Karl Lagerfeld has lost it. After funding for the awful collection of Zahia, an ex-call girl (he had compared her with a “French courtesan as Diane de Poitiers”) Karl decided to show his discontent with the last French election through his last delightfully ironic collection. (Chanel Resort 2013)
According to Karl, the collection could be named “Versailles in a socialist France” which means, a Versailles somehow ghettoized. Marie-Antoinette is wearing creepers and has a mullet hairstyle… welcome in a Ghetto Royal era!
As I said in my previous article: could politics be communicated through aesthetics?
However Karl’s rant is, in my opinion, very amusing and well pointed out. However, I feel that Karl might have got one step behind for a while. But who can blame an 80 years old man?
His collection, also like many others (Meadham Kirchhoff, Jeremy Scott, Christopher Kane…etc) embodies « Tumblr » through the materials and colors choices.
We can also notice his recent advertising campaign with Alice Dellal as his muse… Alice Dellal who was at the time, two or three years ago, probably one of the trendiest supermodel.
This collection and this delay on trends definitely indicate a true reversal of the situation. Designers who once inspired the younger are now picking in the buffet of web-teenagers trends.
So Karl, let me ask you: Are you having a hard time with the digital age?
Or might he have, conversely, all understood? Might he be applying the “WTF method” to his collections and actions in order to be talked about and to seduce a new generation?
Facing a crisis of octogenarian rebellion or of voluntary delirious bad taste, Karl is probably fully doubled up with laughter in his studio….This great Fashion grandpa will , at least, always have the power to surprise us and to…raise smiles.
Words: Dora Moutot
Images: Style.com
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