Karl Lagerfeld To Host Chanel Show In Dallas

CHANEL's next Metiers d'Art show will be held in Dallas, according to Karl Lagerfeld.The most recent pre-collection spectacular was staged in the ruins of Lithlinglow Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland, in December.

"To do the opposite, next time, in a year, I will go to Dallas," said Lagerfeld."You know why?First of all, I love Texas.I love Texans.There's another reason.When Chanel reopened, the French press was beyond nasty.The only press that understood it immediately was the American press - so I think it's a nice thing to go there."

The designer went on to explain what exactly it is that he looks for when deciding on his ever-spectacular show backdrops - establishing what the Chanel woman wants at that particular moment in time.

"Normally I try to find a vague connection.For Scotland, it was easy because her lover was hunting with her in Scotland and it is how she discovered tweeds," he said."She went to Venice a lot, that's why I did a show in Venice.She had a Russian lover, and loved Russian art, and so I did it in Russia.I try to find a connection, but the connection is often very vague.With Texas, it's a detail, but with little detail, you can make a whole story.I am a storyteller for that."

Speaking at the annual WWD Apparel & Retail CEO Summit at The Plaza Hotel in New York, Lagerfeld also touched on his healthy rivalry with fellow designers such as Hedi Slimane and Raf Simons, and what it is that makes a good fashion house-designer relationship.

"Is there something healthier than competition?If not, you fall asleep and think success, and what you did, is granted.Nothing is granted in fashion, and this is what I love about fashion," he said."I think the important thing is to be behind the label, and not use the label for something that pushes your own fame.I cannot cross the street, but Chanel also [did] a lot to help me make Chanel what it is now.When I took it over, everybody - even the people from the business - said to me:'Don't touch it, it's dead.'"

But despite having such a remarkable and lengthy career in the fashion industry, don't expect a tell-all memoir from the Kaiser any time soon.

"No memoirs.I have nothing to say, and what I could say, I cannot say," he said."There is a problem with memoirs.Things are not always that pleasant.There are people who have perhaps played an important part in life, but I don't want to give them the pleasure of ever mentioning them again.That limits the thing."

To wrap up the discussion, WWD executive editor Bridget Foley asked the Chanel helmer what his five steps to success were.

"It's a whole staircase," came the response."I try to pay attention not to fall down, but with my black glasses it's not easy, because in fact I am shortsighted.To go down the staircase, I don't need it, and to go up I don't need it either, so I prefer to keep my glasses to watch everything, and make an effort not to fall.I think, step by step, sometimes you go two steps back, that's a healthy thing.Nobody has a one line career like this.That doesn't exist."

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