In our exclusive behind the scenes interview with Karl Lagerfeld for the new ELLE Collections, the worlds most famous designer talked us through some of his most memorable quotes. This is Karl, uncut
Karl, you once said: I never fall in love, Im in love with my jobs
Its a classic but Im not sure I said it it doesnt sound like me. Ive fallen in love with my cat Choupette who will have two books coming out one very soon called The Perfect Life of a Fashion Cat and the other is The Scrapbook of Choupette. She will have her own makeup line at Shu Uemura; Choupette Uemura. She is also doing the advertising for Opal (Vauxhall), the cars. Everybody who has met Choupette falls in love with her. I dont know if she falls in love but, she has two young women taking care of her they are mad for her. They nearly prefer Choupette to their family. Its unbelievable, shes so funny, shes like a person. My friends Ingrid and Sishy and Sandy Brant had a cat and I thought they were just ridiculous the way the cat was travelling, everything. But now Im worse.
I only know how to play one role, me
Yes, thats true. I never try to imitate anybody else so thats true.
I dont recommend myself as a guest
Thats true because I am impossible. I have too much luggage to be a weekend guest. Nobody has houses kept on a level that my old maniac ideas of how I want things, its impossible, it would be and also you know, most people think that I criticize their houses and things. No, I better stay at home. You can be my guest but dont invite me.
The essential thing in life is to reinvent oneself - where in the curve are you?
Its a circle its not a curve my dear.
I have no wish to be normal
I never wanted to be normal like everybody else. I couldnt do the job Im doing if I was average. Look, the French president wanted to be a normal president - look how normal he became.
I am modesty itself
Yes, thats what I think. I am because I can tell everybody whatever I want but I can tell myself nothing. I can only face my own truth.
I am less horrible than I seem
Yes, thats true. I think when you meet me Im not as horrible as I might seem on a photo with a mean expression on my face you know.
Im a funny sort of Coco
I never said this I dont remember that but, you know, I dont remember everything I said. Perhaps I should be more careful and remember. But this stupid thing I dont remember But Im not mean like Coco. Im not bitter, she was bitter. I have no reason to be bitter.
I am born to be alone
Yes, I love to be alone because the batteries, we have to recharge them if you do so many collections, all the photos, all the books Im working on too you need a little time to yourself. And I love to read, I love to look at books so I need a lot of time to myself. Im never bored because I think being bored is a crime that means that you dont know what to do with your life. People who say they are bored are bores themselves. Thats how I see it.
