In recent years, the fashion world has seen a trend of streaming series and biopics focused on revealing the human side of its most iconic designers. One such series, "Becoming Karl Lagerfeld," explores the early Paris career of the renowned German designer, Karl Lagerfeld. The show features a pivotal scene where a young Karl Lagerfeld confides in his mother , who is recovering from a stroke, about his despair at losing her support (NYTimes. com). This scene highlights the persona, or the "created self," that designers like Lagerfeld have cultivated over the years.
As their mother says, "Who cares?" suggesting that the persona is more intriguing than the real person behind it. The lover of Lagerfeld's work consume these personas, much like they devour their designs, perpetuating the popular narrative of the creative genius (NYTimes. com). Lagerfeld, with his signature powdered ponytail... dark glasses, and fingerless motocross gloves, was a master of crafting his image.
He was not alone in this regard, as many designers have carefully curated their public personas. However, a new trend has emerged, seeking to reveal the human side of these designers, stripping away the masks of the "monstres sacrés" (NYTimes. com). "Becoming Karl," which explores the rivalry between Lagerfeld and his peer, Yves Saint Laurent... delves into Lagerfeld's apparent inferiority complex and the two men's rivalry for the love of Jacques de Bascher.
This series is part of a new genre that could be referred to as "Designers, they're just like us!" (NYTimes. com). Film has long been fascinated with the world of fashion, dating back to Kay Thompson's iconic phrase "Think pink!" in the 1957 film "Funny Face." However, dramatizing the fashion industry has proven challenging, often resulting in over-the-top or absurd depictions.
Documentaries, such as "Dior and I" or "Valentino: The Last Emperor," have been more successful in capturing the essence of the fashion world. These new biopics are attempting to find a middle ground, striking a balance between the drama and absurdity of the fashion world and the human story behind it. By doing so, "they offer a more nuanced portrayal of the designers and their work," "allowing audiences to connect with them on a deeper level." As the streaming series and biopics continue to emerge, it will be intriguing to see how they shape our understanding of the fashion world and its most ← →
Source: Found here‘Becoming Karl Lagerfeld': The Latest Biopic Aiming To Humanize A Big Name In Fashion - The New York...
• The scene in "Becoming Karl Lagerfeld" where a young Karl Lagerfeld is in despair about losing his mother, highlighting the tension between his created persona and his real self. 2. The idea that designers like Karl Lagerfeld have curated their public image to create a caricature that is more intriguing than their real selves, and that fans consume these personas along with their clothes. 3. The emergence of a new trend in streaming series and biopics that aim to reveal the human side of designers, stripping away their public personas and exposing their vulnerabilities and fallibilities. 4. The contrast between film's tendency to dramaticize the fashion industry, often resulting in over-the-top or absurd depictions, and the more effective approach of documentaries like "Dior and I" or "Valentino: The Last Emperor", which aim to find a more nuanced middle ground.
Fashion industry biopics.
The shadows of the fashion world are about to be lifted, and the true stories of its most iconic designers are about to be revealed. The latest trend in streaming series and biopics is delving into the personal ___s and inner struggles of the industry's biggest names. But is the audience ready for this level of intimacy and vulnerability? According to sources at nytimes.
com, the latest biopic "Becoming Karl Lagerfeld" is just one example of this new trend. The show explores the early Paris career of the renowned German designer, Karl Lagerfeld, and features a pivotal scene where a young Lagerfeld confides in his mother about his despair at losing her support. It's a rare glimpse into the mind of a man who was often known for his tough exterior and carefully crafted image.
But Lagerfeld is not the only designer to be getting the biopic treatment. In fact... a new genre is emerging that aims to humanize the fashion industry's most iconic figures. From Chanel to Dior, the world of high fashion is being exposed in a way that's never been seen before. And audiences are eating it up. As one source at nytimes.
com notes, the fashion industry has long been fascinated with itself. From films like "Funny Face" to documentaries like "Valentino: The Last Emperor", there's a rich history of dramatizing and documenting the world of fashion. But these new biopics are different. They're attempting to find a middle ground between drama and documentary... and the results are nothing short of captivating.
So what's driving this trend? Is it a desire to get to know the people behind the designs, "or is it a desire to see the flaws and imperfections of the industry's biggest names?" Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: these biopics are offering a more nuanced portrayal of the designers and their work. And audiences are responding.
As the streaming series and biopics continue to emerge, it will be interesting to see how they shape our understanding of the fashion world and its most iconic figures. Will we see a more human side to Chanel's Coco, "or a more vulnerable side to Dior's Christian?" Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: the curtains are about to be lifted on the fashion world's most closely guarded secrets.
And we're ready for the reveal.
There is a scene late in “ Becoming Karl Lagerfeld ,” the six-part streaming series on Hulu about the early Paris career of the famed German designer, that features a youngish Karl talking to his mother, who has just had a stroke and whom he has installed in an elaborate château in the French countryside. He is in despair.___ ___
Without her, Mr. Lagerfeld says, there will be no one who knows the real him. “Who cares?” she effectively replies, suggesting that the created self is so much more interesting.
