MERCI KARL!

Celebrity Fashion
May 21, 2009
A new tell-all memoir about The Kaiser
 
It seems Karl Lagerfeld is the hero of his own “Devil Wears Prada” type book. One of the legendary designer’s ex-assistants, 37-year-old Arnaud Maillard, wrote a tell-all about his personal experience working for Lagerfeld after he was fired in 2005.  Lagerfeld is characterized as extremely fickle and narcissistic by Maillard.
 
As of yet, the book has only been released in France with upcoming plans for a Germany launch. However Maillard discussed the book with Germany’s Spiegel, and a number of interesting tidbits were revealed.
 
 
Maillard maintains that he has the utmost respect for the Kaiser, but that he wanted to reveal another side of the famed designer noting that he is “an unbelievable narcissist. He needs an eternity to get ready in the morning. He takes photos of himself at every photo shoot and puts them everywhere. He surrounds himself with a kind of royal court, and nobody disagrees with him. Wherever he goes, there is Pepsi-Cola in a Baccarat crystal glass waiting for him and it gets replaced every 30 minutes. It's like the 18th century.”
 
Maillard goes on to say that Lagerfeld uses the world’s most expensive body cream from La Prairie twice a day (even between his toes), and that the designer is very fickle and “dumps people at the drop of a dime.” 
 
Insight into Lagerfeld’s H&M collaboration were also revealed, with Maillard telling the Spiegel reporter that he remembers how the designer sent him the first sketches for the H&M collection under extreme time pressure, and that the Lagerfeld team worked day and night for three months on the collection, but never saw any extra pay. “I can remember well the two half-days that Karl worked on the drafts," he says, "Then he got millions from the Swedes.” 
 
As it is to be expected, Lagerfeld tried to stop the publishing of the book, but was unsuccessful in his attempt.
      

 

The Fashion Spot's Style Editor, Sharon Feiereisen, is a freelance writer based in New York City. Her work has been published in Newsday, AM New York, WHERE New York, Dan's Papers, and on BlackBook.com, among many other print and online outlets. Fluent in French and German, Sharon is a confessed jewelry addict with a particularly strong affinity for nOir and Hermes. Check out her tumblr blog, Random Happenings

Read more Sharon Feiereisen articles...
The Heart Truth's National Wear Red Day Blog
Follow Me on Pinterest

The Love List

COCOCOZY Black & Blue: The Love List

alt

Cotton Knit Reversible Throw

Cuddling up with this super thick cotton knit throw blanket is the best in the winter. I'm wrapped in one every night as I curl up reading or in front of the television. Why not lounge in style?

 

alt

MAC Penultimate Eyeliner in Black

I wear this rich black eyeliner every day. The pen has a great point to it and at night I just draw it on extra thick for a dramatic looking eye.

 

alt

Chance Co. Classic T-shirt

I'm obsessed with all things striped these days and a classic blue and white striped long sleeve tee is top of my list!

 

alt

COCOCOZY Fresh Candle

Fresh minty blend aroma in the form of a candle. All natural biodegradable soy wax. Clear recyclable glass. Hand poured in the U.S.

Most Popular on Facebook

Other Celeb News