Milan Fashion Week: Silvia Venturini Fendi sheds tears as she takes bow for AW19 on behalf of Karl Lagerfeld

'He shall be so missed'

Sarah Young,Katie O'Malley

Thursday 21 February 2019 13:42

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Karl Lagerfeld draws an outfit he wore on the first day he started work at Fendi in 1965

Silvia Venturini Fendi cried as she took an emotional bow at the end of the Fendi autumn/winter 2019 show following the death of Karl Lagerfeld.

After model Gigi Hadid closed the show, an emotional Venturini Fendi - who is the granddaughter of Fendi's founders and creative director for accessories, menswear, and children - walked out onto the runway to the applause of the attendees.

As she left, a screen played a video of Lagerfeld sketching the outfit he wore on his first day working at Fendi in 1965.

In the clip, the camera focussed in on the sketch as the German-born designer can be heard describing his ensemble in the image which featured a Norfolk jacket, French style culottes, boots and a bag.

"I found [it] in Milan," he said of the accessory.

All the celebrities at Fendi's autumn/winter 2019 runway show

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Ahead of the show, Fendi described the collection as “a love letter to Karl Lagerfeld”.

Gigi Hadid closes the Fendi autumn/winter 2019 runway show.

(AFP/Getty Images)

Each attendee at the show was greeted with a card on their seat featuring the date the designer passed away (19 February) alongside his signature.

The show notes for the collection also noted a number of references to Lagerfeld including pointed shirt collars and the use of his curling “Karligraphy” FF logo that appeared on cabochon buttons and intarsia fur.

Venturini Fendi also penned a heartwarming message on the cards, writing: “The bond between Karl Lagerfeld and Fendi is fashion’s longest love story, one that will continue to touch our lives for years to come.

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

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1/13Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

Before he worked at Chanel, Lagerfeld designed for bohemian-inspired label Chloé. Here, he's pictured alongside a model ahead of showcasing his spring ready-to-wear collection in 1974 for the French fashion house. While there, Lagerfeld became renowned for cementing the label's romantic roots via bold prints and flowing dresses.

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Lagerfeld presented his first collection for Chanel in January 1983, which was widely praised by the press at the time for reinvigorating the brand by bringing hemlines up and adding some pizzazz to the label's accessory line.

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Thanks to Chanel, the suit has become one of the most adored silhouettes during the 21st Century, with a focus on bolero jackets, tweeds, and chiffons. Following years experimenting with denim, faux rips, hot pants, and concrete beads on the suits, for his spring/summer 2016 haute couture collection the designer hinted at the brand’s focus on sustainability, adorning one suit from the collect with finely cut pieces of wood.

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It's one of the most recognisable logos in the world, but the famous interlocking "C" logo might not be on Chanel's products today had it not been for Lagerfeld. The designer modernised the label when he took over as artistic director in 1983, proceeding to put the now-iconic logo on a whole host of Chanel garments and accessories. Some believe the double "c" stands for Coco Chanel, in reference to the brand's founder. But others claim it was inspired by a visit by Chanel herself to Château de Crémat in Nice, where she's believed to have attended several parties hosted by her friend, socialite Irene Brez. Here, the logo is seen on one of Chanel's most sought-after products: the chain-strap handbag.

It was the gown that sparked a thousand "oohs" and "aahs". Lagerfeld ended his spring/summer 2017 show with a thrilling ruffled pink gown as modeled by Lily Rose Depp, whose casting in the show was made all the more significant given that her mother, Vanessa Paradis, was also a model for the brand.

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It is probably Fendi's most famous item. The slim, baguette bag was designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, who is the only family member still working at the Italian label. But under Lagerfeld's reign, it has become a cult fashion item, having been reworked season to season with new designs continuously emerging.

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At Chanel's spring/summer 2009 ready-to-wear collection, the designer sent one model down the runway carrying a CC-logo-ed guitar and matching case.

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Lagerfeld might be better-known for his fashion designs, but he also dabbled in costume and produced this tutu for the English National Ballet in 2009 as part of a special production by the dance company Ballets Russes, for whom Coco Chanel was a benefactor.

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Keira Knightley struck a distinctive silhouette in this Chanel dress, which she wore to Paris Fashion Week in 2014 to attend the brand's autumn/winter show. The corseted layer dress was from the brand's couture spring 2014 collection.

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One of Lagerfeld's most contemporary contributions to Chanel was accessories. The multi-layered pearl necklace continues to be a prominent feature of his collections, and have been firm favourites among celebrities, too. In 2006, it even made an appearance in the cult fashion film "The Devil Wears Prada", in which it was worn by lead actor Anne Hathaway to illustrate her character's newfound fashionable taste.

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In 2004, Lagerfeld was the first designer to collaborate with the Swedish retailer, who has been partnering with major fashion brands ever since. The collection prompted huge excitement among Lagerfeld's fans as they reveled in the fact that they could now purchase his designs as a lower price point.

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For the Chanel autumn 2014 couture show finale, Largerfeld walked hand-in-hand with a seven-month pregnant model down the catwalk. The model was dressed in a crêpe de Chine dress with a gold, brocade cape and a line of buttons along the bodice. The model’s hair was teased into a quiff.

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The model has been a Chanel muse for several years and chose to support the brand at the 2017 Met Gala by wearing a dramatic sci-fi-inspired suit. The suit featured a plunging neckline and bold shoulders, contrasting with the star's smooth metallic-painted silver bald head. The model-turned-actor accessorised the look with a dusting of silver body glitter and a wide silver belt at the waist.

“I am profoundly saddened by his passing and deeply touched by his constant care and perseverance until the very end.

“When he called just a few days before the shoot, his only thoughts were the richness and beauty of the collection.

“It’s a true statement to his character. He shall be so missed.”

Vanessa Friedman, fashion director and chief fashion critic at The New York Times, who attended the Fendi autumn/winter 2019 show shared a number of sketches that are thought to be Lagerfeld’s last.

Others posted pictures of the set design which included a handwritten sign above the runway that read: “Love Karl."

It has been suggested that Venturini Fendi will take the helm at the luxury fashion house. However this has not yet been confirmed.

A Fendi spokesperson told The Independent that the autumn/winter 2019/2019 collection was Largerfeld’s last.

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