The MET’s (The Metropolitan Museum) Costume Institute’s spring 2023 exhibition examined the work of Karl Lagerfeld (1933–2019). Focusing on the designer’s stylistic vocabulary as expressed in aesthetic themes that appeared time and again in his fashions from the 1950s to his final collection in 2019, “Karl Lagerfeld: a Line of Beauty” set the spotlight on the German-born designer’s unique working methodology. Approximately 150 pieces were on display and accompanied by Lagerfeld’s sketches, which underscored his complex creative process and the collaborative relationships with his premières, or head seamstresses. Lagerfeld’s fluid lines united his designs for Balmain, Patou, Chloé, Fendi, Chanel, and his eponymous label, Karl Lagerfeld, creating a diverse and prolific body of work unparalleled in the history of fashion. The iconic Karl Kokeshi Doll was included in extension of the retail arm of the exhibition with its own full display as part of a broader product offering in celebration of the exhibition.
