By Editor, September 25th, 2017
When Karl Met Kaia: Could Gerber Be the Next Lagerfeld Muse?
Photo: Getty Images
If there’s one designer who is loyal to his models, it’s Karl Lagerfeld. Other brands may switch up their catwalkers every season, but once a girl moves into Lagerfeld’s inner circle, she’s there for life. From perennial muse Inès de la Fressange to Chanel fit model Amanda Sanchez, a connection with Lagerfeld can last decades, all of which makes this morning’s developments especially interesting. Stepping onto a Milan runway for the first time, Kaia Gerber opened Fendi’s Spring 2018show in the plaid stripes that were the collection’s primary motif. Looking refined, as usual, Gerber added another key presentation to a lineup that already has her in the running for model of the season. While impressing the likes of Raf Simons, Marc Jacobs, and Alexander Wang is no small feat, it’s Lagerfeld who has the potential to take her into the stratosphere. Just ask those other headline-making modeling-world sensations Cara Delevingne, Gigi Hadid, and Kendall Jenner.
With three high-powered brands under his purview—Fendi, Chanel, and his eponymous label—Lagerfeld is in the unique position of having the final word on multiple campaigns and contracts. And since he shoots editorials during his spare time, he also happens to be an influential photographer capable of selecting his favorite models for prestigious covers. As such, his seal of approval can be particularly powerful—capable of taking an unknown and transforming her into a household name. While we’ll have to wait until the Chanel show in Paris to see if Gerber is an official member of #TeamKarl, all signs say that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Watch the Fendi Spring 2018 Ready-to-Wear Show:
