the brand's headquarters, which has been a part of its history since it was acquired by Coco Chanel in 1918.

Chanel boutiques worldwide are also paying their respects by displaying a bouquet of white roses in the store window—reportedly a final request from Lagerfeld himself.

At Dior Fall 2019

Maria Grazia Chiuri made a nod to Lagerfeld at Dior's fall 2019 show during Paris Fashion Week. “In homage to the alchemist of elegance and beauty, Karl Lagerfeld," the notes for the collection read.

Grazia Chiuri overlapped with Lagerfeld at Fendi from 1989 until 1999, when she left for a creative role at Valentino. "I was so honored to meet him initially in my career in Fendi,” she said.

At Chloé Fall 2019

At Chloé, guests' seats were laden with archival photos of Lagerfeld working in Chloé's studio, as well as quotes from an interview he gave Vogue Paris while employed by the brand.

"Chloé pays deepest respect and gratitude to Karl Lagerfeld for the incalculable genius he brought to us over his 25 years with the house," a statement from the brand read. "His joyous capturing of the spirit of the Chloé woman is eternally treasured by us, and by everyone who felt the freedom and beauty of wearing his clothes."

At Fendi Fall 2019

Ahead of Paris Fashion Week, Fendi honored Lagerfeld at its show in Milan, which marked the designer's final collection for the house. The brand left notes bearing his signature and the date of his passing on every guest's seat.

Then, after the last model stepped off the runway, Fendi played a short tribute video for Lagerfeld, showing him sketching.