The Kaiser’s Rolls

The head designer for Chanel, Fendi and his eponymous label, Karl Lagerfeld‘s photography career has managed to simultaneously blossomed alongside his fashion expertise.

On January 21, Shanghai’s 18Gallery will open Karl Lagerfeld: Photographs, a rare collection of images produced by Lagerfeld and his former muse-turned-photographer Adnan Taletovich. Shot over the course of the 90s between Paris and Monte Carlo, the black and white prints emit a range of emotions ranging from melancholy and seductive to valiant and impish, with supermodels Helena Christensen, Patricia Velasquez and Linda Evangelista making playful cameos throughout the series. Through extreme close-ups and blurry silhouettes, Lagerfeld and Taletovich create a mysterious aura of romance, classicism and sophistication. -Christina Mannatt