Karl Lagerfeld vs. France..

[Lena]

just read this, i find it hilarious really

Published: Friday, November 03, 2006
Karl vs. France
By Robert Murphy

What's Karl Lagerfeld's opinion about France, his adopted home? Well, it seems pretty grim, judging from an opinion piece he penned in this week's Paris Match.
The weekly magazine solicited the Chanel designer to weigh in on the country's current condition as part of a series of articles leading up to next year's presidential elections. In his page-long critique, Lagerfeld calls France stultified and says it has lost prestige because of a reticence to change and lack of moxie. "Has work become so unexciting that over 35 hours on the job is hell?" he asks in a swipe at the country's 35-hour work week. "I admit that there are boring and horrible jobs. But for others, what a lack of passion and spirit. In my case, 35 hours a week is what I rest."
Lagerfeld likewise laments an increasingly unenergetic Paris. "Just 15 years ago, when I left Paris for two weeks, I felt I'd miss something. Not now. I have more fun in New York than Paris. When I'm not in Paris, I tend to forget it. Without a doubt it's because the French have become too reasonable….[Paris] is beautiful but it has no verve."
And even if France remains the world's luxury capital, thanks to the likes of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton tycoon Bernard Arnault, whom Lagerfeld compares with Bill Gates, the couturier describes the country's attitude toward money and luxury as "extraordinarily hypocritical." Not all is lost, though. Paris remains fashion's "international platform," Lagerfeld concedes. "Still, after all these years, I don't feel Parisian. I'm at home everywhere. All I need is a hotel room. I don't need roots. It's for that reason fashion suits me so well. I make, I unmake, I remake…."

credited to wwd.com

 

[fashionista-ta]

Bill Gates, ouch! You're much better looking, Bernard

 

[taperjeangirl]

The man should stick to fashion and leave talking to normal people.

 

[stylegurrl]

The man should stick to fashion and leave talking to normal people.

 

[Salvatore]

The man should stick to fashion and leave talking to normal people.

Too funny. I love Karl as he says things that just don't even amount anything. Kind of like a rambling old woman..."wet hen"-ish.

 

[taperjeangirl]

Too funny. I love Karl as he says things that just don't even amount anything. Kind of like a rambling old woman..."wet hen"-ish.

I know, a whole book could be writen on all the stupid things he has ever said.

 

[gius]

I sometimes have trouble understanding his English...

"I admit that there are boring and horrible jobs. But for others, what a lack of passion and spirit. In my case, 35 hours a week is what I rest."

 

[Lena]

^ i believe they were actually pulling his 'leg' by quoting him unedited..

 

[Scott]

I do agree with him about Arnault though. One glimmer of an intelligent man speaking amid an article of pure anecdotal nonsense

 

[ultramarine]

35 hours a WEEK? I work like 60!!!!
Holy crap!

---------------------------
Ps I heard that France has the best healthcare ever ...

 

[happyguy]

sometimes, i wonder if he knows whats he's talking about. especially during his interviews... it doens't quite make sense.still, he's one hell of a talented designer.

 

[ewening]

his outlook on life is fascinating.

 

[susanna]

I think he usually appears more clueless and out-there than he is. But he should stay away from any politicial statements, what he said about the 35 hour week come across as arrogant and stupid

 

[The_Ida]

My aunt interviewed him once. She claims that he's a very intelligent person. I really can't imagine why she thinks that

 

[liberty33r1b]

his outlook on life is fascinating.

i agree, and i equally like his restlessness and attitude to take on and remake things....its inspiring.

 

[Afreekan]

HAHAHA Karl is such a diva... but this issue of France and its resistance to change keeps coming up from alot of folks... Tom Ford had the same problem as well... I don't see it in the collections though.
I have never been to Paris so I can't tell if this is true... For anybody who has been, are these people speaking the truth, or are they the ones that are suffering from tradition?

 

[crepuscolo]

I find it hilarious how both Tom Ford and Karl Lagerfeld b*tch about the 35-hour work week.

But the closing quote of this article I really, really like.

 

[Goya]

My aunt interviewed him once. She claims that he's a very intelligent person. I really can't imagine why she thinks that

ROFL...

 

[Deleted member 7575]

He doesn't mince his words.

I think when you get to his age and with his experience you just say what is on your mind. I am sure he is as informed as one could be regarding the subject. I think we can all agree with what he is essentially saying: the French luxury industry IS hypocritical and 35 hr work weeks ARE really small.

 

[belletrist]

First Ultramarine
Not everyone in France work 35 hours haha
That's some people who works for the states (+ some in private business)
Don't worry; executives and lawyers still work 70 hours a week
What is funny is that some people really don't have a lot of hours. My aunt is a teacher, (high school teacher), basically if you pass an exam (the "agrégation"), you get 3K Euros a month and work... 15 hours a week. He! Pretty much well paid for the hours no?
About the healthcare: they are said to be very good (like in scandinavian countries). Everything is free (even big big things), you don't have to wait a lot (unlike in England). That's not tipically french though... Switzerland/etc have the same system

Than you

HAHAHA Karl is such a diva... but this issue of France and its resistance to change keeps coming up from alot of folks... Tom Ford had the same problem as well... I don't see it in the collections though.
I have never been to Paris so I can't tell if this is true... For anybody who has been, are these people speaking the truth, or are they the ones that are suffering from tradition?

Don't know if Pzris is "conservative", but Paris might be a little bit boring sometimes. You know, there's a lot of conceptual, etc but that's pretentious, nothing is really fresh, it's all about hype/trendiness
Tom Ford is really NOT the person who could speak about that though of course if you put half naked models on the runway you will not get good reviews (there's Milan for that, Paris has still this posh-aristocratic-thing)
So... don't know, my mind is really mixed concerning Paris.