Elisabeth Josefa Emilie Lagerfeld (neè Bahlmann) is perhaps best known for being the mother of iconic German-born fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld (CHANEL, Fendi). Born in Germany on April 25, 1897, Elisabeth was the daughter of Karl Bahlmann, a local politician, and his wife, Emilie (neè Drecker).
By the time she was a young woman, Elisabeth was working as a sales associate in a Berlin lingerie boutique. She became a dedicated housewife upon marrying (1930) German business man, Otto Lagerfeld & becoming a mother to his daughter whose own mother had died due to childbirth complications in 1922.
Otto was the founder of Lagerfeld & Co., a company that was responsible for importing and introducing evaporated & condensed milk to Germany. In turn, he provided an extremely comfortable life for Elisabeth, his eldest daughter, Theodora (b. 1922) his two children with Elisabeth: Martha Christiane (b. 1931) and Karl Otto (b. 1933).
Although the family lived in Germany throughout WWII and beyond, they were (and remained) wealthy thanks to Otto's business. During the war, Otto Lagerfeld had an interest in Germany through the firm Glücksklee-Milch. This kept Elisabeth and their two children isolated and protected from any deprivations during the war.
Elisabeth was wholly supportive of her son and his desire to design clothing. She even emigrated to France with Karl in 1953. Elisabeth also spent time abroad visiting Christiane, who had emigrated to the United States, but seemingly lived with Karl in France. Otto died in 1967, but there is no mention of divorce or even a formal separation.
Elisabeth died at the Chateau de Penhoët in Grand Champ, Bretagne, France, aged 81. According to some accounts, she was buried in a small chapel in Grand Champ in the district of Brittany, while a 2023 documentary makes it clear he had her ashes in an urn that he kept at least through the 1990s.
Following the death of his mother & that of his long time companion, Jacques de Bascher, which occurred within 2 years of one another, Karl Lagerfeld was thrown in to complete turmoil. He no longer wished to stay in the area. He finally sold his home there in 2000. Karl often spoke of his mother and her sense of humour during interviews, even sketching her and his childhood home for the cameras. Following his own passing in 2019, Elizabeth's son was cremated, his ashes scattered in a private cremation ceremony attended only by his closest friends.
By the time she was a young woman, Elisabeth was working as a sales associate in a Berlin lingerie boutique. She became a dedicated housewife upon marrying (1930) German business man, Otto Lagerfeld & becoming a mother to his daughter whose own mother had died due to childbirth complications in 1922.
Otto was the founder of Lagerfeld & Co., a company that was responsible for importing and introducing evaporated & condensed milk to Germany. In turn, he provided an extremely comfortable life for Elisabeth, his eldest daughter, Theodora (b. 1922) his two children with Elisabeth: Martha Christiane (b. 1931) and Karl Otto (b. 1933).
Although the family lived in Germany throughout WWII and beyond, they were (and remained) wealthy thanks to Otto's business. During the war, Otto Lagerfeld had an interest in Germany through the firm Glücksklee-Milch. This kept Elisabeth and their two children isolated and protected from any deprivations during the war.
Elisabeth was wholly supportive of her son and his desire to design clothing. She even emigrated to France with Karl in 1953. Elisabeth also spent time abroad visiting Christiane, who had emigrated to the United States, but seemingly lived with Karl in France. Otto died in 1967, but there is no mention of divorce or even a formal separation.
Elisabeth died at the Chateau de Penhoët in Grand Champ, Bretagne, France, aged 81. According to some accounts, she was buried in a small chapel in Grand Champ in the district of Brittany, while a 2023 documentary makes it clear he had her ashes in an urn that he kept at least through the 1990s.
Following the death of his mother & that of his long time companion, Jacques de Bascher, which occurred within 2 years of one another, Karl Lagerfeld was thrown in to complete turmoil. He no longer wished to stay in the area. He finally sold his home there in 2000. Karl often spoke of his mother and her sense of humour during interviews, even sketching her and his childhood home for the cameras. Following his own passing in 2019, Elizabeth's son was cremated, his ashes scattered in a private cremation ceremony attended only by his closest friends.
