Karl Lagerfeld did not stage fashion shows, he detonated cultural bombs and shredded the rulebook. Groceries? Icebergs? Rockets? At Chanel, he built empires then dared you to look away.
Karl Lagerfeld did not stage fashion shows, he detonated cultural bombs and shredded the rulebook. Groceries? Icebergs? Rockets? At Chanel, he built empires then dared you to look away.
November 20, 2025
Karl Lagerfeld did not stage fashion shows, he detonated cultural bombs and shredded the rulebook. Groceries? Icebergs? Rockets? At Chanel, he built empires then dared you to look away.
Karl Lagerfeld does not just stage fashion show, he has engineered cultural happenings. His Chanel runways were 'Gesamtkunstwerk' or total of artworks, where set design, music, and clothing fused into razor-sharp commentary on everything from feminism to climate change.
Why the audacity? The man was a "polymath with a sewing machine". His voracious curiosity, devouring philosophy, history, and tech that let him distill complex ideas into runway spectacles. An iceberg melting center-stage? That is ecology as theatre.
Fashionistas adored this precisely because he weaponized surprise. While others chased trends, he dissected culture. His shows are conversations about feminism with protest placards or modern-travel and the effects of globalization via a Chanel Airlines terminal. He respected Coco’s legacy just enough to mordernise it, pairing pearls with punk chains or suffragette slogans with $10,000 handbags.
But beyond ideology, which spectacles crystallized his magic best? From rocket launches to glacial catwalks, these 15 shows have redefined what a runway could be. Where to begin?
For Fall/Winter 2010, Karl Lagerfeld turned the Grand Palais into a frozen fantasy - literally. Chanel’s “Iceberg” show featured a 265-ton, 30-foot-tall iceberg imported from Iceland and hand-carved over six days. The set was enclosed and chilled, with a water-layered runway mimicking melting ice. Models navigated the scene in transparent Chanel galoshes, wearing faux furs, padded coats, and garments washed in Arctic hues of blue and white. It was runway meets Reykjavik, with luxury layered over climate drama. While some whispered about global warming themes, Lagerfeld kept it fashion-first: epic, immersive and unforgettable. The production wowed critics and audiences alike, securing its place as one of the most visually ambitious fashion shows of 2010.
Karl Lagerfeld staged a dystopian fantasy at Paris’s Grand Palais. The runway was set as a futuristic, post-apocalyptic theater with a backdrop depicting a dystopian cityscape combining rubble and dirt with high-tech elements.
The collection reimagined Chanel’s DNA with a gritty twist: tweed suits got boxy hip belts, miniskirts dripped with beads, and ankle-length dresses paired with garter-strapped stocking boots. Fabrics were deliberately distressed: crumpled silk failles, embroidered "artworks," and tweeds woven with chiffon, wool, and metallic filaments. Mohawk hairstyles and tarnished steel belts added a warrior edge, while neoclassical tiaras hinted at elegance amid chaos. Lagerfeld’s genius? Making armageddon look 'très chic'.
At Paris Fashion Week 2014, Karl Lagerfeld turned the Grand Palais into a Chanel-branded supermarket for the Fall/Winter Ready-to-Wear show. Think couture meets convenience stores!
Models strolled aisles in neon-spiked knit pants, boucle swing jackets, sculpted-waist dresses, and cozy coats, paired with sporty trainers (some knee-high, some shimmering). Over 500 mock products lined the shelves, from “Coco Choco” cereal to Chanel dish gloves, tempting even the poshest guests to sneak a souvenir. Lagerfeld once again blurred the line between runway fantasy and everyday reality, with wit and style.
Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2015 Ready-to-Wear show turned the Grand Palais into “Boulevard Chanel”, a lifelike Parisian street where fashion met feminism. Models strutted past balconies and puddles carrying protest signs with witty slogans like “Ladies First” or "He for She" and “Tweed is Better Than Tweet,” championing self-expression and women’s rights. The collection celebrated individuality through bold mix-and-match styling: double-breasted suits, flared trousers, field jackets, box-pleated skirts, and flowing evening gowns. Fabrics spanned from lace and chiffon to tweed and leather, merging comfort with couture. Karl Lagerfeld’s message was clear, empowerment is always in style. The show was not just a runway; it was a rally, stylishly rewriting "History is Her Story".
For Spring/Summer Haute Couture 2015, Karl Lagerfeld transformed the Grand Palais into a “technological garden,” where mechanical flowers bloomed as models passed, a feat crafted by engineers with hundreds of moving parts. Inspired by Matisse cutouts and imaginary flora, the show opened inside a white greenhouse before erupting in vibrant couture.
The collection itself was heavily influenced by nature, particularly rare and imaginary flowers. Lagerfeld described them as "flowers that God forgot to create." Models wore midriff-baring tops, cropped jackets with voluminous skirts, petal peplums, and floral-embroidered beanies. Fabrics burst with intricate appliqués, feathers, sequins, and 3D blooms in sunny yellow, pink, emerald, and sky blue. The finale? A couture bride cloaked in handmade flowers and an airy veil. With its blend of precision mechanics and poetic craftsmanship, the show stood as a dazzling, modern ode to nature and imagination.
