German Fashion Elites
German Fashion Elites
Visualizing German fashion, many people's first thoughts still circle around lederhosen and dirndl, the traditional attire. But distinguished German designers and fashion houses that offer a classic, clear style have always been key global players when it came to the export of fashion. German supermodels have constantly been in high demand, while photographer Helmut Newton transformed fashion photography.
Karl Lagerfeld
Born in Hamburg, Lagerfeld is the most influential and eccentric German designer. He has designed clothing for leading fashion houses such as Chloe, Fendi, Krizia and Chanel. Nicknamed "Kaiser Karl," he brought a perfume on the market in 1975. His fashion is made to be worn, not displayed in a museum, he once said. He is a multilingual designer, photographer and a trademark himself. Always wearing sunglasses and a ponytail, he never fails to surprise. He lost 42 kg (around 93 pounds) in 13 months through the so-called Karl Lagerfeld Diet. In December of 2006, he announced the launch of a new collection for men and women named K Karl Lagerfeld.
Jil Sander
Jil Sander started out as a fashion writer and textile engineer before she came out with her own women's collection in 1973. The "Queen of Less" designs unembellished and purely styled clothing. Her minimalist focus includes unusual silhouettes and high-end fabrics. The trademark look of her designs is that of a successful woman in a perfectly cut pantsuit, a form-fitting coat or a slim blouse in black, white, blue or grey, without any beautification of the outfit -- classic chic. In 2000, she sold her company to Prada.
Wolfgang Joop
The third person to conclude the round of the three most successful German designers is Wolfgang Joop. His breakthrough in the fashion industry happened in 1978. He first presented a women's collection under the name JOOP!, and a men's collection followed. Not necessarily provocative, his designs are sexy, emphasizing the body. He is renowned for his perfumes, accessories and cosmetics. In 1998, he sold 95 percent of JOOP!. He subsequently established the label Wunderkind Art, which debuted internationally in September 2004.
Hugo Boss
Hugo Boss is a fashion house specializing in high-end and casual men's and women's wear. Established in 1923, the company initially specialized in work clothes. Today, more than 90 percent of revenues are spawned by the elegant core brand, Hugo Boss, which appeals to the dynamic, success-oriented man. In addition to clothing, the company specializes in glasses, watches, perfumes, shoes and accessories -- those, however, are produced as licensed partnerships. The company's products, divided over three brands, are available throughout the world in 103 countries and more than 5,000 retail stores.
Escada
Escada is an international luxury fashion house that concentrates on women's designer fashion -- very often worn by celebrities on the red carpet. Founded by Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley in 1976, the name Escada derived from a horse they both bet on while on a vacation in Portugal. Escada in Portuguese means "nothing." After its debut, the fashion house gained on worldwide popularity in less than five years. Famous for its quality materials, the use of color, elegant and feminine designs, Escada’s collections are available in about 500 locations in 60 countries. Like many fashion houses, Escada also has a line of fragrances for both women and men.
Strenesse
The fashion house Strenesse mainly conveys the works of its main designer, Gabriele Strehle. In 1998, she gave the fashion house her name: Strenesse Gabriele Strehle. Her first men's collection appeared in 2002. In 2005, Strenesse moved to the New York Fashion Week. Strehle once said she wanted to use her collections to underscore personality, not to stand on their own.
Anja Gockel
Anja Gockel is among the younger generation of up-and-coming German fashion designers. She works in Mainz after studying fashion in Hamburg and London. In 1995 and 1996, she worked for British designer Vivienne Westwood. Her label Anja Gockel London focuses on women's clothing that is cheery and colorful. One of her most illustrious clients is Sweden's queen.
Heidi Klum
This multi-tasker with a girl-next door image seems to be ubiquitous. She is an actress, a fashion designer, a producer, a singer, an artist, a mother and, above all, "The Body." In the US, she hosted the TV-show "Project Runway." In Germany, she is the host of "Germany's Next Top Model." She's known for her cover on the "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit issue, as well as her work with the lingerie company Victoria's Secret. She is a spokeswoman for McDonald's, Braun, H&M and Liz Claiborne. She has designed her own clothing line, fragrances, jewelry and swimsuits, as well as shoes for Birkenstock. She has a child with Flavio Briatore, the managing director of the Renault Formula One team. Today she is married to the musician Seal, with whom she has two sons.
Claudia Schiffer
She was one of the original "Supermodels," from the 1990s. She appeared on over 500 magazine covers and is one of the wealthiest German women of her time. When Karl Lagerfeld selected her as the new face of Chanel, he quickly gave her the status of a supermodel. She has worked with nearly every noted fashion magazine, fashion house and fashion designer. Today she still holds a contract with L'Oreal and Ebel watches. She has appeared in many TV shows, movies, music videos and late-night shows. She was engaged to the magician David Copperfield but is now married to the film producer Matthew Vaughn. Schiffer has two children and lives in London.
Nadja Auermann
Nadja Auermann is another successful German supermodel who started her career during the supermodel craze in the 1990s. Auermann holds a record for having the longest legs among the long-legged women, measuring 114 cm (45 inches). In 1990, after signing a contract with the Elite Modeling Management, bleaching her hair and a photo shooting for a prêt-à-porter collection, her career finally took off. Today, the 36-year old, who has a child, still takes part in fashion shows of the most noted fashion houses, such as Chanel and Versace.
Helmut Newton
Newton transformed fashion photography through his innovative work for magazines like "Vogue," "Marie Claire" and "Elle." Noted for his nude studies of women, Newton began his successful career in Paris in 1961. He was known for his meticulous style, characterized by erotic, stylized scenes and fetishistic subtexts. He died in a car crash at the age of 83 in 2004.