Karl Lagerfeld (1933-2019)

drawing for an invitation or souvenir of the “Diner des Poissons” organized by Karl Lagerfeld

pastel, silvered-pencil, Shu Uemura pencil on paper

Inscribed “Dearest Doris/Dîner des Poissons/le 5 mars / 51 rue de / l’Université/20 30”, in a beige and gold cardboard envelope monogrammed KL and inscribed “D.B.” in black ink

29,7 x 21 cm ; 11 2/3 in x 8 1/3 in

The “Pisces Dinner” was a private, friendly reception that Karl Lagerfeld hosted at his Parisian residence, the Hôtel Pozzo di Borgo. This dinner gathered a select circle of guests, connected to the luxury world or close to the designer, sometimes chosen for being born in March—hence the symbolic idea of the “fish” (the Pisces zodiac sign). Lagerfeld enjoyed organizing highly staged dinners, with the help of Françoise Dumas also form the Pisces sign, also with carefully curated decorations, sometimes inspired by the marine world, combining refinement, theatricality, and the art of living.

The hôtel particulier at 51 Rue de l’Université, the Pozzo di Borgo residence in Paris, was for nearly three decades the home and reception venue of Karl Lagerfeld. Known for his taste for luxury and his theatrical flair, Lagerfeld hosted sumptuous private dinners there, bringing together figures from the worlds of fashion, cinema, and high society.

These evenings were famed for their glamorous and spectacular atmosphere: the richly decorated salons, with wood paneling, gilding, and thick carpets, created a palatial setting that elevated each reception. Amanda Harlech, a close collaborator of Lagerfeld, recalled that “the party buzzed around him,” with the designer seated at his round table in a Louis XV armchair, while “guests fluttered like butterflies around the flame of his presence.”

Within this social sphere, Lagerfeld maintained a friendly relationship with Doris Brynner, an iconic figure in design and the luxury world. They were photographed together on numerous occasions: during Fashion Weeks, particularly Dior shows; at concerts by tenor Plácido Domingo; and at the opening of Yul Brynner’s A Photographic Journey at Galerie Du Passage in Paris. This camaraderie reflected their shared presence in the Parisian social and artistic scene, where fashion, music, and art intersected.