Last week, Karl Lagerfeld graced Toronto with his presence, and EVERYONE at the party went crazy over the famously outspoken designer…yours truly included. Trying to score a moment with Karl, people pushed shoved, and screamed, with Kaiser’s security team barely able to control the mob. The reason for Karl’s first visit to Canada – a collaboration to design the lobbies of the newest Yonge and Eglinton condo development Art Shoppe Lofts + Condos – his first real estate project in North America!
“It’s interesting to design public spaces in a big building like this. It’s a vision – you can use modern furniture, modern architecture – things I’m really interested in. It’s up to me to find an idea of what will make this building different from the other buildings. The minute you enter, you have to feel that you’re in a place that’s special.” Karl Lagerfeld.
With DJ Leigh Lezark of the Misshapes at the turntables, and guests like Suzanne Rogers, gossip queen Lainey Lui, and every Canadian fashion magazine editor in town, the room was abuzz with excitement, and once Karl actually showed up, the excitement went through the roof, with even the coolest industry folks turned into gushing fanboys (and girls).
To my amazement Karl was actually quite lovely…he doled out small smiles, handshakes, and obliged to take photos with the bravest attendees. After snapping out of my stupor, I fought my way through the crowd, and asked the designer to autograph my brooch, while my friend Sharon asked him to sign her CHANEL bag. Shockingly he not only signed our things, but smiled at us as well. After shaking his begloved hand, I was basically the happiest ever. Love him or hate him, Karl Lagerfeld’s unique vision has transformed brands, and made him one of the most iconic personalities of our time. And while his $4-million dollar cat Choupette was in town too, sadly she did not make an appearance. Rumour has it, she was resting her paws at the Four Seasons Toronto after a couple of busy days in NYC.
If you are wondering whether Karl’s demands were diva-sized, they really weren’t – a plate of sliced mangoes, another plate of salmon sashimi, and Diet Coke is all he’d reportedly asked for, and what we actually saw served at the roped-off VIP area.
And while I wasn’t one of the lucky few that scored actual one-on-one interview time with the designer, the few interviews that he did give are MUST READ material – Karl’s answers are never boring. Sharon and I even made it into one!
If you’re curious about the project that enticed Karl Lagerfeld to attach his name to it, on April 25th, the public is invited to visit the Art Shoppe Lofts + Condos for the grand opening of the presentation centre at 2131 Yonge Street in Toronto.
More photos after the jump!
Photo Credits: George Pimentel
