Behind the sliding glass door at 7 Rue de Lille in Paris you will find yourself immersed in the rich inner world of one of fashion’s most monumental figures – Karl Lagerfeld. The German designer, who made significant strides throughout his 36-year tenure at Chanel, founded Librairie 7L in the year 1999, where he converted a former art gallery into a beloved photographic studio, bookshop and library.
Featuring roughly 33,000 volumes of printed matter stacked from the floors to the high ceiling without rhyme or reason, Librairie 7L comprises a plethora of acclaimed authors, photographers and other creatives spanning David Bailey and Goethe to Andreas Gursky. In fact, it is where the late designer gladly worked late into the night several times weekly, perusing through Chanel campaigns and press kits, and shooting portraits of famous people.
In a conversation with curator Hans Ulrich Obrist in 2014, Lagerfeld said of his deep love of books, “My paradise is a library … I am a paper freak. I was born a paper freak … I was not interested in anything else but books, books, books and drawing paper.” This truly underscores the profound significance Librairie 7L held for the designer.
Since departing the world in 2019, Lagerfeld’s legacy lives on through 7L, where the designer’s fruitful eclecticism and scholarship is maintained by way of the public-facing bookshop where titles are presented on high tables or on picture rails, the publishing house Éditions 7L, and the library, which has now become an iconic venue for cultural events, exhibitions, dance recitals, music performances, and poetry readings.
Put simply by Laurence Delamare who has served as the director of 7L since 2021, the notable locale is a “living projection of Karl Lagerfeld’s mind”. She added, “Karl used to tell me that reading the catalogue of an exhibition is often more beneficial than visiting it. ‘Books are sufficient to themselves,’ he would say. ‘They ask for nothing and they are silently patient, but they are always there for you’.”
During her role as global head of fashion PR at Chanel for 15 years, Delamare often found herself at editorial and campaign shoots at 7L, hoping to snag brief interviews with Lagerfeld between takes. He was typically two to three hours late, allowing her ample time to wander and explore. “Every time I was there, I was struck by the magic of the place, and I always ended up buying something from the bookshop while waiting. Karl used to say that books make us see the world with fresh pleasure and a wiser perspective.”
The library, at present day, is accessible by invitation only. Guests can relax on plush Christian Liaigre sofas or Andrée Putman leather stools, which both rest on hand-knotted Christopher Farr rugs. Delamare iterated that the library is akin to a cathedral of books, divulging, “Karl’s boundless curiosity spanned every facet of life, culture, and history. It could have been overwhelming, but what I love is his complete lack of pretension.”
Delaware wishes for the space to continue serving as a hub of creativity as it was “the only way to keep it alive without becoming nostalgic.” Once used for photo retouching, a small technical room has now been turned into a gallery, having showcased exhibitions by Agnes Varda, Mary Ellen Bartley, and Magnum photographers Cristina de Middel and Rafał Milach, besides screenings in partnership with the Centre National des Arts Plastiques.
French writer and historian Chantal Thomas also participated in a discussion with Delamare as part of 7L’s monthly Reading Room event recently in August. Amongst the other happenings include performances by Paris Dance Project hosted in the salon, as well as books on Ronan Bouroullec and Xavier Veilhan’s scenography for Chanel to be released by Éditions 7L.
It is evident that Lagerfeld’s work is rooted in an undeniable quest for knowledge, with his books bearing witness to the ever-shifting nature of the world. Delamare explains, “That’s the essence of 7L. Each performance reflects a unique connection to the spirit of the space. The ultimate goal is to bring together a community of authors, artists, publishers, and curious minds.”
Librairie 7L continues to evolve based on what happens within its walls. It is simultaneously a welcoming bookstore, a creative salon, and a room waiting to be filled.
For more details on the latest events, follow Librairie 7L on Instagram or visit its official website.
Featured image: Cédrine Scheidig
