The toxic love affair of fashion king Karl Lagerfeld and a 19-year-old aristocrat

At the end of February, author William Middleton released the biography Paradise Now: The Extraordinary Life of Karl Lagerfeld about the extraordinary life of the "king of fashion " Karl Lagerfeld - the late designer of many famous fashion brands such as Chanel, Fendi and his own brand...

In addition to mentioning important milestones in his career, Paradise Now also brings readers to the weaker and more emotional side of the living legend. That is his toxic love story with Jacques de Bascher, a young aristocrat 19 years his junior, whom the author likens to “the devil incarnate with the face of Garbo” (referring to his eye-catching appearance).

The Spoiled Noble

Jacques de Bascher was notorious for his debauchery. Photo: Getty Images.

Jacques de Bascher was born in July 1951 in Vietnam. In 1995, his family returned to France and settled in the suburbs of Paris. After completing his mandatory military service – serving as a librarian on the naval ship L'Orage – De Basser arrived in the City of Light and embarked on a notorious life of debauchery that ultimately cost him his life.

William Middleton described de Bascher as resembling a 1930s film star, with hazel eyes and a pencil-thin moustache. He was interested in both men and women.

In the book, Middleton recounts a time when he was stopped by police in Paris for riding a motorbike without a helmet . “De BasCher gave him his business card, invited him to his house for a drink, and they ended up in bed together,” the author writes.

Jacques de Bascher claimed to come from a distinguished aristocratic family. Although the author suspects he exaggerated his wealth, de Bascher clearly knew how to enjoy life. He kept his silk ties in a ribbon box that had belonged to Marie Antoinette and his cocaine in a gold-trimmed Cartier box. He had a large collection of dirt bikes and motorbikes, which he used to fuel wild, drug-fueled parties with shirtless dancing men.

The muse of the "king of fashion"

Jacques de Bascher first met Lagerfeld in 1971 in a nightclub. Seeing him surrounded by glamorous models, the 20-year-old determined to make the designer his boyfriend.

At the time, Lagerfeld was 39 years old, and had been making waves with his designs for Fendi (Italy) and Chloé (France). De Bascher approached him in an outfit straight out of The Sound of Music – suede suspender shorts, a traditional white shirt, and a badge carved from antlers on his chest. “I want to know you,” the handsome de Bascher said to the older designer.

Lagerfeld was fascinated by the dashing young man. They talked until 5am. Soon, he was arranging a new apartment for de Bascher and financing his increasingly debauched lifestyle. In return, de Bascher gave him youth, beauty, energy and debauchery.

According to Paradise Now , de Bascher was Lagerfeld's ultimate muse, frequently appearing with the designer at work at Chloé and later Chanel, winning over seamstresses with his “ridiculous” charm.

During his lifetime, Lagerfeld insisted that their relationship was not based on sex. He called their love absolute, pure and gentle. However, some friends claimed that they did not believe that the two had never had sex.

“He is the person who excites me more than anyone else. He is outrageous, despicable, but at the same time perfect,” Lagerfeld commented on his lover, who is the age of his son.

To please his lover, Lagerfeld spared no expense in organizing extravagant receptions, such as the infamous Moratoire Noire in 1977. The event took place at a nightclub on the outskirts of Paris, and attendees had to adhere to a tragic black dress code. It shocked guests because it turned into an orgy.

Lagerfeld was passionately in love and did not hesitate to financially support his boyfriend's toxic needs. Photo: Getty Images.

Love and Betrayal

Lagerfeld pampered his lover to the fullest, but what he got in return was betrayal. In 1974, the scoundrel seduced his rival, Yves Saint Laurent, causing one of the most sensational scandals in fashion history.

Middleton revealed that the affair lasted no more than six months, but Saint Laurent was completely infatuated with de Bascher. He turned de Bascher’s apartment into a garden of white lilies, even kneeling and begging his lover to let him in. He also kept a photo of the boy in his coat pocket, sometimes rubbing it over his heart and shouting: “I am crazy about him.”

Finally, Pierre Bergé – Saint Laurent's "first wife" and business partner had to intervene. He cut off all contact with the fashion designer and all of Lagerfeld's team, blaming them for Yves's descent into drugs, sadism and madness.

Remarkably, despite being betrayed, Lagerfeld never eliminated de Bascher from his life, like many others.

In 1984, de Bacher tested positive for HIV. He continued to sit front row at Chanel shows and attend parties, but he became increasingly gaunt and frail. Lagerfeld did his best to save his lover’s life, paying for doctors and the best care. But in the 1980s, AIDS was a death sentence.

When de Bascher was no longer able to leave his hospital bed, Lagerfeld did not hesitate to sleep in the same room with him. De Bascher died in 1989, at the age of 35, in Lagerfeld’s arms. Later that day, the “king of fashion” went to work—to Chanel for a fitting—but friends say he was never the same again.

“He is the only one who gives meaning to everything,” Lagerfeld said three years later. “He brings a sparkle to my life that no one else has. There can only be one person in your life who is just for you and that’s it.”

Lagerfeld has not publicly dated anyone since de Bascher, devoting all his time to pampering his pets. Photo: ivory-ngChoupette.

De Bascher was the only and last lover Karl Lagerfeld openly acknowledged. In his later years, there was no sign of a man beside the “godfather of Chanel”. Instead, he devoted all his love to his cat Choupette, even joking that he would marry his pet if the law allowed it.

(Vanguard)

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Source: https://vtc.vn/moi-tinh-doc-hai-cua-ong-hoang-thoi-trang-karl-lagerfeld-va-quy-toc-kem-19-tuoi-ar759640.html