People Are Talking

Karl vs. Klum

so fucking avant-garde.jpgSo this weekend Karl Lagerfeld took a “dig” at Heidi Klum, his second of the year.

In February he said, “Heidi is no runway model. She is simply too heavy and has too big a bust. And she always grins so stupidly. That is not avant-garde - that is commercial!” and now he claims not to know who she is, “I don’t know Heidi Klum. She was never known in France. Claudia Schiffer also doesn’t know who she is.”

First, you can’t break down someone’s body and then say you don’t know they exist. Second, which high fashion designer is more commercial than Karl Lagerfeld? Third, you don’t make money when Claudia Schiffer knows who you are, you make it when Middle America knows your name (though we don’t believe for a second that Schiffer’s never heard of Klum). Fourth, Lagerfeld makes gorgeous, brilliant clothes, but avant-garde at this stage? Non.

Most frustrating of all is the unfortunate truth that models don’t make major money walking Balenciaga or doing editorials for Purple, but from major beauty contracts, from Victoria’s Secret or J.Crew catalogs and eventually, from becoming a brand.

It’s kind of like how designers don’t make money by designing the most extreme avant-garde clothes, like say Gareth Pugh or Olivier Theyskens, but by hooking themselves up to a major brand, like say Fendi or Chanel and putting their name on overpriced teddy bears.

Comments

1

posted by Modupe

Jun 15, 2009 5:17PM

nicely said Britt. i usually love Lagerfeld, but i don't enjoy the swipe he made at Seal either.

avatar
2

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 5:21PM

can his kingdom come crashing down now please? he's so vulgar and ugly!

avatar
3

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 5:21PM

I thought his comments were really, really rude and immature. In my opinion, commercial models (like VS girls & beauty contract girls) are much, much different than the runway models and it's really not fair to compare someone like Heidi with any of the models that walk his shows. First of all, Heidi is in her 30s (I think...she might be in her early 40s, not sure) with multiple children. She may not be a waif but she certainly has a great body and a great face. She doesn't try to be a high fashion model; she's more of a celebrity now. Sometimes I really think Karl says things sometimes just to be in the news.

4

posted by helene

Jun 15, 2009 5:29PM

i love this post, well put!

avatar
5

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 5:33PM

his clothes are fugly and he's old. he needs to go sit his grumpy ass down, preferably under 'shady pines'.

avatar
6

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 5:43PM

he reminds me of those old aristocrats in oscar wilde novels

so ugly and tedious and very very outdated

who the chic just smile and nod and understand its not there fault
they are just old

avatar
7

posted by disneyrollergirl

Jun 15, 2009 6:06PM

Well said. I'm no fan of Klum's look but wow, Karl! And Chanel... avant garde? Dream on.

avatar
8

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 6:17PM

I don't like Karl at all but his first quote is dead on. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's not true.

avatar
9

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 6:38PM

as a model who walks runways and gets paid next to nothing (free t shirts at one show...) you wouldn't have to ask me twice if i'd take a commercial contract for a couple hundred thousand.

avatar
10

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 6:41PM

guest 8... no one is arguing that heidi is not commercial. the problem is that karl, who is quite commercial himself, is putting her down because of it. she never claimed to be a runway model, so his attitude is quite unnecessary and tactless.

avatar
11

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 6:41PM

Karl didn't make the first comment about her being too commercial; it was the German designer Wolfgang Joop.

12

posted by WithLove

Jun 15, 2009 6:42PM

Karl Lagerfeld reduced to taking cheap pot shots at others to gain attention. Desperate! It just goes to show, when old age hits you sanity is the first thing to go.

13

posted by grammyweezy

Jun 15, 2009 6:43PM

well said britt. no. 5 is that a golden girls reference? i sure hope so.

avatar
14

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 7:01PM

What does Fake Karl have to say about this??!

15

posted by Signature9

Jun 15, 2009 7:15PM

no.5 and 13, I would love to have seen a Golden Girls episode with Uncle Karl. I have a feeling the fashion would have ended up something like the 3rd video here

http://jezebel.com/5229642/bea-arthurs-top-5-contributions-to-pop-culture

avatar
16

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 7:28PM

Karl needs a reality check.

The world is not about Chanel. I'm sure Coco is rolling in her grave seeing you represent the name like this.

You still are the insecure, obese designer of yore, and comments like these make that glaringly clear.

avatar
17

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 7:29PM

LOVED this post. couldn't have been said better. thank you.

avatar
18

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 7:58PM

I dislike heidi klum myself so his comments (pathetic as they are) made laugh.

And as for the whole you cant make money without being commercial thing, i point out kate Moss. Though she does do comericial things to make moeny, she retains High fashion cred and nothing but. So it is possible and Heidi klum is someone who could never do it.

avatar
19

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 8:00PM

Karl has everything right. everything!!
Heidi is just plain fat and Before moving to the US I never heard of her, nobody knows her in Paris.

