We can look forward to many more gorgeous handbags and nutty comments from Chanel creative director and famous egomaniac Karl Lagerfield. One of fashion's most colorful characters told Germany's Freundin magazine he has no plans for retirement.

"Retirement is not one of the topics with which I deal. Why should I? I still have so many projects that I sometimes don't know where to begin. Chanel will still need some clothes when I'm 89," he said.

Of course I'm sure someone else could design those clothes if Karl were to step down, but it's not surprising to hear he doesn't entertain that thought!

There must be something about Chanel that compels folks to stick around. Coco Chanel never retired, so it's fitting that Karl Lagerfield is planning to do the same thing. He's already got 27 years under his belt, and he's showing no signs of becoming stiff or stale. So why not continue the legacy? Heaven knows any replacement would have some very big shoes to fill!

[Source: Pursed Lips]
[Image Source: Christophschaefer/Wikipedia Commons]

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If you can't afford a genuine Chanel or Marc Jacobs creation, perhaps these Pattern People totes may be more your speed. They pay tribute to Marc and Chanel's creative director Karl Lagerfield with their bold black illustrations.

The portraits of these design visionaries are paired with appropriate surroundings: the Eiffel Tower and pearl necklaces for haughty Karl and the Doc Martins and plaid skorts of the grunge era for Marc. The designs are handpainted on eco-friendly cotton canvas.

Each tote measures a sizable 18 x 15 inches, so there's plenty of space for carrying groceries from the markets or your towel and togs to the beach. These are the occasions when a luxury designer handbag just won’t do, so it's nice to have an alternative that's just as chic.

And while the genuine Chanel and Marc Jacobs creations could easily cost a four-figure sum, these sassy totes retail for just $45. They're available exclusively from Hintmag.com's online store.

[Source: View on Fashion]

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Though it's yet to hit the magazine racks, the Harper's Bazaar September issue will surely garner a few laughs thanks to its unique interview with Chanel big shot and ego-extraordinaire Karl Lagerfeld.

Any interview with Lagerfeld is sure to be a page-turner since this man has more quirks than you can count on both hands (who can forget the $1,000 Lagerfeld Steiff bear?). Well, now he's taking his insanity, I mean genius, a step further by adding a character to his repertoire of strange behavior.

For the interview with Bazaar, the infamous creative director and designer is stepping into the shoes of the original Chanel legend herself: Coco. With the recent Coco Avant Chanel craze, it's no surprise that fans of the label are craving more; I just wouldn't have expected Lagerfeld to fill in for her.

Though we have to wait until the magazine's release to be fully amused, Fashion Weed Daily has provided us with a short but hilarious snippet of the interview. Lagerfeld, as Coco Chanel, responds to questions about feminism, which he/she claims to never have been "ugly" enough for, Botox treatments, and Chanel fashion. Here's my favorite quote:

HB: What’s the new Chanel classic?
CC: As apparently my old jacket is still around, done by this idiot Karl, I have to help him find a new idea.

Lagerfeld talking about himself disparagingly in the third person. Now that's an article I have to read.

[Source: Fashion Week Daily]
[Image: SpreePiX-Berlin/Flickr]

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Karl Lagerfield's the man we love to love for his gorgeous Chanel handbags and love to hate for his narcissistic streak. That ego is on show again with the release of the Karl Lagerfield bear, a furry likeness of the iconic designer.

Cashed up Chanel fans can snag one of these limited edition bears for $989. Wait, $989? Nearly one thousand dollars for a stuffed animal? That's right luxury lovers, this baby will cost you nearly four figures.

Why so expensive? Well, it's a limited edition line, with just 2500 of the bears made. It's also wearing a cute Swarovski studded crystal belt and tie. He's autographed by Karl Lagerfield himself. And let’s not forget the custom-made boots and sexy shades.

Oh who am I kidding? There's absolutely no reason for a teddy bear to cost nearly $1000. If you're happy to throw money around frivolously, you can pick up a Karl Lagerfield Steiff bear from Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores.

[Source: The Glamazon Diaries]

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Karl Lagerfield's former assistant Arnaud Maillard is on the publicity trail again, following the German release of his tell-all book, Merci Karl. I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone that Chanel's creative director is a self-absorbed, pompous snot. But you might be surprised just how self-involved he really is!

"He's an unbelievable narcissist," Mr. Arnaud told Spiegel. "He needs an eternity to get ready in the morning. He takes photos of himself at every photo shoot and puts them everywhere."

He adds that Karl "dumps people at the drop of a dime," particularly if they are voices of dissent.

"He surrounds himself with a kind of royal court, nobody disagrees with him," Mr. Arnaud confirmed. "He can also be merciless. I've seen him simply stop talking to people, stop acknowledging their existence. In the fashion industry, nobody raises their voice; they say the worst things in a very polite tone."

As you might expect, Karl loves to be pampered. He uses the world's most expensive body cream from La Prairie twice a day, even slathering the stuff between his toes. But don't think Karl does everything himself. What's the point of having a "royal court" if they're not attending to you?

"Wherever he goes, there is Pepsi-Cola in a Baccarat crystal glass waiting for him and it gets replaced every 30 minutes. It's like the 18th century."

