Why Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent Quarreled and Stopped Talking

The two famous fashion designers Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld had a strong friendship for many years. In the 50s, they studied together at the prestigious school of the Syndicate of High Fashion. However, Karl did not finish his studies. Even when Yves beat his friend in the competition for young designers in 1954, their relationship remained strong. But in 1975, the two cult figures of modern fashion completely stopped communicating. The former friends did not speak until their deaths. What happened between these great people?

Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent had a falling out over their personal relationships. Both designers fell in love with the same person – Parisian party animal Jacques de Bascher. Lagerfeld met him in 1971 and immediately lost his head. A couple of years later, Saint Laurent shared his infatuation with the handsome intellectual. Jacques, who not only had a good look but also a sharp mind, managed to win the hearts of both designers.

Jacques de Bascher left Lagerfeld for his friend, finally destroying the friendship of the two designers, who had known each other for more than 20 years and started their careers together. After some time, de Bascher returned to Lagerfeld, but everything was already over between the designers. The most flighty lover was in for a tragic ending. In 1989, Jacques died of AIDS at the age of 38. Lagerfeld kept the urn with his ashes.

For a long time, this story remained a secret for the general public. In fashion circles, they only speculated about what black cat had run between the once close friends. Saint Laurent, always reserved, preferred not to discuss what had happened. Lagerfeld also usually avoided the topic, but one day he could not restrain himself and allowed himself a caustic remark about his “sworn friend” during an interview:

However, this statement did not explain anything. Lagerfeld refused to name the reasons for the quarrel, although journalists returned to this issue more than once.

The details of the story became known in 2006 thanks to the book by British writer Alicia Drake, Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius, and Glittering Excess in 1970s Paris. Yves Saint Laurent reacted calmly to the publication, but Karl Lagerfeld perceived it as a gross interference in his private life. He sued Drake and won the case, receiving compensation in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars. In addition, he managed to get the book banned in France.

Yves Saint Laurent ended his career in 2002 due to serious health problems. In the last years of his life, he abused alcohol and drugs. Alber Elbaz continued to create collections for his fashion house, and the designer himself spent the remaining six years of his life in peace and solitude. Karl Lagerfeld outlived his former friend by 11 years and died in 2019. Until his last days, he did not leave work, even when he could no longer get out of bed. According to the designer's will, he was cremated, and his ashes were scattered along with the ashes of his mother and Jacques de Bascher.

The story of friendship, love and rivalry between Lagerfeld and Saint Laurent remains one of the most mysterious in the fashion world. Could they have ever made peace if circumstances had been different? What do you think is more important – creativity or personal relationships? Share your thoughts in the comments!