Karl Lagerfeld, the private mysteries of the legendary designer - Lifestyle

Much is known about Karl Lagerfeld, the designer, but a great deal of the legendary designer's private life is still shrouded in mystery. Alfons Kaiser, longtime friend of Karl Lagerfeld, has written a biography (Odoya) that reveals some things about the great couturier, who passed away in February 2019 at the age of 86. A designer who dominated the fashion scene for 60 years, designing two of the most prestigious luxury houses, Chanel and Fendi.

. In fact, many wonder how the son of a German condensed milk producer did to become the tsar of haute couture, a very powerful and immovable stylist, acclaimed everywhere, so much so that he was nicknamed "The Kaiser".

    It is enough to recall some special presentations in Paris of the collections signed by Lagerfeld in recent years, pharaonic events where he was granted millionaire scenographies, such as the one that staged a supermarket or a departing rocket. What is certain is that Lagerfeld came from Hamburg and was not only a master of fashion, but also a talent in communication, so much so that he had created around him a kind of imaginary figure, a kind of logo of himself.

    Much of his image is due to his appearance, meticulously constructed by him: the dark glasses worn even at night, the white hair gathered in a ponytail, the white shirt with a high, soaring collar, which hid the wrinkles of the neck. His personality, his lapidary and humorous comments and above all the targeted dissemination of information about himself, never about his private life, contributed to creating the legend.

    Who had known Karl Lagerfeld for more than 20 years was the journalist of the German newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Alfons Kaiser, one of the most important fashion critics of Germany. He made use of numerous previously unknown sources and recounts the different moments of his life: young outsider in northern Germany, urban genius in Paris, tireless draftsman, enthusiastic photographer, passionate book collector and disciplined work handle.

    The book also investigates the dubious fortunes of the Lagerfeld family, starting from a detail never revealed before: from the death of the designer and that Kaiser discovered in over one hundred interviews he conducted while listening to relatives, friends and collaborators, or that both parents were members of the Nazi Party German. Whether Lagerfeld was aware of the family secrets or not is instead a question destined to remain open.