John Ashbery makes a rather surprising appearance in this tribute to fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld, who has passed away at the age of 85.
Excerpted rom Women’s Wear Daily
February 19, 2019
Fashion Personalities, More Pay Tribute to Karl Lagerfeld
The fashion world reacted with shock and sadness to the death of one of its most prolific and brilliant designers.
Karl Lagerfeld and Hudson Kroenig on the catwalk Chanel Metiers d'Art Collection fashion show, Runway, Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, Germany - 06 Dec 2017. Giovanni Giannoni/WWD
Edward Nardoza, former editor in chief of WWD:
“Karl was the authentic polymath, an original. There won’t be another like him. His presence was a jolt of electricity, a stream of ideas, cultural references high and low and lightning wit that inspired all of us who were lucky enough to have known him.
“He knew everything and always had the funniest gossip. And you could never tell him about a new writer, artist or book he hadn’t already read. I once received an early, advance copy of an obscure new translation of Rimbaud by John Ashbery. I immediately sent it to Karl, thinking I’d finally surprise him. A fax shot back: ‘I just finished reading the galleys on this yesterday! Funny, no?’”