Choupette (born 15 August 2011[3]) is a blue-cream Birman cat who was the pet of German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld from around Christmas 2011, until Lagerfeld's death on 19 February 2019 at the age of 85.

Choupette Lagerfeld
SpeciesFelis catus
BreedBirman[1][2]
SexFemale
Born (2011-08-15) 15 August 2011 (age 13)
OwnerKarl Lagerfeld (2011–2019) (his death)

History

edit
 
Karl Lagerfeld & Choupette

Originally belonging to the French model Baptiste Giabiconi, Choupette was given to Lagerfeld as a gift around Christmas 2011, following a stay with the designer while Giabiconi was abroad.[4]

Lagerfeld remarked "People are stunned by her ... Soon people will talk more about Choupette than about me!"[5]

Following Lagerfeld's death in February 2019, speculation ran rampant that the feline would inherit part of the late designer's fortune, as Lagerfeld once told Le Figaro that (Choupette) "has her own little fortune. She is an heiress”.[6][7]

Use in fashion and cat supplies

edit
 
Karl Lagerfeld store window on Regent Street, London

Internet rumours of a Choupette-inspired Chanel handbag first appeared in early July 2012 following a tweet by the New York Times' Cathy Horyn.[8] It was speculated that the Choupette was the bag carried by models in Lagerfeld's Fall 2012 Couture show,[9] though this was never confirmed.

Choupette has been credited as the inspiration behind Lagerfeld's cornflower blue Spring 2012 Couture collection.[10]

As of July 2014, a book, Choupette, was slated for release, as was a capsule makeup collection by Shu Uemura.[needs update][11]

In March 2015, Lagerfeld said, in an interview with The Cut, that Choupette had earned €3 million ($3.18 million USD) during 2014 from participating in two projects: one for cars in Germany, and the other for a Shu Uemura's "Shupette" beauty product in Japan.[12][13]

In 2020, "Choupette" announced a cooperation with LucyBalu, a German cat furniture and cat supplies company.[14]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Silverstein, Noah (3 September 2014). "10 Ways Choupette Has a Better Life Than You". Elle. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Choupette Lagerfeld's Beauty Line Lands on Shelves Today". Vogue. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  3. ^ Dhani Mau (20 August 2012). "A year in the life of Choupette: the risks and rewards of being Karl Lagerfeld's muse of the moment". Fashionista. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  4. ^ Milligan, Lauren (6 June 2012). "Lagerfeld's Love". Vogue. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  5. ^ Vince, Jessica (25 July 2012). "Karl Lagerfeld On Choupette Stealing His Limelight, Admiring Victoria Beckham & Kate Middleton Not Dressing Like A Mad Woman". Grazia Daily. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ Pesce, Nicole Lyn (20 February 2019). "Karl Lagerfeld's cat Choupette could inherit part of his fortune". MarketWatch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Karl Lagerfeld: « Je désigne Choupette comme mon héritière »". Le Figaro (in French). 26 February 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  8. ^ Sowray, Bibby (3 July 2012). "Have Chanel named a bag after Karl Lagerfeld's cat, Choupette?". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  9. ^ Fitzpatrick, Tommye (2 July 2012). "Karl Lagerfeld's Cat Choupette Inspires Chanel Couture Bag". Elle. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  10. ^ Mau, Dhani (11 July 2012). "Karl Lagerfeld designed a collection inspired by Choupette's eyes, 'bizarrely loves' Joshua Jackson". Fashionista. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  11. ^ Miller, Julie (11 July 2014). "Karl Lagerfeld's Cat Choupette Is Getting Her Own Make-Up Collection and Lifestyle Book". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  12. ^ Gibbs, Alexandra; Bryer, Tania (13 January 2017). "Karl Lagerfeld's cat Choupette is 'like a chic lady' with a personal maid, says designer". CNBC. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  13. ^ Lacroca, Amy (31 March 2015). "Karl Lagerfeld on His Mother, €3 Million Cat, and Being a 'Fashion Vampire'". The Cut. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  14. ^ Cormack, Rachel (16 October 2020). "How Choupette, the Late Karl Lagerfeld's Cat, Landed a Pet Furniture Collaboration". Robb Report. Retrieved 29 October 2023.