As the creative director of Chloé, Fendi and Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, who died today at 85, propelled the careers of many of the industry’s most famous models — and invited a galaxy of famous women to orbit him and Chanel especially. Here, a look back at 14 women who inspired the iconic designer:
14. Catherine Deneuve
Catherine Deneuve
Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock
While Deneuve was already an established actress in France before getting into modeling, her role as the face of Chanel No.5 brought her to international recognition in the Seventies, which reportedly increased sales of the fragrance dramatically. Deneuve paved the way for other actresses to become the face of the fragrance, like Nicole Kidman in 2005 and Marilyn Monroe in 2013 with repurposed footage and quotes from the Fifties and Sixties.
13. Inès de la Fressange
Karl Lagerfeld and Inès de la Fressange at Chanel’s fall rtw 1987 collection show in Paris.
Lionel Cironneau/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Because of her resemblance to Coco Chanel, de la Fressange became one of Lagerfeld’s long-term muses after signing the first exclusive modeling contract with Chanel in 1983. The two had a public falling out in 1989, which de la Fressange has stated was caused by Lagerfeld’s disdain for her boyfriend-turned-husband Luigi D’Urso. Lagerfeld and de
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