KARL’S kruise lines sailed into Grand Central Terminal yesterday to showcase this year’s Chanel cruise collection – set to hit stores this winter.

Karl Lagerfeld’s adoring fans – celebs like Naomi Watts, Mischa Barton and Julianne Moore – and his well-heeled patrons witnessed a fashion spectacle so visionary, so devastatingly cool that no question remained that he is, indeed, the reigning international king of the fashion world.

Tapping into the most of-themoment, disaffected mood of youth, rock music and Goth culture, Lagerfeld’s latest creations are feats of sculptural tailoring expertise. His color palette, which went far beyond that of Chanel mainline’s homages to black and white in recent seasons – were brilliantly executed exercises in controlled chaos.

Lagerfeld mixed stripey schoolboy sweaters with flowery silk mini-dresses, created tapestry-inspired versions of the classic boxy Chanel jacket that looked like they were unearthed from the depths of coolgrandma’s wardrobe, and adorned his models with dangling ribbons, elaborate bauble earrings and fantastic mod-mood silver clutches.

Take the distilled essence of Pete Doherty, the devil-may-care panache of Kate Moss, the quiet aesthetic angst of My Chemical Romance, and toss them up with the dirty glamour of a three-day European rock festival. I’m in – book me a ticket, captain.