Karl Lagerfeld has lived and worked in Paris for decades. While he is German by nationality, he has always been a Parisian by choice, it seemed. But after a series of devasting terrorist attacks, including last November’s terrorist attacks in Paris, Lagerfeld doesn’t recognize his own city. I think that’s what he’s saying in a new interview with CNN. Lagerfeld was supposed to be promoting the latest Chanel line but when he was asked about the glamour of the iconic City of Lights, Lagerfeld confessed that he thinks Paris is so gloomy these days.

The glamour of Paris: “This is not the most glamorous moment in Paris. Paris by night is a nightmare now. It is not a cliché anymore. I must say, in my whole life I never saw Paris that gloomy.”

Memories of Paris: “[Paris] looked like an old French movie…It was another world. There was no feeling of danger, and not even a boy of 16 years old could walk in the street. Things are changing, but I have the feeling I lived in a world that no longer exists.”

[From CNN]

I’m nowhere near as old as Lagerfeld, but I do have those moments of looking around at the modern world and not recognizing or understanding where we’re going. I think Paris – like so many cities hit with terrorist attacks – is still reeling from the tragedy and Parisians are still dealing with it emotionally and psychologically. A similar thing happened in America after 9/11 – it took months, some would say years, before it felt like we could regain some sense of equilibrium. But what Lagerfeld is true too – “I have the feeling I lived in a world that no longer exists.” There’s no going back, really.

Note: I wrote the above post before the tragedy in Nice, France unfolded last night. Our thoughts and prayers are with the French people. They have been hit with so many tragedies in the past two years. It’s devastating.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.