Servant of the more famous Choupette
Karl Lagerfeld, who has died in Paris at the age of 85, was best known as chief of staff to Choupette, the world’s most influential cat. Lagerfeld entered Choupette’s employ when he was 77 and the beguiling Birman was just three months old. Her first executive assistant, French model and singer Baptiste Giabiconi, had been handpicked to head Choupette’s coterie because of his looks and charm.
It is unlikely Lagerfeld would have been considered for the post had he applied, but when Giabiconi had to take leave of absence shortly after starting his new job, he employed Lagerfeld to stand in for him. The bond between the young diva and the suave septuagenarian was instant.
When Giabiconi returned in December 2011, he was told his services were no longer required. From then on, Choupette rarely made a public appearance without Lagerfeld at her side. He carried her designer bag onto private jets, ordered her bespoke blend of rare spring waters from Colette Water Bar in Paris and commissioned chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants to create special treats for her.
Choupette allowed Lagerfeld to interview and manage her personal maids, bodyguards and medical specialists. She invited him to eat at her table and even — or so it is rumoured — let him comb her long, silky hair.
Born to be lionised
Choupette was born under the star sign of Leo on August 19 2011 and rose swiftly to become the It Cat of the 21st century. She took to social media in 2012 and soon had more than 50,000 followers on Twitter and 200,000 on Instagram. Her two books, Choupette: The Private Life of a High-Flying Fashion Cat and What’s Right Meow, were global bestsellers. Dozens of high-end brands have offered her huge sums to endorse their products but she has been very picky, appearing only in an advertisement for a luxury German car and one for an exclusive Japanese beauty range. These two jobs alone, according to an indiscreet comment by Lagerfeld, earned her more than à3m (about R47m at today’s rate). And all this before she turned eight.
Lagerfeld looked after Choupette’s financial affairs as well as her creature comforts. There have
Choupette rarely made a public appearance without Lagerfeld at her side
been claims that all this responsibility led him to suffer from delusional episodes during which he would imagine that he was “King Karl” and Choupette his consort; that he was the famous one and she merely the beauty on his arm.
He did not entirely lose his grip on reality, however. In an interview with Grazia magazine in 2012, Lagerfeld admitted: “People are stunned by her … Soon people will talk more about Choupette than about me!”
He recovered but a year later had a mild relapse and announced his wish to marry his exalted employer. Speaking to CNN in 2013, Lagerfeld poured out his feelings for Choupette, saying: “I never thought that I would fall in love like this with a cat,” and lamenting the fact that “there is no marriage, yet, for human beings and animals”.
Nine lives of a cheeky chap
A less humane boss would have fired her minion for insubordination, but Choupette was benevolent and merciful. Not only did she forgive Lagerfeld for his outburst, she allowed him to use her image on clothing and accessories, and stunned the world by taking his surname.
Choupette justified this move to her feminist followers by reasoning that too many celebrities had jumped on the one-name bandwagon and it had become tawdry and clichéd to have no surname; therefore she would be known as Choupette Lagerfeld.
Karl Lagerfeld, who also dabbled in design, benefited enormously from his close association with Choupette. The rich and famous flocked to his catwalk shows and emptied their wallets at his ateliers, hoping that by becoming his clients they might catch a glimpse of the fabled feline.
He frequently got into trouble for promising prominent personages an audience with his queen, but Choupette just as frequently indulged the whims of her favourite employee. Among those admitted to her throne room were Princess Caroline of Monaco and several supermodels.
Many expect that Lagerfeld will have repaid his magnanimous mistress for her support by leaving her the proceeds of his sideline fashion business.
It is not yet known who will replace Lagerfeld as Choupette’s head of cabinet.