In 1972, Karl Lagerfeld (Daniel Brühl) is 38 and not yet wearing his iconic hairstyle. He is a ready-to-wear designer, unknown to the general public. While he meets and falls in love with the sultry Jacques de Bascher (Théodore Pellerin), an ambitious and troubling young dandy, the most mysterious of fashion designers dares to take on his friend (and rival) Yves Saint Laurent (Arnaud Valois), a genius of haute couture backed by the redoubtable businessman Pierre Bergé (Alex Lutz).
The series plunges us into the heart of the 70s, in Paris, Monaco and Rome, to follow the formidable blossoming of this complex and iconic personality of Parisian couture, already driven by the ambition to become the Emperor of fashion.
Between glamour and clashes of egos, grandiose parties and destructive passions, discover the story of Karl before Lagerfeld. The story is told for the first time on screen and adapted from the bestseller “Kaiser Karl” by Raphaëlle Bacqué (published by Albin Michel) bringing together a star-studded cast.
Actor Daniel Brühl takes on the role of the couturier, parade Théodore Pellerin as Jacques de Bascher and Arnaud Valois as Yves Saint Laurent. Alex Lutz plays Pierre Bergé. Agnès Jaoui plays Gabrielle Aghion, the founder of the Chloé fashion house who made a major contribution to his fame.