After months of sketches, videos, lookbook images and promises about the new brand, we leapt at the chance to inspect the actual clothes from KARL at Net-a-porter’s glossy head offices on Monday evening.

The collection is full of knowing nods to its maker’s image. The type of fingerless, low-on-the-wrist gloves beloved of Madonna are there, as are a number of high, peaked collars and lean trousers that recall Lagerfeld’s daily uniform. And who could suppress a smile at the white t-shirts bearing the designer’s silhouette?

Beyond those fashion winks, the 70-piece range has plenty of pieces designed to slot into existing wardrobes. There are black and white leather motocross jackets, silver lamé dresses and abbreviated sweatshirts with distressed shoulders. The only thing there isn’t much of is colour, with a palette restricted to black, white and silver interspersed with splashes of powdery pink.

The collection launches at 3:30pm Wednesday with coordinated events in London, New York, Paris and Berlin (Sydney residents will have to wait until Friday).

Londoners can see the collection up close at Net-a-porter’s special ‘window’ shopping event tomorrow afternoon in Covent Garden. Guests will be able to shop by scanning desired products with their iPhones or iPads. As an added enticement, visitors to the pop-up will take home KARL goody bags and t-shirts. The first 50 fans through the door will receive a pair of those leather gloves or a KARL collar.

We anticipate a new kraze...

See KARL on Wednesday 25 January, 15:30 at The Window Shop, Unit 3, Covent Garden Market, London, and on net-a-porter.com.

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