Karl Lagerfeld, the iconic creative director of Chanel who passed away on February 19, 2019, continues to fascinate all. While his talent built his legend, his originality and secrets largely contributed to his particular aura. Here are 5 striking or amusing pieces of information about this one-of-a-kind designer.
He Lost 42 kg (92 lbs) to Wear Slim Cut Designs
In the late 1990s, Karl Lagerfeld was overweight. But the wave of slim cuts, spearheaded by Hedi Slimane, then at the helm of Dior Homme, convinced the Kaiser to change his silhouette. In 2001, backstage at the young designer’s first fashion show, he declared: “I want to be the first to wear this collection.” He later explained to V Magazine: “I noticed that to wear his clothes, you had to be thin, so I went on a diet.” In 13 months, he lost 42 kg (92 lbs) thanks to the Spoonlight diet, based on protein shakes and invented by Dr. Jean-Claude Houdret.
He Owned Over 1,000 Shirts From the Same Brand
When it came to his look, Karl Lagerfeld remained true to his signature style. From the sunglasses he almost never took off to his crisp white shirt, nipped-in jacket, and matched trousers… All in an iconic duo of tones. In a 2011 portrait in The Independent, it was revealed he owned over 1,000 similar shirts, custom-made in London by shirtmaker Hilditch & Key. The design was based on sketches made by the Kaiser himself.
He Bleached His Hair With Dry Shampoo
“When I got tired of the fashion for long curly hair – because I had curly hair – I started tying it back. That was in 1976,” he explained in ELLE’s “Vanity” interview. To keep his hair a bright white, he bleached it with dry shampoo – a trick that ensured it never looked dirty.
He Never Confirmed His Real Age
For Karl Lagerfeld, his age was a taboo subject! He always made sure to keep his exact birth date a secret, giving different figures in interviews over the years. In 1990 on the Thierry Ardisson show, he claimed to have been born in 1938, even celebrating his 70th birthday in 2008. However, according to German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, which accessed an excerpt of his baptismal record and testimonies from former classmates and a teacher, the Kaiser was actually born 5 years earlier in 1933. He always had fun maintaining the enigma, telling Paris Match he was born “in the middle: 1935.”
Jacques de Bascher Was His One and Only Love
For 18 years, Lagerfeld lived passionately with his jet-setting partner Jacques de Bascher, as frivolous and sulfurous as Karl was rigorous and hardworking. Their fiery relationship was sentimental but never carnal. Despite their differences, the two men loved each other for nearly two decades without even sharing a home. Karl watched over Jacques until his death from AIDS in 1989, even having a second bed installed in his hospital room to remain by his side. After Jacques died, the designer never rebuilt his life, believing that after such a mad love, “there was nothing else to redo.”
