Karl Lagerfeld

Gentlewoman style: Max Mara archives



Max Mara archive

I have a soft spot for Max Mara. In my first job, I had a favourite Max Mara black coat that made me feel very grown up and stealth-chic (until it was swiped off the back of a chair from Costa coffee in Broadwick Street as I sat in a meeting across the road from my office at The National Magazine Company). It was the era of understated, 90s style and a Max Mara coat conferred a certain minimalist sophistication mixed with style anonymity.

“It’s about the logic of a man’s wardrobe, but for women,” (more…)



On Karl Lagerfeld, consumption culture and owning influence



Karl lagerfeld by Takashi Murakami

“I find the joy of collecting, the fun of hunting for objects, the exciting thing. But once I [win] it, I lose interest. I don’t want to be a curator living in a museum.”
Karl Lagerfeld

It was fascinating looking through the lots of Karl Lagerfeld’s estate auction a couple of weeks ago. Among them were his 1980s scrapbooks, his Hedi Slimane for Dior Homme jacket, a Shu Uemura makeup box and his own Chanel croc-embossed tote bag (below, which sold for €94,500). “Collectors from the world over, snapping up Karl Lagerfeld’s objects and designs, have consecrated his status as a fashion icon. The ‘Kaiser’ would surely have been moved by this immense public success,” said Pierre Mothes, vice president of Sotheby’s France. (more…)



Quote of the day: Virginie Viard



Chanel creative director Virginie Viard

“It’s as if my grandparents had given me their fabric house and I wanted it to be the best — I wanted them to be happy. I’m often asking myself, ‘Karl, what do you think? Is it okay?’”

A sweet quote from Chanel creative director Virginie Viard, from this great Vogue profile by Hamish Bowles. (P.S. Who knew she was a MargielaHelmutGalliano stan back in the day?) (more…)



What’s the deal with Gerhard Steidl?



Gerhard Steidl
I blame Gerhard Steidl for the reason I nearly break my neck every time I descend the steps into my office. The fact is, I have a confession: I have a book problem. Books are OK to spend money on, right? They’re objects of learning and curiosity and they’re also symbolic of taking time in a sped up word. And some are objects of beauty even more ravishing than a Prada shoe or a Valentino sweater. (more…)