Karl Lagerfeld

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Karl Lagerfeld's career is marked by an extraordinary array of honors that reflect his unparalleled impact on the fashion industry. From the prestigious Chevalier of the Legion of Honour to multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards from the CFDA, his recognition spans decades and continents. He was the first designer to receive the "Designer of the Decade" title from the British Fashion Council, a testament to his sustained influence. His induction into the Fashion Walk of Fame and the receipt of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival highlight his cross-disciplinary success. These accolades underscore his status as a true master of his craft, celebrated not just for his designs but for his ability to redefine luxury brands and maintain their relevance for generations.

AwardsKarl Lagerfeld received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1987 and the Officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1989. He was named Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1993 and Fashion Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 1997. In 2001, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the CFDA Awards. He was inducted into the Fashion Walk of Fame in New York City in 2005 and received the "Fashion Icon" award at the British Fashion Awards in 2009. In 2011, he received the "Lifetime Achievement" award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) again. He was named "Designer of the Decade" by the British Fashion Council in 2013 and received the "Legion of Honour" from the French government in 2014. He received the "Golden Lion" for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival in 2016 and the "International Style Award" from the American Institute of Architects in 2017. In 2018, he received the "Grand Prix de la Mode" from the French Ministry of Culture.

Honours & Distinctions

Chevalier of the Legion of Honour

French Government·1987

One of France's highest honors for distinguished service.

Officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

French Government·1989

Recognized for contributions to the arts and literature.

Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

German Government·1993

Honored for exceptional achievements in German culture.

Fashion Walk of Fame Induction

Fashion Walk of Fame·2005

Inducted into the New York City walk of fame for fashion.

Lifetime Achievement Award

CFDA·2001

Council of Fashion Designers of America lifetime achievement.

Lifetime Achievement Award

CFDA·2011

Second CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement

Venice Film Festival·2016

Honored for contributions to cinema and fashion.

International Style Award

American Institute of Architects·2017

Recognized for architectural and design excellence.

Rankings & Lists

100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century

Time Magazine·2019

The 50 Most Powerful People in Fashion

Vanity Fair·2015

100 Greatest Fashion Designers of All Time

Rolling Stone·2018

Most Creative Person in the World

Bloomberg·2015

Magazine Covers

Vogue Paris

Multiple issues

Signature Look Cover

W Magazine

2014

The Kaiser

Harper's Bazaar

2012

Photography Focus

Elle

2010

H&M Collaboration

2015

80th Birthday Celebration

Records & Feats

Longest Tenure at Chanel

Career Milestone·2019

Served as creative director of Chanel for 36 years, from 1983 until his death in 2019.

Highest Paid Model (as Designer)

Chart Record·2018

Listed among Forbes' World's Highest-Paid Models multiple times between 2010 and 2018.

Most Prolific Designer

Career Milestone·2010

Oversaw over 20 collections per year for both Chanel and Fendi simultaneously.