Karl Lagerfeld refuses to wear a watch and does not have a mobile phone either. “I consider true luxury not constantly having to check what time it is or not being stuck on the phone forever,” the fashion designer revealed at BURDA LIVE in Offenburg last Friday. His way of staying in touch with friends and business partners is writing letters.

At Burda Medien Park Verlage, people got a first look at the designer’s latest oeuvre, “Metamorphoses of an American,” four volumes with over 1,200 photos documenting the development of Brad Kroenig from all-American boy to the world’s number one male model. The book was presented at Pace McGill Gallery in New York City in mid-May and is scheduled to arrive at German bookstores later this month.

Together with BUNTE editorial director Patricia Riekel, the fashion king took center stage to talk about fashion, design, and style. He also presented the international project “Chanel Contemporary Art Container.” The mobile art pavilion co-designed and developed by Lagerfeld and star architect Zaha Hadid looks like one of Chanel’s signature quilted bags. Until 2010, it will bring contemporary art to Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, London, Moscow, and Paris.

“Only a creative genius like Karl Lagerfeld could come up with the idea to make a museum look like a handbag, the epitome of femininity and a symbol of fashion history,” commented Patricia Riekel. Alexander Mazza was the host of the event.

Karl Lagerfeld and Hubert Burda Media go back a long way: Aenne Burda and the designer appreciated each other’s fashion sense and personality. The two-time BAMBI award winner has staged numerous photo productions for a variety of Burda publications.