Elisabeth Josefa Emilie Lagerfeld (neè Bahlmann) is perhaps best known for being the mother of iconic German-born fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld (CHANEL, Fendi). Born in Germany on April 25, 1897, Elisabeth was the daughter of Karl Bahlmann, a local politician, and his wife, Emilie (neè Drecker).
By the time she was a young woman, Elisabeth was working as a sales associate in a Berlin lingerie boutique. She became a dedicated housewife upon marrying (1930) German business man, Otto Lagerfeld & becoming a mother to his daughter whose own mother had died due to childbirth complications in 1922.
Otto was the founder of Lagerfeld & Co., a company that was responsible for importing and introducing evaporated & condensed milk to Germany. In turn, he provided an extremely comfortable life for Elisabeth, his eldest daughter, Theodora (b. 1922) his two children with Elisabeth: Martha Christiane (b. 1931) and Karl Otto (b. 1933).
Although the family lived in Germany throughout WWII and beyond, they were (and remained) wealthy thanks to Otto's business. During the war, Otto Lagerfeld had an interest in Germany through the firm Glücksklee-Milch. This kept Elisabeth and their two children isolated and protected from any deprivations during the war.
Elisabeth was wholly supportive of her son and his desire to design clothing. She even emigrated to France with Karl in 1953. Elisabeth also spent time abroad visiting Christiane, who had emigrated to the United States, but seemingly lived with Karl in France. Otto died in 1967, but there is no mention of divorce or even a formal separation.
Elisabeth died at the Chateau de Penhoët in Grand Champ, Bretagne, France, aged 81. According to some accounts, she was buried in a small chapel in Grand Champ in the district of Brittany, while a 2023 documentary makes it clear he had her ashes in an urn that he kept at least through the 1990s.
Following the death of his mother & that of his long time companion, Jacques de Bascher, which occurred within 2 years of one another, Karl Lagerfeld was thrown in to complete turmoil. He no longer wished to stay in the area. He finally sold his home there in 2000. Karl often spoke of his mother and her sense of humour during interviews, even sketching her and his childhood home for the cameras. Following his own passing in 2019, Elizabeth's son was cremated, his ashes scattered in a private cremation ceremony attended only by his closest friends.
By the time she was a young woman, Elisabeth was working as a sales associate in a Berlin lingerie boutique. She became a dedicated housewife upon marrying (1930) German business man, Otto Lagerfeld & becoming a mother to his daughter whose own mother had died due to childbirth complications in 1922.
Otto was the founder of Lagerfeld & Co., a company that was responsible for importing and introducing evaporated & condensed milk to Germany. In turn, he provided an extremely comfortable life for Elisabeth, his eldest daughter, Theodora (b. 1922) his two children with Elisabeth: Martha Christiane (b. 1931) and Karl Otto (b. 1933).
Although the family lived in Germany throughout WWII and beyond, they were (and remained) wealthy thanks to Otto's business. During the war, Otto Lagerfeld had an interest in Germany through the firm Glücksklee-Milch. This kept Elisabeth and their two children isolated and protected from any deprivations during the war.
Elisabeth was wholly supportive of her son and his desire to design clothing. She even emigrated to France with Karl in 1953. Elisabeth also spent time abroad visiting Christiane, who had emigrated to the United States, but seemingly lived with Karl in France. Otto died in 1967, but there is no mention of divorce or even a formal separation.
Elisabeth died at the Chateau de Penhoët in Grand Champ, Bretagne, France, aged 81. According to some accounts, she was buried in a small chapel in Grand Champ in the district of Brittany, while a 2023 documentary makes it clear he had her ashes in an urn that he kept at least through the 1990s.
Following the death of his mother & that of his long time companion, Jacques de Bascher, which occurred within 2 years of one another, Karl Lagerfeld was thrown in to complete turmoil. He no longer wished to stay in the area. He finally sold his home there in 2000. Karl often spoke of his mother and her sense of humour during interviews, even sketching her and his childhood home for the cameras. Following his own passing in 2019, Elizabeth's son was cremated, his ashes scattered in a private cremation ceremony attended only by his closest friends.
