Lagerfeld to be sued after saying curves don’t belong in fashion

Karl Lagerfeld has caused controversy after quotes of him saying curves have no place in fashion have been published in his new book The World According to Karl.

A French association called Pretty, curvy, sexy and fine with it – is suing the designer, accusing him of “defamatory and discriminatory comments”.

Betty Aubriere, president of the association that supports curvy women in society, has made an official complaint against the designer over his comments that no one wants to see plump models on catwalks.

“No one wants to see curvy women on the catwalk,”says Lagerfeld. In his opinion, the people who object to this are “fat mummies sitting with their bags of crisps in front of the television, saying that thin models are ugly.”

“We’re fed up. Many young girls are insecure and hearing such comments is terrible for them,”Aubriere told Agence France-Presse (AFP). “Today it’s him who insults us and tomorrow who will it be?” she added.

This isn’t the first time Lagerfeld’s opinions on body shape have upset women’s groups. Last year, Chanel’s creative director said singer Adele was “a little too fat”. A comment which he apologised for earlier this year, but added: “I said that she was a little roundish; a little roundish is not fat. But for such a beautiful girl, after that she lost eight kilos so I think the message was not that bad.” Last year Lagerfeld attacked Pippa Middleton, telling The Sun: “I don’t like [Pippa]’s face. She should only show her back.”

The World According to Karl is full of the designer’s less catty and more inspirational quotes and divided into chapters which advise on how to live a more chic and stylish life. A chapter titled Karl on being in Shape, looks back on when the designer lost 42 kilos over ten years ago. “I want to be a perfect coat hanger for slim-fitting clothes,” Lagerfeld explains. Adding his style tip: “Jogging pants are a style of defeat. You’ve lost control of your life, so you go out in jogging pants.” 

Hollie Bracciale

The World according to Karl is on sale now. Click here to buy your copy.