story by Boris Marberg
The latest book by one of the editors of the European fashion magazine Bunte, Paul Sahner, is all about the fabulous Karl Lagerfeld. Shaner has followed “The Kaiser” as a connoisseur for the last 15 years, with a lot of very one on one interviews, which have now been compiled into this tome. The book covers Lagerfeld’s youth and childhood, as well as the career progression through the middle of 2009. [editor’s note: This book is so new it is still only available printed in German, but English and French translations are expected soon. Fortunately, the modaCYCLE team includes four German fashion photographers, and one of them just finished reading it.]
In Karl, Karl Lagerfeld is quoted with a mass of ingenious statements about all kinds of topics, which could only come from this man. He speaks of his respect and rivalries with Yves Saint Laurent and other major designers, as well as artists like Andy Warhol. Next to the direct statements, the book shows a deep view into the background of the Parisian fashion scene and business – a who’s who and what’s what of the past as well as the present in Parisian and global fashion industries.
It describes the enormous creativity of a disquietingly genius who is not only forming fashion and style but also his own personality. Karl Lagerfeld is delineating himself as a observer in the middle of the grand society of globetrotting actors, artists and royals. It might surprise those who don’t know him how much he tends to understate his own influence, charm and eloquence. Paul Sahner has rendered a masterful visualization of the aura of Lagerfeld the man.
The book is recommended to all who wants to see a more personal view on Lagerfeld as an artist and a philosopher. Unfortunately the publication only includes a few photos of Karl Lagerfeld and his periphery, with no relevant exemplification of Lagerfeld’s designs or photography. Considering what the book is about and how many books already exist which show those things so well, this is a circumstance not carrying any weight. Definitely a must read for any thinking person interested in Karl’s world.
The book is available in German from Amazon.de, and will be out in French and English in a few weeks.