Lagerfeld Defends Luxury In Time Of Economic Crisis (AFP)

A modelpresents outfits by Karl Lagerfeld during the Chanel Metiers d'Art Pre-Fallcollection show, entitled "Paris-Bombay" in Paris. Fashion legendKarl Lagerfeld on Tuesday came to the defence of luxury in a time of economiccrisis, criticising ratings agencies and rejecting a climate of "generalgloominess."

    Fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld on Tuesday came to the defenceof luxury in a time of economic crisis, criticising ratings agencies andrejecting a climate of "general gloominess."

      
     Lagerfeld, head designer at Chanel for nearly 30 years, madehis comments on the sidelines of a Chanel show at the Grand Palais in Paris.

        He defended thefashion industry for its importance to the French economy and as a provider ofmany jobs.
        

   

     As for the ratings agencies, the day that Standard andPoor's warned it could downgrade 15 eurozone countries, including France,Lagerfeld quipped: "Who put them in a position to give A's?"

        Chanel created for its show the luxurious palace of anIndian maharajah as the backdrop for its "anti-gloom" ready-to-wearcollection.

     Lagerfeld described the collection as "very elaborate,a lot more expensive than the normal ready-to-wear," evoking the fantasyof India.

        For the German-born designer, periods of economic crisishave no influence on creation.

        Besides, he added,there was "a lot more panic in 2008 than today." 

NOTE:  As anyone who knowsme could (and I’m afraid would) readily attest, I’m the last person in the worldto comment on fashion (especially high fashion) matters.  Male and corporately traditional, Istrongly objected to the advent of individually creative “casual Fridays” in the workplace when I dwelt in those precincts.  In post-corporate life, sadly, I’ve sunk to “Nature Boy”/L’il Abnerdaily levels of sartorial “don’ts.”  

But I wanted to post theLagerfeld/Chanel story above because it’s so refreshing to see someone offer astraightforward, sincere, no-nonsense defense of his industry and livelihood.  I cannot help comparing and contrasting it to the (alert: incoming ‘60s-ism) “plastic,” phony speechgiven by our president yesterday in Osawatomie, Kansas. Every single word of his interminable elephantine (yes, I watched the whole thing)remarks was intended to manipulate, distract and divert attention from the dire results of three years of administration actions and policies.  The Straw Man, the president's boon companion, was present and on duty, of course -- mute, satanic andinfinitely flexible in his depredations (past, present and future, a kind of pre-Christmas ghost trinity) and capacity for mischief.  So he's Teddy Roosevelt now?  Good grief -- what next?

Somehow, Karl Lagerfeld, whose story I becameinterested when I read Alicia Drake's "The Beautiful Fall" several years ago, seems a lot realer, warmer and  less “plastic”than Mr. “Wagyu Beef For Me/ Food Stamps For Thee.” 

Kraftwerk: Trans-Europe Express (Link)

Young(er) Karl Lagerfeld