Is Karl Lagerfeld a Luxury Brand? Everything You Need To Know
The iconic fashion designer Karl Larger founded his eponymous brand in the 1980s, but is it luxury? We’re here to answer the question is Karl Lagerfeld a luxury brand to give you all the important details.
Karl Lagerfeld was the incredible creative director or top designer for several world-renowned luxury brands, including Chanel from 1983 to 2019, Fendi from 1965 to 2019, and Chloe from 1974 to 1997, but did you know he had his own fashion brand too?
The Karl Lagerfeld brand was founded in 1984 and offers a full men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collection, as well as shoes, bags, accessories, and a kid’s range of clothing too, but is Karl Lagerfeld a luxury brand? Some see this namesake brand as luxury since it has been created by a world-famous fashion designer and includes a plethora of striking designs, while others do not see the Karl Lagerfeld brand as luxury because of the more affordable price point of their products.
To answer the question, is Karl Lagerfeld a luxury brand, we will consider the history of the brand, the quality of its clothing and accessories, and take a closer look at some of the top pieces from the Karl Lagerfeld label before coming to a conclusion.
It is worth noting that there are actually two brands under the Karl Lagerfeld name, Karl Lagerfeld and the more affordable Karl Lagerfeld Paris, which is only available in the USA, Canada, and Mexico – we will explore both brands but focus mainly on the Karl Lagerfeld brand when reaching a conclusion on the fashion house’s luxury status.
Is Karl Lagerfeld a luxury brand?
The History of Karl Lagerfeld
The German fashion designer, Karl Otto Lagerfeld began his career entering dress design competitions before becoming the artistic director of Jean Patou in 1958. In 1964, he went to Rome to study and took on freelance jobs at Chloe and Valentino, before redesigning the Fendi fur line in 1965.
Lagerfeld designed at Fendi until he passed away in 2019, while also becoming the creative director of Chanel in 1982, designing for Chloe throughout the 1980s and launching his own brand in 1984.
Since its founding, the aesthetic of the Karl Lagerfeld brand has been combining the Parisian classic silhouette, which Lagerfeld knows well, with his own rock chic look – adding a touch of Lagerfeld’s signature style, with his white hair in a ponytail and dark sunglasses to the brand.
This designer brand now offers men’s, women’s, and children’s ready-to-wear collections, footwear, eyewear, jewelry, and watches throughout its 200 stores all over the world.
After Lagerfeld’s death, his two close collaborators Hun Kim and Carine Roitfeld took over the creative direction of this iconic brand, continuing with the brand’s aesthetic and adding contemporary touches along the way, as Karl would have wanted.
The Quality of Karl Lagerfeld
To work out whether a brand can be considered luxury, we need to take a look at the quality of its products, taking into account the price range, materials, and craftsmanship – so let’s get started!
1. Price range
The price range is a great place to start as it gives a good idea of the quality of a brand and how it compares to other well-known luxury brands within the fashion industry. The clothes from Karl Lagerfeld retail for between $49 and $2,499, although there are only two items more expensive than $1,000, which means most of the ready-to-wear collection is available for under $1,000.
In terms of accessories, the bags retail for between $85 and $599, while the shoes can be as affordable as $95 or as expensive as $489. As you can see this price range is much lower than that of luxury fashion brands such as Fendi, Gucci, or Christian Dior, pushing Karl Lagerfeld out of the luxury fashion world.
Karl Lagerfeld Paris is a more affordable brand, and this is shown by the price point of its pieces, with everything available for under $500 – clothes retail for between $39 and $395, shoes are available for between $49 and $349, while handbags can go for anywhere between $79 and $398.
2. Materials
The materials used in Karl Lagerfeld products will give us a great idea of the quality of this brand. In the Karl Lagerfeld clothes, you will see materials such as organic cotton, acetate, nylon, viscose, polyester, and lyocell, while there are some more sustainable pieces that included recycled polyester and recycled viscose.
As you can see, most of the clothes are made from synthetic fibers, that are super durable and will stand the test of time, but perhaps do not feel as luxurious as the natural fibers found in the clothing made by Chanel, Saint Laurent, and Chloe.
If we look at the handbags, we can find materials such as cotton, wool, cow leather, and sheep leather for a high-end look and feel, as well as polyamide, polyester, and polyurethane. These synthetic materials are a little more affordable but still look stunning.
Just like the clothing, some of the bags include recycled fabrics to protect the planet. Again, these materials show that Karl Lagerfeld bags are good quality but not on the same level as well-established luxury fashion houses.
3. Craftsmanship
Although the center of the Karl Lagerfeld brand is their offices at 21 Rue Saint-Guillaume in Paris, the clothes, bags, and shoes are made much further afield. The products from this brand are manufactured in a range of countries, including China, Turkey, India, Macedonia, Sri Lanka, Portugal, and Italy.
These countries have been chosen as the costs to produce the pieces are lower, but the quality is still great – this is how Karl Lagerfeld can offer stylish, high-fashion clothing for a pretty affordable price. The Karl Lagerfeld Paris also makes their clothing and accessories at similar manufacturing locations to ensure their prices are affordable.
This is different from many luxury brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci who make all of their luxury goods in Europe and sometimes America.
Best Selling Karl Lagerfeld Products
To give you a good idea of the style and type of pieces available from Karl Lagerfeld, we have brought together some of our favorite products from this label that we think you should add to your wardrobe immediately! We have included bags and clothes from both Karl Lagerfeld and Karl Lagerfeld Paris so there is something to suit any price range and any budget.