Gareth Pugh is avant-garde? ha ha ha, is it a joke? Because he is slapping some Zaha hadid building onto a dress, we should applaud, We have seen that concept at fashion school for the last 20 years. this is the oldest show in town....making student collection for two years is always easy, let see how Avant-Garde lill' Pugh will be in 30 years.

Karl L has been reinventing himself and the Fashion house of Chanel for the last 30 years and as far as I am concerned he can say and hate on anybody he wants.he earn the right and anything he says should be carved into a fashion marble wall by the Tuillerie entrance.

Karl L is Avant-garde not only by the astonishing level of work he maintained over the last 30 years but by the way he has been redifining fashion culture through photography, music, pop culture. he transcends age, social cultural group, trends and time. He is one of the most knowledgeable and cultured mind of our time. Similar to the Great Oscar Wilde a lot of his art went into his life and I am sorry to say he dresses about a million times better than Pugh and Theyskens put together.

Bravo Karl, well said!!!!!
You are more Avant-garde than ever.

avatar
20

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 8:21PM

Britt, are you upset cause you could not afford to buy the karl teddy bear? I have an extra stock here.........

Like SO SO avant-garde...... like before the Avant.......

avatar
21

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 8:24PM

Guest #19, heidi klum plain fat?? are you actually serious?!

avatar
22

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 8:47PM

I'm going to go out on a limb here and point out that while all of these points are subjective, there is one elementary truth, and that is:

If you are happy with your own life, you don't feel the need to put others down. Period.

While I admire Karl's work, I would really think he would be too busy with all of his projects to take time to throw such cruel insults at people.

avatar
23

posted by calvinshowblogspotdotcom

Jun 15, 2009 9:11PM

Agree, agree, agree!!

avatar
24

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 9:19PM

Karl is trashy. For someone who claims to be "old money," or at least cater to it, I would expect classier behavior.

avatar
25

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 9:27PM

if chanel is avent garde then mcdonalds beef is filet mignon.

seriously.

karl is an anorexic who had to starve himself after being an obese man for a long time.

heidi klum has never represented herself as a high end runway model. She is a very successful commercial model and commercial models have always had more mullah than high end models. PLus Claudia schiffer was a commercial model as well - there was NOTHING runway about her look - BUT she had the luck of resembling french beauty brigette bardot and aligning herself with the right fashion designers.

heidi klum has a better body and look than just about everyone who posts on this board especially after 3 kids + an extra coming...I speak as someone who was never into klum's look facial or body but i recognize a good thing when i see one regardless of my own preferences.

avatar
26

posted by piglatin00

Jun 15, 2009 9:30PM

totally in agreement with you, britt.
what karl said was downright rude

avatar
27

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 10:13PM

What did Heidi to to piss him off?

Whatever it is- I'm on Team Karl.

avatar
28

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 10:24PM

Wow, he's so rude!

avatar
29

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 10:45PM

touche britt! touche

avatar
30

posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 11:40PM

I totally agree with the attitude of this post, but there seems to be a mistake: the Gawker article says that the first comments, about Heidi being commercial, were said by Wolgang Joop, not Lagerfeld.

As for the discussion of Heidi Klum being "fat" it's so ridiculous I cant even stomach it.

31

posted by Jean Voltaire

Jun 15, 2009 11:48PM

Leave the poor old man alone - it was that time of the month!

32

posted by nycshoegal

Jun 16, 2009 12:03AM

well... i must say he's right on at least one count - Klum is commercial, uninteresting, and never was or will be high fashion. And hardly anyone in Europe knows who she is indeed - i didn't.
not sure why that wrath got unleashed on Klum specifically - there's no shortage of cookie-cutter blondies around here but, oh well. he's old and rants + bitchiness are in order.

33

posted by cesarcmma

Jun 16, 2009 12:33AM

Totally true Britt, agree with everything you said.

avatar
34

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 12:34AM

guest 22 - exactly my point too. there was an other part of his rant though - which is even more appalling - he attacks heidi's husband's skin condition - i mean that's just so sad.i really wonder about his mental health.
karl is an ugly ugly person - i'll never forget how badly he treated ines de la fressange or his stupid remarks on creative work of other designers. who does that - obviously someone who is insecure to the last molecule of his own body(and work too). knowing about his ugliness - whatever he creates i really can't enjoy or appreciate - i simply boycott jerks

avatar
35

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 12:35AM

Karl also made a crack about Seal's Scarred face. What an awful fucking human being.

avatar
36

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 2:05AM

This post is totally spot on. Well put.

avatar
37

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 3:15AM

Bravo, Britt. Bravo!

