Behind the iconic appearance of the unforgettable Karl Lagerfeld, with his oversized black glasses, black tie, tailored suit, and white hair, was a man who lived for art, culture, and fashion. The legendary icon, who will be the theme of the upcoming Met Gala, was a quintessential trendsetter.
Born in Germany, Lagerfeld moved to the City of Light at 19 and made the French capital his home and since then has truly embraced it. In fact, the area of ville in the city became Lagerfeld’s go-to spot and was eventually nicknamed the “Lagerfeld district” by his inner circle. It was a microcosm of the fashion icon’s Paris and housed the places he deemed essential. Take a look at the must-see spots in the city that were beloved by Lagerfeld, who created over 180 catwalks as the creative director of Chanel. Oh, la la!
He loved one of Paris’s oldest cafes, founded in the late 1880s, and the ultimate morning meeting point for all fashionistas during Fashion Week. Located in the chic neighborhood of Saint-Germain des-Prés, in the sixth arrondissement, Café de Flore offers a French gastronomy brasserie menu.
The apartment where Lagerfeld lived in the 1960s was just five minutes away, and the designer walked there every morning, following in the footsteps of other famous regular customers such as Pablo Picasso, Truman Capote, and Ernest Hemingway. Order a café crème and a pain au chocolat: you won’t regret it!
This gorgeous garden, located in the sixth arrondissement and inspired by the Boboli Florentine garden, was created as an initiative of Queen Marie de Médici in 1623. This was one of Karl’s favorite parks, a lush green space full of paths framed by trees and flowers, which houses the Luxembourg Palace.
Filled with statues and sculptures (the most famous being the Greek giant Polyphemus, located in the Medicis fountain, dating from the 16th century), this is truly a fantastic place to sit and reflect on life.
The creative genius had a close relationship with the staff of this historic florist (which opened its doors in 1845), known among European royalty, who placed their orders there. The owners, two sisters, Caroline Cnocquaert and Stéphanie Primer, once described him as their “dream and extraordinary customer.”
He bought a white camellia (symbolic of the Chanel house) on his first visit to their shop in 1971 and became a regular customer. Figures such as Salvador Dalí, Alain Delon, and Yves Saint Laurent also acted as frequent customers of Lauchame.
In addition to his bookstore, Studio 7L, located on rue de Lille, the fashion icon loved to visit one called Galignani. Danielle Chillen Sabatier, the store director located in the heart of Paris, said in the past that her staff knew what Karl would show on a Chanel catwalk before anyone else. “In this bookstore, you can find everything; if you can’t, they will find it for you,” Karl once said.
Near Galignani, this London shirtmaker made bespoke pieces for Karl, who occasionally would request up to 150 styles per visit: from nightgowns and kimonos to sleeveless shirts for painting. Although he was open to suggestions, he would send sketches of the designs he had in mind via fax or courier.
“I can’t even remember the number of shirt and collar designs this wonderful shirtmaker has made for me. I am more than loyal to them; they are my obsession. They are perfection,” Lagerfeld shared.
Lagerfeld used to buy his paper at this famous Parisian art store, which is located near the Tuileries Garden and just a few meters from the Chanel stores on rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré and rue Cambon, an address that brings together the fashion house’s Haute Couture workshops, Gabrielle Chanel’s apartment, and her design studio.
“I’ve been visiting this stationery store since I moved to Paris, and it hasn’t changed one bit since then. It’s vital to me. I confess that all my paper, colors, and brushes are bought here,” said the German-born creative director.
Home to beautiful and rare jewelry made with multitudes of gemstones, the Lydia Courteille Maison, a Parisian gemologist and expert in antique jewelry, was a place frequented by Lagerfeld, who complemented his black ties with jewel-encrusted brooches and pins. “The owner of this jewelry store specializing in antique pieces is absolutely brilliant. I love her taste 100%,” he said.
The former creative director of Chanel loved the avant-garde furniture available at Galerie Kreo, recognized as one of the most influential design galleries on the international scene. His fellow designer, Tunisian Azzedine Alaïa, was also known to be a fan of this contemporary store. “I love the eye they have at this art gallery and their discoveries,” revealed Karl.
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