The late Karl Lagerfeld, a longtime designer of the fashion house, had many muses throughout his illustrious career. But one truly held a special place in the couturier’s heart: his Sacred cat of Burma, Choupette.
Since Lagerfeld adopted her in 2011, Choupette became a celebrity in her own right, booking photoshoots and bagging campaigns. After the designer’s passing, the puss was awarded a portion of his colossal fortune.
Karl Lagerfeld admitted in 2017 that he had never considered the possibility of being so deeply in love with an animal. The object of his affection was no other than a fluffy white cat known as Choupette.
Initially, the moggy belonged to someone else. A friend, model Baptiste Giabiconi, entrusted her care to Karl Lagerfeld’s housekeeper for the 2011 holiday season.
Choupette was supposed to be under the maid’s care for two weeks, but she spent the whole time on Lagerfeld’s lap. The late designer claimed that his affections for the animal were instantaneous upon meeting it.
When Giabiconi returned from his work trip to retrieve his feline, he discovered Karl wouldn’t let it go. So that’s how Choupette became Karl’s.
The Sacred of Burma is a cat breed of French ancestry despite the misleading moniker. Their loving and lively demeanor is reflected in their silky, semi-long coats and piercing blue eyes.
What sets them apart are the white tips on their paws, giving the impression of gloved hands. Fingerless leather gloves were integral to Lagerfeld’s recognizable look, so it was a match made in heaven.
Choupette Lagerfeld discovers the glitz and glam.
After her rehoming, Choupette started living the dream. She was the Chanel designer’s most prized possession.
The white cat ate at the table, never the floor, and her favorite food was the Choupette croquette (sardines, green olives, carrots, wheat germ, and thyme). Famous French chefs from the Kinugawa and Maison du Caviar restaurants in Paris signed the feline’s menu.
Besides, her kit of feeding pots was designed by Goyard, a company recognized for its expertise in bags and trunks. Choupette Lagerfeld had two nannies, Marjorie and Françoise, tending to her every need.
Furthermore, the cat’s crew also comprised My Pet Agency agent Lucas Bérullier and a manager for her Instagram and Twitter accounts, each boasting thousands of followers.
Thanks to Karl Lagerfeld, Choupette is now a household name, featuring prominently in publications and commercials for prominent cosmetics companies.
At Chanel, they dedicated a particular blue in her honor. Then, at his urging, the kitten was featured with supermodels like Gisele Bündchen on the pages of fashion periodicals.
In addition, the cat replaced 1990s catwalk icons like Christy Turlington, Kate Moss, and Naomi Campbell as the face of Opel in 2015.
When she turned ten in August 2021, a party was thrown for her at the Hotel de Crillon, a famous edifice on Paris’s Place de la Concorde. Meow!
While the designer was still alive, he left money to Choupette’s favorite nanny, Françoise Caçote, stipulating that the funds be used only for Choupette’s care.
As the fashion kaiser passed in 2019, the cat inherited part of his fortune, making her one of the wealthiest animals ever.