He is 84-years-old and appears to have a mindset that seems in sync with an even older generation. However, he is also the purveyor of the latest fashion and his is a hallowed name in fashion world. So what did Karl Lagerfeld, head creative director of Chanel and Fendi say? Did he really say it? How did it go down with the good people on Twitter?
Speaking on various subjects at an interview, the fashion icon was asked about Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo movement. Far from being sensitive or empathetic towards women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted, he spoke about not believing a single word about the accusations of misconduct against Karl Templar, creative director of Interview Magazine. He expressed amazement that Templar was ‘excommunicated’ because of sexual misconduct claims.
Lagerfeld apparently ‘cannot stand’ Harvey Weinstein, but he is also fed up with the #MeToo movement. Why? Apparently because it reeks of “starlets who have taken 20 years to remember what happened” and also because there are “no prosecution witnesses”. This is the typical variety of victim shaming and doubting that does such terrible disservice to women and men.
Lagerfeld has few positive things to say about anyone; he is well known for his disapproval of heavier women and his belief that women who aren’t stick-thin don’t somehow ‘deserve’ fashion. It is only fair that others express their low opinion of him. Enough foundation to build a basement… that is clever!
Clearly Lagerfeld has a rather jaundiced view of humanity. He famously said once, “No one wants to see curvy women.” He appears not to like anyone very much including Adele (Adele of the utterly stunning voice and one of the few contemporary musicians my daughters and I agree on).
Obviously Lagerfeld received some choice abuse and much deserved flack on social media for his observations, which in effect condoned sexual abuse. This mindset is of a piece with the misogynistic view that blames women for being attacked; which insists that it is women who must curtail their activities to remain safe.
In 2014, Chanel models walked down the Paris Fashion Week runway carrying feminist placards; Lagerfeld at the helm. Clearly those who had dismissed this as ‘consumerist claptrap’ and viewed the fashion show as nothing but a self-serving co-opting of feminism to sell costly clothes were right.
Many women were just really angry at the statements Lagerfeld made; many deciding to boycott him and his designs; deciding that this designs were not worth their money.
It was quite simple for a lot of people - they crossed Lagerfeld off their list.
American actor Rose McGowan made this point and she is quite right. The fashion industry has created a narrow and artificial construct of beauty and an unhealthy expectation of body size. She makes a valid point about victim shaming as well as the way that the fashion world creates and feeds off women’s insecurities.
Another celebrity, comedian Whitney Cummings and many other commentators were quite clear about being as fed up with Lagerfeld as he was with the #MeToo movement. Most commentators feel that there is little reason to show any kind of sympathy for rich but irrelevant 80-year-old “entitled white guys with ponytails”. Fair enough.
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