The past few weeks after NYFW ended, I’ve been sick more days than not. (Really sick.) Due to feeling so under the weather, some of my recaps have been delayed a bit. So what better time to do a flashback Friday post celebrating the four-year anniversary of one of my favorite shoots ever: Behind the scenes of the Fall/Winter 2010 Chanel Ad Campaign shoot, on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
The original post is still to this day my highest viewed blog post ever. The photos went on to be featured in a handful of international fashion magazines, which, to put it simply– paid my rent for a few months that year. I’ll never forget my day on set, and how it ended with me meeting the man himself, Karl Lagerfeld. If only more brands did such fun ad campaigns right on the streets in NYC!
After a day and a half of reading the twitter frenzy about Karl Lagerfeld being in New York City, I decided to head to the lower east side to see the spectacle for myself and shoot some photos. I almost didn’t go due to a prior engagement, but thankfully a few fellow fashion bloggers on twitter convinced me it was worth it, and I skipped my other event.
Lets just say it was DEFINITELY worth it. I not only met Freja and Abbey Lee, but also the Kaiser himself– KARL LAGERFELD!!!! But I’m getting a bit ahead of myself…
When I arrived on the set, the production had stopped for a lunch break. I found a bench to sit on and chatted with a few local store owners about the shoot. Most seemed pretty excited about it. After a short while, I noticed Freja about twenty feet away from me, smoking. Soon after, she went back to her trailer. And emerged with Abbey. They both went back and forth between two trailers about three times while I watched. Freja kept looking at me funny for taking photos (no one else was around at this point), but finally smiled:
While I was waiting for Karl to appear, I made a new friend:
I didn’t have to wait long though. After about five more minutes, a charter mini-bus arrived with Karl, his bodyguard, and more crew.
Once the models were ready, Karl got back in to the cherry picker, ready to shoot again.
The first shot was Abbey on the fire escape:
Furry boots, waiting to be used.
The second shot was Freja, walking down Orchard Street:
Karl approves.
His assistant checks the camera settings.
Abbey watches.
Freja comes closer.
While Karl photographs each look, a small army of assistants stand by, ready to be beckoned:
The makeup artist.
Stylist assistant with alternate handbag options.
After the shot was complete, Karl and crew gathered around the monitor to see the results:
Karl takes a break.
The girls returned, wearing Chanel’s signature tweed:
I want this bracelet so badly!
When shooting resumed, Freja and Abbey posed together:
The crew figured out which looks still needed to be photographed:
After, everyone takes a peek at the completed shots:
The third look was winter whites:
Freja and Abbey goofed around while Karl got ready:
Karl giving direction.
Freja.
Abbey.
Karl.
Bringing the male model in: I really just don’t know what to say about this look.
Abbey posed with a fan:
I tried to get a photo with Abbey, but she was called away by a crew member. She apologized profusely, but I told her it was ok.
Freja posed sitting in the street for her next solo shot:
Watching Freja.
Realizing the sun was quickly setting, Karl walked down Orchard looking for the location of his last few shots. He settled on another fire escape, this time in red.
I took a quick video of Karl in action. Wendy from Nitrolicious does the intro:
Checking the results after the shoot:
Large crowds had been watching the action most of the day. I was surprised to see designer Katie Gallagher, who’s show I attended last month, walk by to see it for herself.
Freja changed into her last look, and took a short break while Karl snapped some personal photos:
The very last shot was Freja on the fire escape:
After that, the shoot wrapped! Wendy, who I’d been hanging out with on set all day really wanted to get a photo with Karl. So we hung around for a bit, then started walking back to the trailers with all of the crew. On the way, Abbey and Freja walked right past me. I asked if I could now get a photo with both of them, to which they kindly obliged:
I’m 5’9″, but I felt very short.
(And I swear none of us have demon eyes in real life).
Karl stopped in front of his trailer to talk to his coworkers. Wendy asked his bodyguard if we could get photos, and he told us not yet, to wait until Karl was done talking. After about five minutes, Karl looked over and we made eye contact. I knew that was our chance. I put my hands up and mimed taking a photo, then pointed to Wendy and I. And he nodded ok!!! We both got our photos with Karl, and thanked him profusely.
I’ve been lucky, in the past year I’ve met so many great artists, designers, and musicians that I admire. I never would have dreamed that I’d one day meet Karl. He truly is a living legend. And despite what people might think, he was very kind! In person, he seemed very quiet and almost a bit shy. Thanks Karl and Chanel for coming to NYC and letting us all take photos on set!
