CULTURE

Supermodel Kaia Gerber, Just 16, Is Now Also Designing Clothes with Karl Lagerfeld

First she followed in the steps of mom Cindy Crawford. Now she’s following in the steps of the modern day Cindy, Gigi Hadid.


Alexander Wang - Runway - September 2017 - New York Fashion Week
Presley Ann/Getty Images

Even when she already conquering the spotlight at just 14, Kaia Gerber seemed remarkably clear-headed, despite being Cindy Crawford‘s daughter and doppelgänger. Despite her early success, she was adamant that 16 was the “proper age” to start modeling, “because once you start you can’t really go back.”

Gerber was definitely right about that. True to her word, she walked her first fashion show just days after coming of age, making her splashy debut by opening Calvin Klein and quickly going on to dominate the rest of the spring 2018 shows last fall, walking the runways of Rihanna’s Fenty Puma, Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs, Coach, Prada, Versace, Valentino, Miu Miu, Saint Laurent, Moschino, and Fendi.

Luckily, she had a seasoned chaperone: Crawford dutifully came along to Gerber’s many, many shows, taking her rightful seat in the front row—and even joined her on the runway at Versace. Now, however, Gerber is starting off the new year by leaping a step ahead of mom. In addition to achieving supermodeldom in just one season, Gerber’s now becoming an actual designer, too, thanks to none other than Karl Lagerfeld, who’s tapped Gerber to create a capsule collection for his eponymous line, called, of course, the Karl Lagerfeld x Kaia collection.

Kaia Gerber at the Chanel spring 2018 show that she opened in Paris, October 2017. Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images.

Pascal Le Segretain

In the last few months, it’s been clear that Gerber has shared a special relationship with Lagerfeld. After walking in Fendi, Lagerfeld tapped her to not only walk, but also open, the show of yet another brand he’s creative director of: Chanel. He also flew Gerber out to his hometown of Hamburg in December for Chanel’s extravagant Métiers d’Art show.

Their capsule collection, however, proves that their bond has actually began off the runway, even before Paris Fashion Week. According to Pier Paolo Righi, CEO of the Karl Lagerfeld line, they’ve actually been “working intensely over the last months with Kaia in LA and at our studio in Paris,” with Gerber apparently showing off her “clear vision, passion and engagement.”

Righi also added that working with Garber was Lagerfeld’s idea: “When Karl first told us his idea to collaborate with Kaia, we were all excited by the incredible potential and power of bringing their two worlds together,” he told WWD. Apparently, they plan to do so explicitly. While it’s a long way off until it’ll hit stores in September, WWD reports that the collection will meld Lagerfeld’s “Parisian chic” aesthetic with Gerber’s “signature West Coast casual style”—meaning items like, say, a rumored pair of elbow-length studded leather gloves. (The capsule will also include ready-to-wear, footwear, and accessories like jewelry and sunglasses.)

See All of Kaia Gerber’s Fashion Month Looks, Both On and Off the Runway

Kaia Gerber is seen on September 06, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by BG021/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

BG021/Bauer-Griffin

Kaia Gerber walks the runway for the Calvin Klein Collection fashion show during New York Fashion Week on September 7, 2017 in New York City. (Getty Images)

ANGELA WEISS

Kaia Gerber attends Daily Front Row’s Fashion Media Awards at Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown on September 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Paul Bruinooge

Kaia Gerber is seen on September 7, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/GC Images)

Marc Piasecki

Kaia Gerber walks the runway at Alexander Wang show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/Getty Images)

Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho

Kaia Gerber attends the 2017 Harper’s Bazaar Icons at The Plaza Hotel on September 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

Jim Spellman

Kaia Gerber walks the runway at the Fenty Puma By Rihanna fashion show during New York fashion week at Park Avenue Armory on September 10, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Peter White/Getty Images)

Peter White

Kaia Gerber walks the runway at Coach Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show during New York Fashion Week on September 12, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Victor VIRGILE

Kaia Jordan Gerber is seen arriving the FENTY PUMA by Rihanna Spring/Summer 2018 Collection at Park Avenue Armory on September 10, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)

Gilbert Carrasquillo

Kaia Gerber walks the runway for Marc Jacobs SS18 fashion show during New York Fashion Week at Park Avenue Armory on September 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Marc Jacobs)

Slaven Vlasic

Kaia Gerber walks the runway at the Burberry show during London Fashion Week September 2017 on September 16, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/BFC/Getty Images for The British Fashion Council)

Jeff Spicer/BFC

Kaia Gerber walks the runway at the Fendi Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on September 21, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Victor VIRGILE

Kaia Gerber walks the runway at the Prada Spring Summer 2018 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week on September 21, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images)

Catwalking

Kaia Gerber walks the runway at the Versace Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on September 22, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Victor VIRGILE

Kaia Gerber walks the runway at the Moschino Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on September 21, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Victor VIRGILE

Kaia Gerber walks the runway at the Moschino Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on September 21, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Victor VIRGILE

Kaia Gerber walks the runway at the Versace Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on September 22, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Victor VIRGILE

Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford attend theVogue Italia ‘The New Beginning’ Party during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on September 22, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Venturelli/Getty Images)

Venturelli

Kaia Gerber walks the runway at the Bottega Veneta show during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on September 23, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Andreas Rentz

Model Kaia Gerber is seen on September 25, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/GC Images)

Marc Piasecki

Model Kaia Gerber leaves her hotel on September 26, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mehdi Taamallah/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

NurPhoto

Kaia Gerber walks the runway during the Saint Laurent Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 26, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Victor VIRGILE

Kaia Gerber walks the runway during the Saint Laurent Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 26, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Victor VIRGILE

Kaia Gerber walks the runway during the Off/White show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France.

Estrop

Kaia Gerber walks the runway during the Chloe show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Peter White/Getty Images)

Peter White

Kaia Gerber attends “Her Time” Omega Photocall as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 29, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)

Bertrand Rindoff Petroff

Kaia Gerber walks the runway during the Isabel Marant Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Victor VIRGILE

Kaia Gerber walks the runway during the Valentino show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on October 1, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Peter White/Getty Images)

Peter White

Kaia Gerber is seen arriving at Chanel show during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018on October 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/GC Images )

Jacopo Raule

Kaia Gerber walks the runway during the Chanel Paris show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on October 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Pascal Le Segretain
1/30

The new direction is just another similarity between Gerber and Gigi Hadid, whom the the former has long said she looks up to. Both have model moms and siblings, grew up in Malibu, did the same high school program, and now, of course, are already supermodel-designers, with Hadid already into her fourth season working with Tommy Hilfiger. All that remains to be seen is whether Gerber can generate more than 150 percent in sales for Lagerfeld like Hadid has for Hilfiger (and if Lagerfeld will follow in Hilfiger’s footsteps by turning Gerber into a Barbie doll).

Related: Cindy Crawford Is “a Lot More Concerned” About Kaia Gerber Driving by Herself Than Walking Runways

9 Famous Kids Who Ruled the Runway at New York Fashion Week 2017: