The Beautiful Fall
This is one of the best books I've read so far. A must read for every fashion history lover.
I'm not a book critic, my blog has the sole objective of creating curiosity for good fashion reads. This is why I prefer to post quotes, pictures and stories from the books I read. Well this one is full of them.
The book is about two big names of fashion history: Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent.
It starts from their childhood, very well documented and researched. Describing their families, their houses even schools. Then the roads cross when the two come together at the "International wool secretariat competition" in 1953 where both Karl and Yves were among the winners. They meet again after 1 year as students in Paris, at the "Ecole de la chambre syndical de la couture Parisienne".
What I find interesting to write here is the fact that the two started as friends, enjoying Paris with their circle of friends, mainly small groups always together. Than when one becomes YSL and the other Karl Lagerfeld, things sort of change, rivalry and ambition come in and their circle of friends separates, just like themselves. In the 70s, the clique of a couturier was very important. In terms of publicity and of course sense of belonging to something. This is the time when being a muse was a full time job.
So here I will try to make a list of Saint Laurent and Lagerfeld entourage from 60s on…than I highly suggest you read the book and get to know them better…or simply follow my "bookcomesalive" hashtag.
SL entourage: Pierre Berge, Victoire Doutreleau, Anne Marie Munoz, Clara Saint, Thadée Klossowski (who was Clara's boyfriend before becoming Loulou's husband), Loulou de la Falaise, Betty and Francois Catroux
KL entourage: Jacques de Bascher (who had a love affair with Yves), Antonio Lopez, José Sarasola, Anna Piaggi
Finally, seems like Karl Lagerfeld didn't like the idea of this book and even filed a lawsuit against Alicia Drake and wanted to ban the sales in France. This was dismissed by the court. For YSL himself, it is written that the author was not able to make an interview with him, but she interviewed many people who knew him. Anyway, all the quotes are documented, which is why I think this book is almost like and encyclopedia.
Don't you think it is worth reading? Oh yes! 377 pages of fashion culture. We like it.
