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Karl Lagerfeld: Unmasking the Fashion Icon
5 Oct
Summary
- Designer Karl Lagerfeld hid behind a persona, admitting few knew him.
- He took over Chanel in 1983 when it was struggling.
- His collaborators and staff recall him fondly, but he remained elusive.
Director Nick Hooker's documentary, "Paradise Now: The Extraordinary Life of Karl Lagerfeld," explores the life of the legendary designer, based on William Middleton's biography. Despite gaining access to Lagerfeld's inner circle, the film ultimately fails to penetrate the carefully constructed persona.
Lagerfeld, known for his distinctive style and prolific work across Chanel, Fendi, and his own label, admitted that his prolonged performance meant even those closest to him didn't truly know him. Growing up with a distant mother, he left for Paris at 19.
He took the helm at Chanel in 1983, revitalizing the then-struggling fashion house. The documentary touches upon his controversial fatphobic comments and the loss of his partner, Jacques de Bascher, to an AIDS-related illness in 1989.
Interviews with collaborators like Amanda Harlech offer more insight than celebrity friends. Staff members, including a seamstress of 50 years and his longtime bodyguard, recall him with affection, describing him as "the crème de la crème of men" and fatherly.
