THE DOUBLE LIFE OF KARL LAGERFELD
By Stephen Short
A PRESTIGE HONG KONG WORLD EXCLUSIVE

Karl Lagerfeld, the world’s busiest and most iconic designer, takes centre stage with a world exclusive interview and self-portraits in the March issue of Prestige Hong Kong.

Coinciding with the arrival of Chanel’s Mobile Art pavilion in Hong Kong, Lagerfeld provides frank and personal insights into his legendary career, including his reinvention of Chanel, his viewpoint on anorexia and the modeling industry, and his preference for private jets.

“It was all done on instinct,” reflects Lagerfeld, on his start with Chanel. “I said to the president, ‘I won’t take any advice,’ and in that sense I’m a very fascist person. If someone tells me something has to be like this, I’m not interested. I could never be an art director selecting other people’s work. I’m only interested in my own work. I’m a very superficial person, but that is good for what I’m doing.”

On the skinny model debate, Lagerfeld confides: “Yes, new Russian girls are like this. But this is a subject I won’t discuss. You know why? In France there are a large percentage of young girls who are overweight and less than one percent are skinny. So let’s talk about the 25 percent who have a weight problem, or are overweight. We don’t need to discuss the less than one percent. Anorexia is nothing to do with fashion.”

Lagerfeld, who is celebrating 25 years with Chanel, also reveals that private jets are his main means of air travel. “In all my contracts it says, if you want me, send a private jet. Also I cannot go on airlines because people stare at me, you have to be touched by people. I hate that.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Also in this issue:

EXCLUSIVE: French high jewellery brand Chaumet launch event in Shanghai
Chaumet celebrates its mainland launch with a lavish affair in Shanghai, featuring stunning French actress and director Sophie Marceau.

EXCLUSIVE: Burberry fragrance launch in London
Burberry introduces its sixth fragrance with an exclusive party at KOKO, an eclectic music club on London’s Camden High Street.

EXCLUSIVE: The View opening at Sands Macao Hotel
Sands Macao Hotel popped the best champagne in the house to celebrate the official opening of The View, an ultra-exclusive and delightfully decadent lounge that lives up to its billing.

Polo returns to China
Although it was a royal pastime in China for centuries, polo has only recently begun to regain its footing in mainland China. Writer Jo Baker examines the sport’s resurgence in the mainland as a result of the determined efforts of the Nine Dragons Hill Polo Club near Shanghai.

In good hands
Tycoon William E “Chip” Connor explains how he divides his time between being a family man and running his privately owned merchandise-sourcing company, The Connor Group, while fitting in his passion for racing cars. Of his high-horse-powered hobby, Connor says: “This racing thing is such an indulgence for me, but I love doing it and my wife is very understanding.”

Galloping gypsies
Bartabas, founder and leader of famed French equestrian troupe Zingaro, discusses his gypsy lifestyle and his troupe’s latest spectacle, Battuta, performing in Hong Kong until March 23.

Contemporary sculptor Chen Wenling
From the statues of red boys and the humanised pigs he became famous for, to his latest giant “melting” sculptures, Chen Wenling keeps reinventing himself.

Diamonds are for Rover
Dog owners will be in awe of I Love Dog’s US$1.8 million Amour Amour dog collar, which it calls “the world’s most expensive dog collar.” Writer Frankie Lam appraises the bespoke collar from La Collection de Bijoux.

...plus Japanese designer Tsumori Chisato, Alfa Romeo’s 8C Competizione, central Vietnam’s legendary China Beach, a colourful photo spread of the top fashions for spring and summer, and 86 pages of women’s fashion and beauty.

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Polo Returns to China
By Jo Baker


Colour Me Beautiful
Photography by Laurent Segrétier