Karl Lagerfeld on ‘spoiled’ Choupette: ‘She is the most beautiful cat in the world’

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There are few things I love more than a new Karl Lagerfeld interview. YAY! Karl has been in NYC for a few days, toasting Tilda Swinton and being honored by Jessica Chastain, and because Karl has no filter, he couldn’t help but give a lengthy interview to NY Magazine. You can read the full thing here – that man can TALK, so it’s a really long piece. I just enjoyed some of Karl’s classic bitchisms and of course, anything he has to say about his one true love, his partner, his daughter, his cat Choupette. Some highlights:

Karl on red carpets: “It is a little too much sometimes. Especially when you see all those mermaids and fishtail gowns, going in to see movies about poor girls in Eastern Europe, there’s something a little shocking about it.”

Karl feels no pressure to dress celebrities: “No, no. Maybe some designers do, but if I can say something pretentious, I’m afraid I’m beyond that. And Chanel and Fendi are fashion. The typical cartoon of the red carpet, that’s not fashion. It’s always the same typical silhouette. But the red carpet, it’s something that exists. For some people, the photo-call is part of their daily lives, so.”

Karl on his inexpensive line for H&M: “I did H&M because today, fashion has to be well-designed, expensive or not expensive. I think it’s very important to make well-designed, modern clothes that are not too expensive. To make only very expensive clothes, it’s very démodé. And I am also doing couture. I am a completely different person when I am working on different collections. And I have no personality, as you see, so you know, it’s easy. You cannot say that one is better or worse. It’s completely different.”

Why he switched from dog-owner to cat-lover: “Well dogs, you need a country house, and you need to walk them in the street, and I cannot walk in the street anymore. I mean, you know, in the age of cell phones, forget about it. In the city, cats are very easy to keep, because they are so clean. She is the most beautiful cat in the world.”

How he came to be Choupette’s daddy: “She was not mine. A friend of mine [Ed. note: It was male model and Lagerfeld muse Baptiste Giabiconi], he had to travel, and he asked if I could take her into my house, where people could take care of her. And when he came back two weeks later, I said, “I’m sorry, Choupette will stay.” And he was very sweet. He got another one. But she is not as good as Choupette.”

Choupette is spoiled: “It is always difficult to analyze influence, but perhaps she helped me become a nicer person. Because there’s something very touching about her. And she is spoiled beyond. But I was spoiled, too, so I can spoil my cat.”

He doesn’t drink, smoke or do drugs: “I am very boring, but it has allowed me to survive better than other people. If you don’t drink, you don’t smoke, and you don’t do drugs, and you’re not missing it and never even wanted it, and you sleep for seven hours. I tell you, life is quite pleasant. You don’t feel tired or exhausted or things like that. You get out of bed and it’s time for the day. I’m quite boring.”

[From NY Magazine]

I can’t get enough of Karl and Choupette. They are the true love story of our time. Imagine leaving your kitten with Karl Lagerfeld for a few weeks, and when you come back for the kitten, Karl says, “No. She is mine now.” And I think he’s right, becoming a late-in-life cat person has made him a nicer person. He used to be bitchier. He used to be harsher. Choupette has made Karl a nicer person overall.

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Photos courtesy of WENN, NY Magazine.

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45 Responses to “Karl Lagerfeld on ‘spoiled’ Choupette: ‘She is the most beautiful cat in the world’”

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  1. MonicaQ says:

    I never thought I’d say this but I agree with Karl Lagerfeld. I got a cat that was abused from a horde of 700 cats and she’s easily startled, timid, and has a lot of health problems but is the sweetest cat. It’s taught me to be more patient because if I can sit and wait for an hour until she feels comfortable enough to come out to eat (my husband or I have to watch her to make sure she eats because she has a liver condition), I can deal with these minus minded mofos at work screwing up projects left and right. It’s kind of adorable what he’s saying.

  2. QQ says:

    I really lost it cackling on “Im sorry, Chouppette will stay” is like a bit horror movie psycho a bit “we are done here”

    • LadyMTL says:

      LOL, I agree! That part and this had me laughing like a loon: “…he was very sweet. He got another one. But she is not as good as Choupette.” No-one will ever be as good as Choupette!

    • Miffy says:

      Me too!!

      It doesn’t even seem weird that Lagerfeld would have no problem telling someone, ‘No, no, your pet is mine now. Good day!’ I hope he does the same with other things, like a child’s balloon or someone’s umbrella. I love the thought of him going round Paris just declaring random things as his.

  3. Birdix says:

    Love his cat ears!

  4. eliza says:

    His love for Choupette Lagerfeld makes me adore this old cadaver.

