Karl Lagerfeld he continues to make as many headlines posthumously as he did during his lifetime. Four years after his death, many of his personal belongings have been auctioned for millions of dollars, his relatives are still “fighting” for a still unresolved legacy, his work will be the focus of the next major exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Nea York and his life are the subject of a series and films.

The mysteries of the German designer are still as present as they were then. The difference is that many have now lost their fear of talking about the “Kaiser” of fashion, who was at the helm of Chanel for thirty years, served as creative director of Fendi and eventually started his own eponymous brand.

“He had one foot in Chanel and the other in LVMH. He completely controlled the world of fashion. So, yes, it was very difficult to talk about him and the moment he died it became much easier,” said Le Monde journalist Raphaëlle Bacqué, author of the biography “Kaiser Karl” and co-creator of the Disney+ series with him title, which is in the works.

Bacqué approached Lagerfeld for a series of reports on the designer in which he talked about his family and origins, which the designer preferred to keep quiet. Of course, Lagerfeld wasn’t happy, but Bacqué was motivated to keep digging.

Coincidentally, Lagerfeld died before the journalist published her book. After the designer’s death, the journalist began receiving phone calls from sources. “I had contacted witnesses who did not want to talk. But at that moment – after his death – they called me again and said: ”Can we meet? Now I really want to talk.” Bacqué does not reveal who called, but her book mentions, among others, model Inès de la Fressange – who described Lagerfeld as an unforgiving man even with his friends – and Gilles Dufour , the former studio director of Chanel.

Karl Lagerfeld

Filming for the show ‘Kaiser Karl’ has begun and will take place in France, Monaco and Italy. The series stars Daniel Brühl. Arnaud Valois will play Yves Saint-Laurent, Théodore Pellerin will portray the “poisonous” dandy Jacques de Bascher, Agnès Jaoui will play Gaby Aghion, creator of the Chloé brand, and Jeanne Damas will “live” Paloma Picasso. An anecdote involving Paloma Picasso symbolizes the rivalry between Saint Laurent and Lagerfeld: in order not to choose sides between the two, she had one make her wedding dress for the day, while the other was in charge of the evening.

There was a bitter war between him and Saint Laurent, who was internationally recognized as a great designer, while Lagerfeld did not enjoy the same prestige. The six episodes of the first season, which will be released in 2024, end at the exact moment when Lagerfeld’s success began with the achievement that will accompany him for the rest of his life: when he was hired by Chanel in 1982.

The project Jared Leto is currently working on looks more likely to contribute to the Lagerfeld legend. The actor himself is producing the biopic (which has no release date yet). Leto knew and socialized with the designer. “One day, I’m going to play you in a movie,” Leto told Lagerfeld, as the actor recounted in an interview with “Women’s Wear Daily.” “Only you, my dear, only you,” the “Kaiser” reportedly replied.

Lagerfeld became a world-renowned personality while maintaining strict privacy in his life. This same lifestyle explains the mystery of Karl Lagerfeld that journalists, producers and fashion historians are now trying to unravel.