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PARIS — German designer Karl Lagerfeld is having an Olsen moment.
Think twin actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen who sat front row at his Chanel ready-to-wear show in Paris on Friday and provided the template for the models who stalked the runway.
Their hair worn loose and stylishly disheveled, these circled a spectacular gold merry-go-round featuring oversized replicas of the symbols of Chanel style — a quilted handbag, a bow or a camellia.
A thick ribbed boyfriend sweater was paired with a shredded denim mini skirt. A white satin shirttail peeked out from a tight black skirt suit (Ashley goes shopping!).
It was a sparkling demonstration of Lagerfeld's ability to keep the brand relevant for a new generation, nearly four decades after the death of founder Coco Chanel.
"I think a living memorial is better than some sort of respectful tomb," Lagerfeld said recently. "She is lucky, because nobody has survived as well, thanks to what we are doing, I don't mean just myself, but the people who own the company."
The fascination with Coco Chanel shows no sign of dying, with three separate biopics in the works, including one starring Audrey Tautou and another with Demi Moore.
It is a plum role — Chanel was a force of nature, spending her teenage years in a Catholic orphanage before going on to revolutionize the way women dressed.
"History likes to focus on strong women, so there is an interest in her," said Hal Rubenstein, fashion director of InStyle magazine. "Plus you can't divorce the fact that he is doing a great job, which keeps the name alive."
Lagerfeld's latest project was to commission 20 leading contemporary artists to create original works of art inspired by Chanel's quilted handbag.
The exhibition, housed in a futuristic white pavilion by cutting-edge architect Zaha Hadid, went on show in Hong Kong this week and will travel the world before reaching Paris in two years.
Sonia Rykiel is another designer who has transcended fashion to become an icon — her trademark frizzy red bob has been immortalized by the likes of Andy Warhol.
The 77-year-old is still going strong and will celebrate her label's 40th anniversary this year with a series of events including a museum retrospective in Paris.
The house has named a new creative director, Gabrielle Greiss, to update its bohemian chic style in the hope of conquering the U.S. market.
Models vamped it up for the cameras in pleated baby dolls and fuzzy mohair sweater dresses in upbeat combinations of orange, burgundy and hot pink.
"I feel very proud and I feel like she is behind me," Greiss, 34, told The Associated Press after taking her bow with Rykiel and her daughter Nathalie.
Alexander McQueen also has cause to celebrate — his brand finally turned a profit in 2007 for the first time, meeting a target date set by its parent company, Gucci Group.
The British designer drew inspiration from English queens — what else? — for his breathtaking lineup of corseted dresses with ample skirts that were either stiff as a lampshade or draped around the body in rich folds.
A cream tulle ballerina dress was overlaid with a black peacock motif, while a scarlet whorled satin bolero topped a soft white tulle skirt.
These were offset by strict masculine tailoring, like a gray tartan mohair frock coat paired with spray-on black leather leggings.
The audience roared their approval as McQueen playfully lifted the last model's regal red satin cape.
