EDITOR’S PORTRAIT: KRISTINA SOLJO. HAIR AND MAKEUP BY SAMANTHA POWELL AT UNION. CHANEL: BENOÎT PEVERELLI. GRAHAM: NINO MUÑOZHILE preparing to send this issue to print,
hanel announced the sad news that Karl
agerfeld, their creative director, had died at
he age of 85 in Paris. His passing brought
ne of the longest fashion journeys, one that
egan more than half a century ago, to an end.
is, much will have been discussed and written
about this colossus of the fashion world: from his creative spirit, vision
and genius, to his formidable humour and friendships.
Aside from Lagerfeld’s extraordinary talent and encyclopedic knowl-
edge of literature and art, this mastermind was also a showman: an
endlessly quotable straight talker with a wicked wit. His daring and
irreverent approach, coupled with a formidable work ethic, saw him
design collections not only for Chanel (for 37 years), but also for Fendi
(for 54 years), and his eponymous label, revolutionising the industry as
he went. As our European editor Jamie Huckbody
reflects in his tribute on page 46, Lagerfeld was a
man who made no apologies for doing things his
way — and died with his boots on (Fendi showed at
Milan fashion week just two days after his death). The
effect of his loss will definitely be felt at Paris fashion
week, where Chanel is slated to show on March 5.
Closer to home, during the first week of March, all
fashion eyes on the local front are focused on the
Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival, now in
its 23rd year. This year’s special guest — and our
April issue cover star — is Ashley Graham, the volup-
tuous American supermodel, designer, author and
body activist. This is a woman who sits at the pointy
end of the modelling game, despite everything the
fashion industry has thrown at her. She questioned
the rules and rewrote them. And by defying the con-
ventions of this era, she has, in a way, defined them.
The theme of this year’s VAMFF is Power to the
Dreamers, so it’s fitting that Graham is scheduled
to speak during the festival’s ideas program on
International Women’s Day. “I dream of a world
where self-worth doesn’t depend on the number inside
of our clothing,” she has said. “I’ve spent my career at
the forefront of changing perceptions, promoting
diversity and creating a new brand of beautiful.”
Offering an alternative view of beauty to a fashion
audience is a hard sell, but 31-year-old Graham’s
secret is the magic Oprah-like aura she possesses.
(For evidence, head online to harpersbazaar.com.au
to watch the exclusive interview we filmed during cover shoot in
New York. Girl’s got a great belly laugh). It’s authenticity. She’ll
never apologise, thank God, for not fitting sample size, and she’s
got far more to talk about than her waist-to-hip ratio.
So here’s to celebrating the female body in all its shapes and
forms. And to being a straight shooter. It worked for Monsieur
Lagerfeld. And it’s clearly working for Ashley ...EUGENIE KELLY
Editor-in-ChiefARE YOU
FOLLOWING US?
@BAZAARAUSTRALIA
Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram46
96
“The blood,
sweat and
tears that
go into
everything
are worth it.”
–ASHLEYGRAHAMKarl Lagerfeld at
Chanel A/W 2017.Ashley Graham.28 HARPERSBAZAAR.COM.AU^ April 2019
EDITOR’S
letter