Oh No He Didn't: Azzedine Alaïa Disses Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld

Fashion legend Azzedine Alaia has never been one to play by the industry's rules. He doesn't show his collections in a typical fashion, doesn't advertise and rarely gives interviews. In the modern world of self-promotion and designer as celebrity, he shies away from the spotlight and just does his own thing. In a recent interview with Virgine Magazine, the feisty craftsman has some choice words about two of fashion's leading players.

With regard to Vogue's Anna Wintour, with whom he has a notoriously tense relationship and hasn't been featured in the magazine for many years, Alaia says: "She runs the business (Vogue) very well, but not the fashion part. When I see how she is dressed, I don't believe in her tastes one second. I can say it loudly! She hasn't photographed my work in years even if I am a best seller in the U.S. and I have 140 square meters at Barneys. American women love me; I don't need her support at all. Anna Wintour doesn't deal with pictures; she is just doing PR and business, and she scares everybody. But when she sees me, she is the scared one. [Laughs.] Other people think like me, but don't say it because they are afraid that Vogue won't photograph them. Anyway, who will remember Anna Wintour in the history of fashion? No one. Take Diana Vreeland, she is remembered because she was so chic. What she did with the magazine was great, with Avedon and all the great photographers. Vogue remains while its fashion editors come and go."

Damn, he didn't hold back there, did he? Those are some pretty major statements. As if that weren't bold enough, he also candidly talks about Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld: "I don't like his fashion, his spirit, his attitude. It's too much caricature. Karl Lagerfeld never touched a pair of scissors in his life. That doesn't mean that he's not great, but he's part of another system."

There is no denying that Alaia is a master, but he comes across as a little cantankerous in this interview. We're betting that he won't be featured in Vogue's pages any time soon after these barbs, but it sounds like he doesn't mind. Read the full interview, which is very good, here.