Ex-Assistant on Karl Lagerfeld: “Unbelievable Narcissist”
May 20, 2009
An ex-Lagerfeld assistant has penned a revealing tome about the iconic designer who heads a namesake ready-to-wear line as well as Chanel. And it doesn’t look as though 37-year-old Arnaud Maillard is holding much back about the Kaiser. Titled Merci Karl!, the book, as Maillard puts it, intends to reveal “a different side” of Lagerfeld. Specifically, the side that “needs an eternity to get ready in the morning,” Maillard told Germany’s Spiegel. As for the distinct narcissism: “he takes photos of himself at every photo shoot and puts them everywhere. He surrounds himself with a kind of royal court, nobody disagrees with him.”
And Maillard doesn’t stop there. “He dumps people at the drop of a dime,” he adds (though this doesn’t come as much of a surprise for those who have seen Lagerfeld Confidential, where Lagerfeld himself readily admits to his fickle nature with regard to friends and associates). While Lagerfeld “can be very generous ... he can also be merciless. I’ve seen him simply stop talking to people, stop acknowledging their existence,” Maillard continues. Of Lagerfeld’s collaboration with H&M, which Maillard says his assistants worked on non-stop for three months, the Kaiser spent “two half-days ... on the drafts. Then he got millions from the Swedes.” As for his assistants: nada. Unfortunately, thus far Maillard’s book (which Lagerfeld unsuccessfully attempted to keep from being published) has only been released in France, with a recent subsequent launch in Germany. Here’s to hoping an English translation is already in the works.
Comments (3)
Posted by Ms. Right on Tue May 26, 2009 at 02.16 pm
Just one glance and anyone can tell karl is a diva. However, I would buy the book if it was in English and if it gave specific details. I am not sure if karl is worth the time trying to befriend, but he is worth reading about. The fact that he tried to stop the publishing makes the book all the more delicious.
Posted by A.R on Tue May 26, 2009 at 02.20 pm
Yes, he has talent but that and his diva-like nature should not justify him not giving credit where credit is due. I feel those assistants should have been given their due for all the toil they put in. We are not living in the middle ages, as much as Mr Lagerfeld may like to believe that.
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Posted by John Agee on Fri May 22, 2009 at 09.30 am
What does everyone expect? An account of his weekend volunteer work in Paris soup kitchens? He’s a diva and a princess, and he also happens to be a talent who has transcended the many decades during which he has worked. I work in this business also, and I admire him greatly, warts and all.