avatar
38

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 3:58AM

The Lagerfeld quote camne from an interview on German TV ("Johannes B. Kerner"). They talked about Karl's comment about not knowing Heidi, after which Seal had called Karl a "pitiful old man". So after being confrontated with that quote of Seal's Karl made that remark about Seal's skin. I think they both acted quite childish. I don't like Heidi, but I have to say Karl's quote was really mean. The rest of his interview was really witty, quite funny even.

avatar
39

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 6:06AM

Similar kind of jump off point to this story. But this guy just takes it in a different much more irreverent direction
http://johnincharge.blogspot.com/2009/06/karl-says-darndest-things.html

avatar
40

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 6:56AM

I actually think he's right. Let's face it - Heidi is anything but ethereal. You go to a mall near you and find at least five girls who have everything Heidi has body-wise. Her ads (like the campaigns she did for Taft) make her look cheap, and her everyday style makes her look average. None of these says "topmodel" to me. At least not in the 21st century.

avatar
41

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 7:16AM

uhmm... i so agree but heidi klum has to stop associating herself to high fashion since alot of people in the industry are not liking this...
anyway check out my blog
http://preppygoesrock.blogspot.com/
http://preppygoesrock.blogspot.com/
http://preppygoesrock.blogspot.com/

42

posted by AlexanderEsquire

Jun 16, 2009 7:33AM

well, i believe it kinda wrong when people don't realize that fashion is everything why it has to be stereotype. ok, she has put on some weight but, remember she had kids as well she is getting older but, looking graceful as well with Karl i know there is situation with them that no one knows secretly and that why he starting the fire a insulting her first let see what she would say mmmmmmmhmmmmmm

43

posted by austinsamuel

Jun 16, 2009 8:18AM

And Britt once again returns to the place where she belongs in everyones hearts.

avatar
44

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 8:37AM

Had no idea Karl was THAT full of himself! Plus, who says things like that? Heidi seems like a genuinely kind person, maybe that's why she smiles so much, unlike Karl?

His remarks are more annoying than the things that come out of Paris Hilton or Elisabeth Hasselback's mouthes.

avatar
45

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 8:47AM

Sure, Heidi Klum isn't runway material but he had no right to attack her just because of the way she looks, the things she does, or the kind of person she is.

Guest 9 - ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID!? DO YOU KNOW WHAT AVANT-GARDE MEANS!? Well you fucking should since you're French, right? Karl has done amazing things for Chanel, sure. His own line is also very innovative, and yeah, he's a talented designer and photographer, and to be able to come up with something different every season takes a lot of creativity. But in no way can he be labelled as avant-garde! Designers like Martin Margiela and Gareth Pugh ARE avant-garde because they don't do things that have already been done! Even Rick Owens, Balenciaga, and maybe Rodarte get more credit for avant-garde than Karl Lagerfeld!

PLUS, HE HAS NO RIGHT TO EVEN JUDGE SOMEONE BASED ON THEIR WEIGHT OR BODY. He used to be a pretty fat ass himself, and @ his comment made about Seal's skin (which happens to be a skin condition) were extremely immature and unnecessary.

avatar
46

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 8:48AM

and by Guest 9, I meant GUEST 19.

My apologies.

47

posted by houseofstyle

Jun 16, 2009 9:19AM

I like your spunk 45/6-- What’s the problem with Klum putting on weight or not? He doesn’t have to book her! I think its really funny that Karl doesn’t think that a Chanel "Personal Transporter (http://fashionista.com/2009/05/chanel_take_me_away.php), guitar, basketball, etc is NOT COMMERCIAL.

48

posted by stephyfigz

Jun 16, 2009 10:25AM

bravo britt!! best post yet!!

avatar
49

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 10:32AM

Brilliant post. Someone needs to make Karl realize that while he may have once been a genius of design, he's now just boring. Chanel has been reduced to something fairly unremarkable, and Karl's comments about Heidi, who seems to be doing rather well for herself, only reduce Chanel further.

As for avant guarde, someone needs to go back and read their Baudelaire, because I hate to tell you Karl baby, but you ain't it.

50

posted by charlotte88

Jun 16, 2009 10:34AM

He's just bitter bc he knows his time is done.