  5. Eve says:

    Not enough “awwws” in the world to describe this.

    • TheOriginalKitten says:

      Eve-I missed all your comments on the Pratt thread from yesterday. Well done, my friend 🙂

      • Eve says:

        Yeah, but I suspect the troll we faced on that other thread (the super long one where we were ridiculed, remember?) is back.

  6. MeowuiRose says:

    I love Karl’s love for Choupette!!!

  7. Eleonor says:

    Cat therapy makes you a better person!

  8. chloe says:

    Love Chouppette, though in the back on my mind I hope the kitty doesn’t ever get fat or Karl will stop making her custom clothes.

  9. TheOriginalKitten says:

    Choupette really is a gorgeous kitty.

    I loved his response to dressing celebrities: “…but if I can say something pretentious, I’m afraid I’m beyond that”.

    *snickers*

    …but he’s right.

  10. Charlotte says:

    I got irrationally excited when I saw there was a Choupette story. That’s a lie: it was completely rational. Choupette stories are the best!

    • Shannon1972 says:

      Me too!! I love any story with Choupette!! I have a black short hair cat who is totally superior and bitchy, just like Karl. They both amuse me to no end. 🙂

  11. Bex says:

    I have an unhealthy love for them. I have a Karl doll that Tokidoki did and he’s holding Choupette. They’re like my fashionista version of action figures.

    • Beatrice says:

      I had to look up a picture of the doll and it’s so cool!! Congrats on your fashionista action figure. Love that Karl can be so bitchy and then be a real softie with Choupette.

  12. SamiHami says:

    I never liked him much, but this makes me think he must have a good side to him. That kitty has a sweet face.

    (But I think my cat is cuter!) 🙂

  13. mytbean says:

    “male model and Lagerfeld muse Baptiste Giabiconi” wedged between Kanye West and Casper Smart at a fashion show… he is not amused. lol!

    http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/bg/Baptiste+Giabiconi+Casper+Smart+JLo+sits+front+aIu4I9fSw1El.jpg

  14. Bianca says:

    Awww, this story is so sweet and hilarious (“she’s mine now!”). By the way, I’m on a train home, where I haven’t been for weeks, and I’m almost more impatient to see my cat than the rest of my family!

  15. Cecilia says:

    This just melts my heart. Animals definitely do make such an impact on our lives — for the better.
    I just got a new puppy so am learning patience all over again, but look what I get & give in return.
    Priceless.

  16. dcypher1 says:

    No Karl my cat is the most prettiful cat in the world. Id post a pic but don’t know how. My cats is gorgeous. His cat is cute too.

  17. Bopit says:

    I agree with him, there is nothing like 7 or 8 hours of sleep and waking up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.

  18. Lucy says:

    Is it weird that I kinda like him, bitchy and all?

  19. Suzie says:

    The only thing I heard him say and that I liked was “Heidi Klum? Who is that? I think I never saw her in Paris.” That was hilarious. Everything else about him is a bit creepy.

  20. Blue says:

    I absolutely adore cats. So it’s very sweet to see how attached Karl is to his cat. But, I think taking the cat from somebody else is wrong. Before my cat passed away I would’ve fought tooth and nail to get her back if I left her with someone who just decided to keep her. That being said it does seem like Karl loves her very much, and takes excellent care of her.

    • Mean Hannah says:

      I would cut a bitch who’d try to take my cat from me. I do love Karl and Choupette stories, except for the fact that he took her from her “father,” who happens to need Karl’s patronage and good will to earn a living. That wasn’t right. It’s possible, though, that Choupette was a better fit with Karl and everyone agreed? And no, my cat is the most beautiful cat in the world.

  21. Frida_K says:

    Ah, Uncle Karl. He NEVER disappoints.

  22. Sal says:

    I’m so impressed to read this after the usual celebs who go on and on about dogs. It makes a nice change. I never paid much attention to him before because I found him scary-looking, he looks like Dracula to me the way he dresses, but I am so impressed that he likes cats.

  23. boo says:

    I have a soft spot for Karl, we are fellow Virgos. I love that he loves his cat. I have a kitty too and he is the most beautiful of course! His name is Kush.

  24. Faye says:

    Ohh, Choupette’s eyes – they’re saying ‘Help me, this man has no soul’.

  25. Lauraq says:

    I love how he said ‘He got another one, but she is not as good as Choupette.’ My friend got a beautiful Siamese kitten (adopted from the Humane Society on my insistence. I TOLD her she could find a purebred there!!). She brought him over to play with my two cats (5 and 7 years old). After she took him home, my boyfriend and I agreed…he was a sweet kitten, but our grown up cats are so much better in every way.