GENIUS OF THE WEEK

KARL LAGERFELD; born in Hamburg, Germany. Emigrated to Paris in 1953. At the age of 22, Lagerfeld was awarded a position as an apprentice at Pierre Balmain, after winning second place, behind Yves Saint-Laurent who came first, in a competition for a coat sponsored by the International Wool Secretariat.
He told a reporter a few years later, "I won on coats, but actually I like designing coats least of all. What I really love are little black dresses." Yves Saint Laurent also won the contest for a dress award. "Yves was working for Dior. Other young people I knew were working for Balenciaga, whom they thought was God, but I wasn't so impressed," he recalled in 1976.
His next collection, for spring 1959, was a vast improvement according to Carrie Donovan, who noted that the press "applauded widely and even shouted several bravos." She wrote that "His clothes... have a kind of understated chic, elegance, and just plain 'class' that has not been seen on this side of the Atlantic since Molyneux and Mainbocher closed up shop."
Afterwards having a Freelance career until 1982, working under Valentino, Repetto, A supermarket chain Monoprix, Tiziani, and French Fashion house Chloe in 1964. In 1972, he collaborated with Italian Fashion Powerhouse, Fendi; designing furs, clothing and accessories.
From 1982, to the present, he is internationally Famous for his Haute Couture Chanel Collection, his photography the French Reality Series, 'Signe Chanel' in 2005, and his new collection K Karl LAgerfeld launched in 2006.
BRAVO to the genius we know as, KARL LAGERFELD!