David Tupaz Pays Tribute to Karl Lagerfeld at Los Angeles Fashion Week

ARTICLE BY CHANELLE HAYES | DESIGNS BY DAVID TUPAZPHOTOGRAPHY BY JAIME LIM, LIQUID STAR PHOTOGRAPHY

Los Angeles Fashion Week, powered by Art Hearts Fashion, presented the collection of David Tupaz, the only established fashion and couture designer based in Nevada. His latest work is a tribute to the late legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld, known for his iconic tenure at Chanel.

Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, recently featured nine of the world’s top designers to interpret Lagerfeld’s style in celebration of his fashion legacy. Tupaz continued this homage in his Fall 2025–26 collection, honoring the creative force behind one of the world’s most recognizable fashion houses.
Lagerfeld, who became creative director of Chanel in 1983, modernized the brand with his “Ode de Mademoiselle Coco” vision, building on Coco Chanel’s turn-of-the-century legacy. Today, Chanel remains one of the top French fashion houses in history.

Tupaz’s interpretation featured the classic black-and-white palette with subtle touches of red, accessorized with layers of gold chains and pearls—signatures of Coco Chanel. The collection also highlighted the camellia flower, one of her favorite symbols.

Branching into menswear, Tupaz introduced a unique twist: transforming Chanel’s iconic chains into hand-knitted scarves, a detail that drew applause on the runway. His reinterpretation of Chanel’s classic aesthetic is both timeless and modern.

After the show, during backstage interviews with media and press, Tupaz shared his heartfelt dedication: “To my dearest maestro, Karl Lagerfeld … I hope I made you proud.”

Photography of the full collection was captured by Jaime Lim. — Los Angeles Fashion Week, March 20, 2025