14 DAY TRIAL // Coco Chanel, the pioneering French designer that was so influential that was the only haute couture designer to be included on TIME’s list of 100 most influential people of the 20th century, is the latest celebrity to be interviewed by Harper’s Bazaar. There’s a catch, of course, as the magazine did not actually talk to the late Coco, but to iconic designer Karl Lagerfeld, who channeled her for the entire duration of the interview, as Fashion Week Daily can confirm.
Usually, Karl’s statements are not even remotely close to funny because he happens to be a very opinionated man who believes only his way is the right way, it has been said. Because of this, he often ends up offending people he has or continues to work with, or even strangers that never crossed his path. However, the Harper’s Bazaar interview with him as Coco Chanel promises to be quite an interesting read, to say the least, judging by the few excerpts that have been made public as a preview.
Coco Chanel was never ugly enough to be a feminist, Karl as Coco says. “Your clothing liberated women in the 1920s. Are you still a feminist?” Harper’s Bazaar asks. Coco (Karl) is blunt: “I was never a feminist because I was never ugly enough for that.” Of course, the joke is obvious, fashion-oriented magazines point out. Coco really did liberate women with her creations, being the first designer to cater for the independent, strong woman. Coco was also very outspoken about her beliefs as regards a woman’s place in society and how that could be altered with dress style as well.
“What would you change about your looks? Would you consider Botox?” Harper’s Bazaar further asks. “When I look at myself in the mirror, I think I’m pretty modern–whatever that means. But maybe I should change my makeup. In my day, the products were dreadful.” Karl as Coco answers. According to the famous designer – who, as some of you may remember, once said the biggest crime a model could commit would be to smile – speaking as Coco, she’s very fond of The Kills these days, listening to them on her iPod because they “suit [her] character.”
“You were famous for your paramours. Whom would you have an affair with today?” Harper’s asks. “I like handsome men, so there would be many possibilities, but dukes and princes are not the right escort for a woman like me today. I like to charm younger men. This has not changed.” Coco says in return. She even has a couple of words to say on Karl himself, when Harper’s asks her what is the new Chanel classic. “As apparently my old jacket is still around, done by this idiot Karl, I have to help him find a new idea.” Coco replies.
The full interview with Karl Lagerfeld as Coco Chanel is out in the September issue of Harper’s Bazaar magazine.