Karl Lagerfeld's 'Little Black Jacket' Exhibition

Everyone knows that Karl Lagerfeld is an essential figure in fashion. But we always forget to add that he is an avid fan of literature and that, for over two decades, his second career has been photography. On display at the Grand Palais in Paris are Lagerfeld’s latest 113 portraits in his new exhibit Little Black Jacket.

The concept behind this whim? To photograph the famous of all ages: actors, singers, models, designers, both male and female, incarnating different characters, but all wearing Chanel’s famous little black jacket.

The inspiration for Coco Chanel’s 1954 iconic piece came from an Austrian men’s jacket, with straight, flat pockets to liberate women form the constraints of the time. And it’s because the jacket was designed to free women, that today Lagerfeld can dress men in that very same item.

The project, an exhibit and a book, was born from the fruitful collaboration between the designer and the new head of American Harper’s Bazaar, Carine Roitfeld. She incarnates, in all simplicity, Gabrielle Chanel.

Sarag Jessica Parker became the Queen of England. Laetitia Casta became a Parisian from the 1960’s.

Micheline Chaban-Delmas, widow of former French President Georges Pompidou, was the only one to appear without make up or hairstyling. Lagerfeld, often abrasive, does have a kind eye.

After Tokyo, New York, Taipei, Hong Kong, London and Paris, "The Little Black Jacket" makes its way to Berlin, followed by Seoul.