A Look Back at Karl Lagerfeld’s Favorite Chanel Openers Inline
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigitalimages.com1/7Cara Delevingne
Notable openings: Fall 2015, Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Spring 2014 Couture, Spring 2014, Resort 2013
Delevingne’s exuberance and streetwise style made her an ideal representative for the house’s modern era. Lagerfeld has been lavish in his praise for the Brit beauty and her trademark goofiness, even calling her the “Charlie Chaplin of the fashion world.” Delevingne has largely left modeling behind, sitting out Spring 2016 to take it in from a front row seat with Hudson Kroenig and rumored love interest Annie Clark, better known as St. Vincent—though she did join Lagerfeld for his bow.
Photo: Evans Caglage / Firstview.com2/7Ashleigh Good
Notable openings: Pre-Fall 2014, Resort 2014, Fall 2013
Good’s relationship with Chanel began at the Edinburgh-themed Métiers d’Art show and its corresponding Lagerfeld-lensed fashion editorial. In the years since, Good has frequently opened and closed Chanel, and she even has some theories of her own as to why Lagerfeld latches onto certain models: “When you’re meeting fashion bigwigs, it can be very intimidating,” she told a paper in New Zealand. “But definitely be yourself. That’s what he loves.”
Photo: Monica Feudi / GoRunway.com3/7Stella Tennant
Notable openings: Spring 2013 Couture, Pre-Fall 2013, Pre-Fall 2012, Spring 2011 Couture, Spring 2011
Though Tennant’s aristocratic heritage is often noted as a part of her success, what Lagerfeld valued in the model was the modernity of her look. Describing her as a “beauty for the end of the century” who didn’t mesh with the ’90s supermodel ideal but brought something new to the table, Lagerfeld has worked with Tennant throughout her career—even signing her to an exclusive contract back in the mid-’90s.
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / ImaxTree4/7Freja Beha Erichsen
Notable openings: Fall 2011, Spring 2010 Couture, Spring 2009 Couture, Fall 2007, Fall 2005 Couture
Beha Erichsen’s devil-may-care attitude is half of her appeal, and Lagerfeld was smitten the moment they met. Describing her as a friend and surrogate daughter on German talk show Wetten, dass . . ? Lagerfeld admitted to a hint of favoritism when it came to the Danish beauty.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel5/7Sasha Pivovarova
Notable openings: Fall 2009 Couture, Pre-Fall 2009, Resort 2009, Spring 2008 Couture, Fall 2007 Couture
Though she’s better known for her work for Prada, Pivovarova had a lengthy run as the opener for Chanel. Doing more than simply walking the runway, the artistic Pivovarova contributed to Chanel behind the scenes, creating special drawings for Chanel’s Moscow show.