51

posted by lauraloveslagerfeld

Jun 16, 2009 11:07AM

as you can tell by my name i do LOVE karl, but his comments are below the belt and just plain pathetic

avatar
52

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 11:43AM

Guest 45: "...he had no right to attack her just because of the way she looks, the things she does, or the kind of person she is" -> then because of what does one have right to criticize an other person?????? For nothing? Give me a break...

avatar
53

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 11:45AM

ufff im do tired of hin, he just need publicity...

avatar
54

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 12:36PM

Guest 45: I didn't like what he said about Seal but have to say that was the only time during the interview he criticized someone because of their looks. He never said anything bad about Heidi, that was Wolfgang Joop as another guest pointed out before. KL actually said he'd never judge someone based on clothes or style because just because he doesn't like the person might still do so. He said he really likes Lara Stone even if she isn't stick thin. He thinks she's beautiful. He said he admires Beth Ditto not only but also because of her body and her way of showing off what she got. Ans so many more things that really got you the impression that he was just pissed because Seal called him old and pathetic. I really liked him much better after the interview. Just thought that I had to deal with him I'de rather not get him upset with me...

avatar
55

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 12:46PM

LARA STONE ISNT STICK THIN?!?!?!

56

posted by RashomonRebel

Jun 16, 2009 1:12PM

Karl just needs to sit back, relax and watch this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itiqXpEV7wI

avatar
57

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 2:40PM

If Heidi Klum is commercial, is because she IS. Nothing wrong with that. If she was Avant Garde of Hi-fashion, she would be in Paris Couture shows and not on Bravo TV. If Lagerfeld doesn't care about her, doesn't he have the right to? Everyone wants to be a critic, let them be... PUNTO.

avatar
58

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 2:44PM

I agree with #18.

Heidi is very lovely for someone on your block, but as a 'famous model' she is pretty ordinary.
Which is exactly why she is so popular with middle America. She's like a gateway drug for when you're beyond JC Penney. Good for her, and she does seem like a nice person, but she is of no interest to me, or, I'll bet, anyone really interested in fashion.
And fat? no. Shapeless though; since she had children she lost any semblance of a waist.

I am absolutely NOT a Karl fan though. Even if he could shut his vitriolic spew, and stop looking like a fool, I don't think he's done anything interesting in decades.

avatar
59

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 5:18PM

The quote about her weight which you have attributed to Karl is nothing to do with him. Holy shit, do you guys not have researchers?

avatar
60

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 5:33PM

Someone really needs to remove the stick that is lodged so far up Karl's Steife assh*le.

61

posted by Jean Voltaire

Jun 16, 2009 6:06PM

GUEST #19 - Karl is that you??

avatar
62

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 6:39PM

hes a jerk
RETIRE ALREADY!

avatar
63

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 6:43PM

burrrrrrnnnnnnn. you tell 'em, fashionista!

avatar
64

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 10:40PM

You all seem to forget that Karl has been around designing LONG BEFORE ALL YOU KIDS' PARENTS WERE EVEN BORN. Also remember he was fat (oh, I forgot, you're all too young to remember that...) He can say whatever he wants, whether you or me like it or not. He's earned it. And besides, aren't you doing the same here in this blog anyway?

avatar
65

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2009 10:50PM

Regarding Britt's comment about models not making major money walking Balenciaga or doing editorial work, but from major beauty contracts & catalogs and becoming a brand - that is not "Fashion" work hon, that is called RETAIL!

avatar
66

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2009 1:37AM

Although they way he said it was quite harsh, i believe it's true. She IS commercial- shes a victoria secret model for crying out loud.
I don't think weight is a problem for her though-She's had a couple of kids and isn't the average 18 year old skin thin model.

avatar
67

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2009 11:37AM

#64: Don't be such a ninny. Lagerfeld was fat only up until a few years ago. The Karl Lagerfeld Diet was released in 2004. So, unless me and the rest of the commenters are only about 13, I'm pretty sure we are all old enough to remember Fat Karl.

avatar
68

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2009 2:25PM

Amen! Well-said Britt =]

avatar
69

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2009 5:45PM

you guys are obviously upset at FakeKarl's comment on Fashionista.

avatar
70

posted by guest

Jun 22, 2009 2:47AM

I'm not even on Heidi like that but wow, since when did designing for years and age give anyone the green light to be disrespectful? I don't care if you're 101 and designing for 87 years, comments like that are unnecessary. And by the way if Karl's been designing before my mother was born then surely he'd be dead by now.

avatar
71

posted by guest

Jun 23, 2009 12:27AM

Karl should keep his opinion to himself.
The truth's that karl is an egotistical old man and no one's calling him out.

There's this thing called Prudency,Heidi's not labeling herself as 'Avant-garde'.

So why bash her?

avatar
72

posted by guest

Jul 09, 2009 11:05AM

I love Lagerfeld he is an absolute genius but he really should keep his cmments to himself because they are mean and unecessary

avatar
73

posted by guest

Jul 09, 2009 11:07AM

I love Lagerfeld he is an absolute genius...in regads to design he often makes unecessary hurtful comments and he is not humble at all just because he praises his self on on his unhealthy diet practices does not mean everyone else should.

theplumpenny.blogspot.com

Post Your Comment