Selected Quotes by Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld- Karl Otto Lagerfeld (September 10, 1933 – February 19, 2019) was a German fashion designer. He began his career in fashion in the 1950s, working for several top fashion houses including Balmain, Patou, and Chloé before eventually joining Chanel in 1983. He became the creative director of Chanel from 1983 until his death. He oversaw every aspect of the fashion house's creative output. He designed collections and was in charge of advertising campaigns and store displays.
He was instrumental in the revitalization of the Chanel brand. He helped it regain its position as one of the top fashion houses in the world. He was also the creative director of the Italian fur and leather goods fashion house Fendi, as well as his own eponymous fashion label. Throughout his career he collaborated on a variety of fashion and art-related projects.
He was well recognized for his signature white hair, black sunglasses, fingerless gloves, and high starched detachable collars.
Selected Quotes by Karl Lagerfeld:
"Don't dress to kill, dress to survive."
Karl Lagerfeld, Goals
"I'm very impeccable and clean before I go to bed. When I was a child, my mother always told me that you could wake up in the middle of the night and be deathly sick, so you always have to be impeccable. I laugh about it now, but I think everyone should go to bed like they have a date at the door."
Karl Lagerfeld, Goals
"I've always known that I was made to live this way, that I would be this sort of legend."
Karl Lagerfeld, Goals
"Improvise. Become more creative. Not because you have to, but because you want to. Evolution is the secret for the next step."
Karl Lagerfeld, Goals
"Don't use expensive clothes as a screen for your personal doubts. Be proud of yourself and not only because you wear expensive designer clothes. They are great, but lots of people are happy without them."
Karl Lagerfeld, Goals, Happiness
"They are this horrible thing where you are distorted. The chin is too big, the head is too small. It is electronic masturbation."
Karl Lagerfeld, Technology
"Never use the word 'cheap.' Today everybody can look chic in inexpensive clothes (the rich buy them too). There is good clothing design on every level today. You can be the chicest thing in the world in a T-shirt and jeans—it’s up to you.”
Karl Lagerfeld, Life
"Chic is a kind of mayonnaise, either it tastes, or it doesn't."
Karl Lagerfeld, Life
"Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants."
Karl Lagerfeld, Life
"Trendy is the last stage before tacky."
Karl Lagerfeld, Life
"I’m very much down to earth, just not this earth.”
Karl Lagerfeld, Life
"I am like a caricature of myself, and I like that. It is like a mask. And for me the Carnival of Venice lasts all year long."
Karl Lagerfeld, Life
"A sense of humor and a little lack of respect: that’s what you need to make a legend survive.” "Everything I say is a joke. I am a joke of myself."
Karl Lagerfeld, Life
"I hate intellectual conversation with intellectuals because I only care about my opinion."
Karl Lagerfeld, Life
"I’m not crazy to discuss fashion with men. I couldn’t care less about their opinion.”
Karl Lagerfeld, Life
"Life is not a beauty contest, some [ugly people] are great. What I hate is nasty, ugly people...the worst is ugly, short men. Women can be short, but for men it is impossible. It is something that they will not forgive in life...they are mean and they want to kill you."
Karl Lagerfeld, Life
"Luxury bags make your life more pleasant, make you dream, give you confidence, and show your neighbors you're doing well."
Karl Lagerfeld, Wealth
“Luxury is the ease of a t-shirt in a very expensive dress.”
Karl Lagerfeld, Wealth
"If you throw money out of the window, throw it out with joy. Don’t say: 'one shouldn’t do that'—that is bourgeois."
Karl Lagerfeld, Wealth
"I am a fashion person, and fashion is not only about clothes—it's about all kinds of change.”