Karl Lagerfeld Snaps (For Dom Perignon Vintage 1998)

Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons arrive at the launch party for the new Dom Perignon Vintage 1998 Champagne hosted by Karl Lagerfeld in New York on Thursday, June 2, 2005. (Fashion Wire Daily/Grant Lamos IV)

The invite called for "sensual attire," and guests at the unveiling of a new Karl Lagerfeld-lensed ad campaign for Dom Perignon Vintage 1998 held Thursday night at New York's Skylight Studios were only too happy to comply in floaty chiffon frocks (many by Chanel, natch), black backless numbers and sparkles and spangles galore. Most of the guys looked pretty dashing, too.

"I'm happy to come out and help him celebrate," Kimora Lee Simmons told Fashion Wire Daily while her argyle-vested hubby, Russell, cooled his heels nearby. "He definitely gave me my start, and I try to return the favor. Also, I have a love of fine things. So a fabulous event in honor of someone you love where there's fabulous champagne served seemed like a place we should be!"

Fellow champagne-loving fashionistas Donna Karan, Helen Schifter, Cynthia Rowley, Candace Bushnell, May Andersen, Yeohlee, Fern Mallis, Anne Hathaway, Tommy Hilfiger, Lauren Bush, Olivia Chantecaille,
Topher Grace and a skittish-seeming Julianne Moore apparently shared her sentiment.

The venue had been transformed into a super-sleek - make that sensual - abode for the evening, complete with a claw foot tubbed Salle de Bain, seductively red-lit Chambre anchored by a red satin bed, a Salon with lit-from-within couches and black pillar candles, and a Boudoir with low white banquettes and a huge center bar serving nothing but Dom Perignon.

The hallway-cum-Galerie was furnished with black and white seating areas and hung with Lagerfeld's images from the campaign, which were shot over a three day period in the designer's Paris home and featured model Helena Christensen - clothed and otherwise - in a variety of languid poses. (Oh, there she is reclining seductively on a divan, champagne flute in hand! Here's she's emerging from a bath and being toweled off by a comely young woman! And, look, over there: the sloe-eyed beauty is surrounded by equally de-lovely friends, aka, models Brad Kroenig and Caroline Ribeiro). A video of the shoot was playing nearby, and guests paused to watch how the magic happened while bathed in the scent of John Galliano (the Diptyque candle, not the man), which burned on tables nearby.

"I think they're about the seven temptations for a women," opined Visionaire editor Stephen Gan as we awaited Lagerfeld's arrival in the "foyer," which had been kitted out with an oversized urn of pastel roses and 6" tall silver candelabras. "I think the photos are very sexy. It's sort of risqué for Dom Perignon but it's a really good move on their part. If there is anyone who can do something like that and get away with it - and still make it look chic and sophisticated - it's Karl."

The Chanel-clad Christensen was equally enthused about the project.

"I was so excited to be with [Karl] again and experience his way of working because it's very interesting," she said while standing beneath an image of herself wearing a smile and little else. "He's one of the people I respect most in this business. And at the same time, to do it for Dom Perignon...it's a dream. Just being in Karl's house in Paris is like something out of a fairy tale, and having champagne for breakfast, lunch and dinner - it was pretty cool. And I was half-naked all the way through, so I needed champagne!"

Not so Lagerfeld. After informing FWD that he had chosen Christensen for the campaign because she "represents the knowing, sensuous woman better than anybody else," we asked the super slim designer how much Dom Perignon was allowed on The Lagerfeld Diet.

"None," he replied with firm shake of his ponytailed mane. "You don't have to drink champagne to photograph champagne."

FWD - June 7, 2005

Comments

[Keepitreal]

Why does Russel look like the retarded boy on the short yellow schoolbus?

[shan keith]

hey kimora, this is shan keith, a fashion designer from st. louis, mo. I am trying to show-case my work and get all of my designs out there for the world to see. I've been doing local shows for so long and not getting any where but unfulfilled dreams and stories from wanna-be's. If there is a way i can send my porfolio to you in order to show you some of my work I would greatly appreciate that. I have no formal design or sewing training. I learned everything from God and my mother. I sew my own garments and I am willing to listen and learn what it take to get my family out of st. louis and stop working a nine-five and start pursuing my dreams. please Kimora if you get the chance, READ MY EMAIL AND RESPOND, whether it be positve or negative.

sincerely, SHAN KEITH

[Myqueria Hallman]

hi how u doing today i love ur u and ur kid

[Myqueria Hallman]

hi how u doing today i love ur u and ur kid

[dom pérignon]

Great Article, have a look of the official site http://www.domperignon98.com

[J. Chamberlain]

I am doing a project and am looking for some older photos of Miss Kimora during her Lagerfeld days and her early runway years. It is difficult to find any photos on line of this. Any suggestions? Thanks So

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Probably he was overwhelmed on what he saw.