1. Karl Lagerfeld Bags
A roomy tote bag is a must-have in any handbag collection and we love this super stylish K/Signature Soft Medium Tote Bag from Karl Lagerfeld! The bag is made from recycled polyamide for a more sustainable finish and has a glossy, sumptuous look, punctuated by the sparkling silver cursive Karl brand name.
This tote is fitted with pillow top handles to carry in your hand or slide over your shoulder, while the interior of the bag is lined and fitted with a slip pocket with plenty of room for all your work or weekend essentials. This striking tote is available in black or white and retails for just $299.
This Karl Lagerfeld K/Saddle Baguette Bag would make the perfect everyday handbag, with a chic and sophisticated look and compact size, ideal for your phone, keys, and wallet. The smooth leather bag has a curved, baguette silhouette and is embellished with a gold KL logo on the front flap.
The leather shoulder strap is adjustable and removable so you can even carry this stunning handbag as a clutch bag. We love this taupe shade, which is super versatile and will suit any outfit, or you can pick up this bag in white or pink if you fancy a pop of color.
2. Karl Lagerfeld Clothes
The Karl Lagerfeld brand has reinvented the classic and timeless white shirt, creating a unique piece that will add a statement element to your look! This white shirt is crafted from organic cotton for a crisp and breathable feel and then cropped at the waist for a modern and fashionable look.
The best part is the embroidered Karl brand name that forms the hem of the shirt, adding an eye-catching finish to a refined piece. The shirt is finished with mother-of-pearl buttons, a pointed collar, and buttoned cuffs. Pick up this shirt for just $249 and style it with your favorite black high-waisted tailored trousers!
It wouldn’t be a Karl Lagerfeld collection without a black dress in there! The little black dress was popularised by Coco Chanel and during his time at Chanel, Lagerfeld designed countess, beautiful black dresses and has incorporated them into his own collection – such as this stunning Bow-Detail Mini Dress.
This black dress has a tailored look, with sharp padded shoulders, bracelet-length sleeves, and a fitted skirt, then is finished with three bold organza bows at the front of the dress for a stylish look! The structural bows add a fun touch to this smart dress, perfect for a fun evening out.
3. Karl Lagerfeld Paris Bags
The Karl Lagerfeld Paris brand has a bolder, attention-grabbing aesthetic, as you can see from this Karl Lagerfeld Paris Nouveau Medium Neoprene Shopper Tote bag! This square tote bag is crafted from vibrant pink nylon, embossed with the Karl brand name, and finished with faux leather trim and sparkling silver Karl Lagerfeld Paris branding.
We love that this tote is fitted with top handles and a detachable and adjustable shoulder strap so you can style the bag in a variety of different ways, plus there are plenty of interior and exterior pockets to help you stay organized. The bag is embellished with a cartoon Karl Lagerfeld charm and is also available in black for a more paired-back look.
If you are looking for a bag with a minimalist and sleek look, then this Karl Lagerfeld Paris Lafayette Geometric Quilt Shoulder Bag is perfect for you! This stylish shoulder bag is made from supple black lamb leather, quilted in a geometric pattern, and decorated with a gleaming gold logo in the center.
The sliding chain strap, with leather shoulder pads, means this bag can be worn on the shoulder or across the body, for endless versatility, while inside you will find two slip pockets and a zipper pocket, so all your belongings are easy to find. This effortlessly chic handbag is the perfect addition to any handbag collection and retails for just $278.
4. Karl Lagerfeld Paris Clothes
Many of the tops in the Karl Lagerfeld Paris collection are simple graphic t-shirts, but we adore this smart shirt for a more sophisticated look. The white shirt has a classic silhouette, crafted from crisp white cotton with glossy black buttons, then decorated with quintessentially Karl Lagerfeld elements – including the Karl Lagerfeld Paris brand name running down each sleeve and a Karl emoji embroidered onto the chest.
For an unexpected, eye-catching finish, the back features a black and white striped pattern. This shirt is available in sizes XXS to XL and retails for just $89.50 – so affordable!
The silhouette and striking pattern of this Karl Lagerfeld Paris Handkerchief Hem Belted Shirt Dress make it a stunning piece you really need in your wardrobe.
This black and white dress features a buttoned-up front, sharp collar, billowing sleeves, a chic handkerchief hem, and a D ring belt to cinch in the waist and ensure a super flattering silhouette. The bold black and white geometric pattern guarantees a statement look that you can dress up with sleek heeled pumps for work or pair with black tights and chunky boots for more of a cozy winter vibe.
Conclusion
Karl Lagerfeld has a gorgeous collection of fashionable clothes, stylish handbags, and stunning shoes, but after considering the price, materials, and craftsmanship, we can see that Karl Lagerfeld is not a true luxury brand.
This brand is more in line with affordable luxury labels such as Kate Spade, Tory Burch, and Tommy Hilfiger, where the prices are often under $1,000, and the materials and craftsmanship are not at the top standard, where you would find Chanel, Balmain, and Saint Laurent.
Since Karl Lagerfeld Paris has even lower prices than Karl Lagerfeld, this brand would be considered a high-end fashion brand. If you are looking for clothes, bags, shoes, or small accessories, with a bold, super trendy design at a price that won’t do too much damage to your credit card, then Karl Lagerfeld is the right brand for you!
We hope you found this article answering the question, is Karl Lagerfeld a luxury brand, helpful! For more luxury fashion content, check out the links below.
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