Karl Lagerfeld: A Life in Fashion

Karl Lagerfeld: A Life in Fashion

  • Downloads:8280
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-03-30 06:51:51
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Alfons Kaiser
  • ISBN:1419757253
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

The definitive biography of the last iconic fashion designer

“It starts with me and it ends with me。"

Karl Lagerfeld stylized himself into a living logo and a myth of the fashion world。

In Karl Lagerfeld: A Life in Fashion, journalist Alfons Kaiser, who knew Lagerfeld personally for many years, introduces readers to the public and private life of the charismatic fashion designer。 Kaiser explores the many eras of Lagerfeld's life: the youthful outsider in the north German flatlands; the urbane genius in Paris; the tireless draftsman; the enthusiastic photographer; the passionate book collector; and the disciplined Prussian workaholic。 What is behind this larger-than-life figure who, despite a massively public persona, kept his own life story a secret? Drawing from many previously untapped sources, this biography investigates the man behind the persona: the precocious boy who preferred to draw in the attic than play with his peers; the son who quarreled with his parents but never got away from them; Yves Saint Laurent's competitor, whom he outshone in the end; the brother, uncle, friend—and finally the partner of Jacques de Bascher, the great love of his life。

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Reviews

Theresa

Hmmm。。。 I'm not sure why I have so many thoughts about this, but but here I go。 Alfons Kaiser's biography left me pondering: What is the legacy of a fashion designer? There are far greater questions to ponder in this world, after finishing the book I couldn't help but mull over that question。 At it's core commercial fashion is ephemeral。 It's dictated by seasons and types of collections, each one replacing the last on an endless conveyer belt。 What does that mean for a designer and the legacy th Hmmm。。。 I'm not sure why I have so many thoughts about this, but but here I go。 Alfons Kaiser's biography left me pondering: What is the legacy of a fashion designer? There are far greater questions to ponder in this world, after finishing the book I couldn't help but mull over that question。 At it's core commercial fashion is ephemeral。 It's dictated by seasons and types of collections, each one replacing the last on an endless conveyer belt。 What does that mean for a designer and the legacy they leave behind? I'm not sure。Kaiser's research on Lagerfeld was impeccable and did some impressive digging, particularly with regards to Lagerfeld's early life and childhood。 Which, of course, Lagerfeld spent his entire life obfuscating。 Also, Kaiser never hesitated to debunk Lagerfeld's many lies and "flourishes" about his life and didn't shy away from criticizing his subject。 I often found myself laughing as these lies were debunked。 The book itself was quite funny at times, along with a surprising amount of pathos。 The "Enemies" chapter sealed the deal for me。 I could not stop laughing at Lagerfeld and, his eternal enemy, Pierre Bergé exchanging barbs and I had to put the book down to laugh when Lagerfeld referred to Bergé as a "poison dwarf。" I found myself caught off-guard by the tenderness of some chapters, in particular Lagerfeld's early days in Paris and friendship with Victoire Doutreleau, Anne-Marie Muñoz, and Yves Saint Laurent, years before their rival cliques were set in stone。 The wildness of the 1970s once Antonio Lopez, Juan Ramos, Warhol, etc。 make appearances is always amusing to read about。 Karl and Jacques de Bascher's relationship remains equally intriguing and poignant。According to Lagerfeld, he once visited a fortune teller with Bergé and Saint Laurent。 The fortune teller told Saint Laurent that "It's all good now but it will end quite quickly。" She told Lagerfeld that "It will begin for you when it ends for the others。" Thus, the legend of Karl Lagerfeld begins。 Was this prophetic? Like all fortunes, it's vague enough。 It must have been something Lagerfeld kept in mind as he saw Saint Laurent's remarkable rise to success as while he himself was plugging away at Balmain, Patou, freelancing, Fendi, Chloé, and eventually Chanel in 1983? It seems to be the case, as he told this anecdote often after he was appointed to Chanel and Saint Laurent's decline。 When I wonder what Lagerfeld's legacy will be, I wonder how this fortune plays out。 He famously detested Bergé's legacy cementing projects for Yves Saint Laurent。 I can't imagine there will be a Lagerfeld museum。 However, that seems to suit him as someone who seemed to only be focused on on the present。 It's going to be curious to see what the Wertheimers decide to do with Chanel and what impact that will have。 Again, these are quite frivolous thoughts to have with our current state of affairs, but I find them interesting to ponder。 。。。more

Chelsea B

An interesting read filled with much depth and dimension。 Very good!