"Not only is Karl Lagerfeld the most famous fashion designer in the world, he
is
also the most restless. Renowned as the industry's resident Renaissance man, he oversees the
creative direction of both Chanel and Fendi, in addition to owning the Paris bookstore 7L, running his own publishing imprint, and working as a fashion photographer. Then there's his art collection, his house collection, and his culture-vulture appetite, which runs the gamut
from Louis XV
furniture to music. Free of the constraints that heading up a historic fashion house brings, Lagerfeld uses the eponymous label as a realm for exploring an edgier aesthetic. And the results—frequently packed with sharp black and white tailored looks, from mannish military jackets shown with flat motor
cycle boots to fitted jackets and vests worn with skinny pants—te
nd to more closely resemble the designer's own signature look. With his white ponytailed mane, ever-present black sunglasses, and fingerless black gloves, Lagerfeld, who famously shed 103 pounds in 2000 to fit into He
di Slimane's skinny suits, h
as created a legendary persona whose stylish aura
rubs off on
whatever he touches. In 2004 his collection for H&M created an international sensation, selling out in a matter of days. In fall 2008 he debuted a trio of unisex fragrances called Kapsule. Lagerfeld not only stars in the ads, he
al