First Look: The Macy’s Line by Karl Lagerfeld

The first photograph of an actual piece of clothing from Karl Lagerfeld's Macy's line appears in the August issue of Vogue — a simple $109 floral dress. As a consolation prize, WWD has a look at Karl's sketches of two additional outfits from the 45-piece collection, ranging in price from $50 to $70, launching in 235 Macy's stores and online August 31. The line includes Karl signatures, like structured jackets, tuxedo silhouettes, high collars, tweeds, and graphic tees that "you can see ... from a distance and know they’re Karl’s," Macy’s, Inc.’s chief merchandising officer, Jeff Gennette, told WWD. "Some of it customers will get right away — some of it will be a reach."

The shamelessly collab-happy Kaiser has already done an affordable line for H&M and partnered with other brands, like Hogan, Diesel, and skiwear label Napapijri and even conceives pens and lighters for French accessories firm S.T. Dupont. There were also his Magnum ice cream ads, theDiet Coke campaign, the road-safety ads, and glasses for Orrefors, for which he appears in a particularly stupendous Internet film explaining his intent. So, if you were thinking, Macy's? Over to Karl: "It’s the perfect department store in the U.S., where everybody can find what they’re looking for without ruining their budget." Well, of course. A Wal-Mart executive is kicking himself right about now for not getting his pitch letter out sooner.