His handbags might be stunning, but it sounds like Karl is a real piece of work!

[Source: Fashionlogie]
[Image Source: Jorgebarrios/Wikipedia Commons]

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Louis Vuitton is happy to create almost any custom piece, if you've got the cash to splash. Last year Karl Lagerfield bought a custom LV trunk to hold his 20 iPods. And now a Chinese gentleman has commissioned something a little more grandiose, and just a little more strange.

The client "wanted to be able to watch television and offer coffee to his friends wherever he traveled in the world, including the remotest desert," Louis Vuitton's Patrick-Louis Vuitton recounts. "We agreed to put two solar panels linked to a battery for the flat-screen TV and DVD player, two-way radio, tuner and coffee machine."

The one-of-a-kind trunk, which is covered in the label's iconic Damier canvas, took a year to complete and costs tens of thousands of dollars.

I guess if you can afford it, why not?

One person who probably won’t line up for an exclusive LV trunk is the brand's creative director, Marc Jacobs. He commented at the recent Met Costume Institute Gala that he doubts trunks will ever make a comeback.

"I don't think there's anything practical about traveling with a trunk," he said. "Luxury travel is traveling with a toothbrush. That's it, end of story. The people who really live luxurious lives don't need to pack. They've got stuff wherever they go."

I suppose he’s right!

[Source: Luxist]

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Karl Lagerfield's latest muse is Heidi Mount. The 21-year-old American model stars in Chanel's latest advertising campaign.

Heidi and the iconic quilted handbags she shares the spotlight with are real life artworks in these commercials, which draw inspiration from the work of Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershoi.

The muted gray color scheme makes the black and white Chanel purses look a little more dramatic, but it's an interesting choice for the coming season. Compared to the vibrant saturated hues we've seen in so many recent spring/summer campaigns, this looks positively drab. Karl says he was looking for inspiration in the natural light of sunset, but to me it looks like he's missed the mark. Where are the bold oranges and pinks we associate with that time of day?

While the advertising campaign may seem more appropriate for winter, it's not without its charms. I love the airy space of its Parisian apartment setting, and the subdued colors are ideal for Heidi's ice princess good looks.

[Source: View on Fashion]

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I've got to admire Karl Lagerfield. The world's economy is crumbling, yet the Chanel designer has released the ultimate fun but frivolous vehicle, the Chanel Segway.

This new black leather personal transporter is a standard issue Segway tricked up with plenty of Chanel glamour. The CC logo proudly adorns the front, wheel, and handlebar. But the real centerpiece is that quilted 2.55 handbag hanging from the front. It won't provide a lot of storage, but it will carry your wallet and cell phone while you're scooting around!

These fun vehicles are almost a cross between a motorbike and an old-fashion scooter. Navigating them is easy – you just lean in the direction you want to go. It won't keep pace on the freeway, but with a top speed of nearly 20 kph it's entirely appropriate for taking on the urban jungle.

There's no word yet on price, but you can bet this kind of ride won't come cheap. Expect to see Paris Hilton zooming about on one of these beauties soon.

[Source: Ecorazzi]

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We've all coveted purses made of pony hair and handbags crafted from rabbit fur. But what about the hair of a humble housecat? Danielle Groomer from South Carolina has cornered the market on these unique fur bags.

Cat groomer Danielle was bothered by the leftover cat hair she accumulated during her day. And so she decided to spin the unwanted fur into a "beautiful, smooth, silky yarn" to create handbags for each cat's owner. The devoted pet lovers adore the purses which serve a dual purpose. They allow cat fans to carry a little piece of their prized pet every day, and are unique keepsakes when their kitty passes on.

It's all strangely touching, and more than a little bit strange. I suppose it's a little less creepy than the pet owners who stuff their furry friends when they die, but only just!

But at least no animals are harmed in the making of these handbags. Perhaps Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfield could learn a thing or two from this vid!

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It's not very politically correct these days, but Chanel head designer Karl Lagerfield has defended his use of fur.

The fashion head honcho justified his lavish animal skins, insisting it's a case of "us against them." He added that hunters rely on "killing those beasts who would kill us if they could."

I'm not sure what sort of threat the rabbits and minks Chanel favors would ever pose to us humans, but I suppose that Mr. Lagerfield is entitled to his opinion.

He added that "In a meat-eating world, wearing leather for shoes and clothes and even handbags, the discussion of fur is childish."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has hit back at Mr. Lagerfield’s comments, labeling him "a fashion dinosaur who is as out of step as his furs are out of style.

"The vast majority of fur these days comes not from hunters as he suggests, but from Chinese fur farms, where no law protects the millions of animals who are routinely beaten and skinned alive.

"Lagerfeld's childish refusal to acknowledge the needless suffering behind every piece of fur and listen to public opinion means that he is being overtaken in the style stakes by an increasing number of designers who believe that cruelty has no place in fashion."

I'd hate to see the house of Chanel get left behind, but it is clear that many people are morally opposed to wearing fur. While Mr. Lagerfield it so committed to his views, I can't imagine Chanel's fashion philosophy changing any time soon.

[Source: Telegraph]
[Image Source: Christophschaefer/Wikipedia Commons]

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