Karl Lagerfeld transformed Paris’s Grand Palais into "Le Cercle Privé," an opulent casino where Julianne Moore and Kristen Stewart "gambled" alongside models parading game tables. The collection dazzled with technical innovation: tweed jackets were 3D-printed, specifically selective laser sintering, into seamless mesh sculptures, some splattered with Pollock-esque metallic paint or lined with crystal-embroidered silk. Strong architectural silhouettes ruled, featuring asymmetric gowns and origami-folded heels. In a couture coup, Kendall Jenner closed as an androgynous bride in a double-breasted suit. Think glamorous jet-set vibes, with the kind of theatrical luxury that made us feel like we were at a poker table with the fashion elite.
Karl Lagerfeld transformed the Grand Palais into a functioning Chanel Airlines terminal, which completed with check-in desks, departure boards, and quilted luggage carts. The collection delivered "jet-set chic": lightweight tweed suits, powder-blue jumpsuits, and silver-metallic wide-leg trousers soared alongside practical yet luxe accessories (rolling suitcases, aviator visors, and Velcro-strap sandals). Fabrics spanned sequined denim to crystal-embellished tulle, proving travel wear need not sacrifice glamour. Front-row VIPs (Kendall Jenner, Lily-Rose Depp) watched models like Edie Campbell strut the departure gate in gilded utility—where even a PVC trench coat looked first-class. A seamless fusion of wanderlust and "haute" logistics.
For Fall/Winter 2017, Chanel rocketed into the cosmos literally. The Grand Palais transformed into a futuristic launchpad, complete with a 35-meter Chanel rocket that “blasted off” during the finale, securing Karl Lagerfeld’s role as "fashion’s astronaut-in-chief". The space-themed collection mixed celestial fantasy with Chanel signatures: silver leather suits, glittering knee-high boots, foil-quilted capes, and classic tweeds reimagined with a cosmic twist. Bermuda shorts, diamanté collars, and rocket-shaped minaudières added playful orbit. The palette shimmered with shades of black, silver, grey, and galactic blue. Materials ranged from lurex and leather to chiffon and sequins, embodying interstellar chic. Lagerfeld’s universe fused high fashion with high fantasy: bold, brilliant, and unapologetically out of this world.
Karl Lagerfeld staged an oceanic spectacle at Paris’s Grand Palais, constructing a 148-meter passenger ship named "La Pausa" as the show’s centerpiece. Nautical glamour reigned: sailor-striped knits, candy-hued tweed capris, and berets trimmed with cruise-liner buttons paid homage to Coco’s Riviera legacy. Rope fisherman totes, lifesaver-inspired handbags, and elongated “Boy” bags linked the collection to the nautical narrative, while straw hats, berets, and fingerless gloves added playful, easy flair. While Gigi Hadid and Kristen Stewart watched models like Stella Maxwell navigate the "deck", the show delivered a cinematic voyage blending heritage, playfulness, and fashion at full sail.
Karl Lagerfeld conjured an enchanted woodland inside Paris’s Grand Palais, transplanting 100+ oak and poplar trees across a leaf-strewn forest floor. The collection embraced fall’s rich palette such as rust, burgundy, and cobalt through luxe textures: tweed jackets brushed with mohair, quilted puffers trimmed in faux fur, and velvet A-line coats. Twelve finale black lace dresses (mini to maxi) fluttered like midnight leaves grounded the fantasy. Silhouettes echoed ’80s starlet glamour, with Grace Elizabeth opening and Luna Bijl closing the show. The show was a graceful mix nature and couture for Chanel’s timeless codes, made perfectly walkable through the woods.
Karl Lagerfeld imported 266 tons of sand which took took 9 day, and enough water to fill a 25-meter pool to build) into Paris’s Grand Palais. The result was crafting a surreal beach with crashing waves and a tiki hut. Models like Kaia Gerber walked barefoot, clutching plexiglass-heeled mules, while the collection splashed gelato hues (mint, blush) onto voluminous tweed suits and “beach hut dresses” (robes cabanes). Accessories screamed ’90s vacation: logo hats, beach-ball bags, and the ingenious "side bag" (two quilted classics crisscrossed for hands-free luxury). Ultra-light leather and lace-trimmed tweeds proved Parisian elegance can survive sand between its toes. A masterclass in vacation-ready opulence, without sunburn.
Co-designed by Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, Grand Palais was transformed into "Chalet Gardenia" - an alpine village with 31 snow-dusted chalets and a faux-fur street. This was also the last show of Karl Lagerfeld. The collection harmonized masculine tailoring (boxy tweed coats, wide trousers) with delicate romance: lace skirts, chiffon dresses printed with tiny skiers, and "snow-ball" feather hems. Textures embraced winter’s tactile poetry: quilted tartans, braided houndstooth, and emerald-purple tweeds. Accessories whispered alpine whimsy: gondola minaudières and shearling quilted bags. A poignant tribute opened the show: silence, then Lagerfeld’s voice echoed as models navigated the snowy dreamscape. It was a poetic farewell: part fairytale, part fashion history.
