'I don't like her face' and other disses from fashion's cattiest, Karl Lagerfeld

FROM models' waists to Adele's face - nobody is spared from the silver tongue of legendary designer, Karl Lagerfeld. Take a look back at his best disses.

Behind those chic wayfarers, Karl's looking for his next target.

HIS ACID tongue is as famous as the tweed suits and quilted handbags he sends down the runway.

Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld has enjoyed a long and venerable career in the world's most glamorous industry, which has given him plenty of time to sharpen his talons and let rip on some of fashion's bitchiest barbs.

As a new book of Karlisms hits the shelves this week, enjoy our retrospective collection of the Kaiser's sharpest verbal bitch slaps.

ON ADELE

"She is a little too fat, but she has a beautiful face and a divine voice." This was followed up by the world's most feckless back-pedal: "I never said that she was fat, I said that she was a little roundish. A little roundish is not fat."

It was rumoured he apologised to the Grammy collector by sending her a bevy of Chanel bags. What a softie.

"A little roundish" but her Grammys keep her warm at night.

ON FAT PEOPLE

"Yes, some people say to me you're too skinny, but never a skinny person says that to me, only people who could lose a few pounds say that."

ON RUSSIAN MEN

"If I was a woman in Russia I would be a lesbian, as the men are very ugly. There are a few handsome ones, like Naomi Campbell's boyfriend, but there you see the most beautiful women and the most horrible men."

ON PIPPA MIDDLETON

"I don't like the sister's face. She should only show her back." Ouch. Another sort-of-apology followed: "I didn't mean that! I only meant I don't think her make-up is right; she has a roundish face and round eyes and she should pick another make-up for the eyes."

Just keep digging, Karl!

A face only a mother could love? We think not, sorry Karl.

ON M.I. A

The controversial musician M.I. A had just flipped the bird during the Super Bowl half-time show.

"Nowadays people give the middle finger quite quickly - it's not the best behaviour. Everybody does that, what's new about that? It's just become a bad habit. People in magazines are 50 per cent bimbo and 50 per cent pregnant women."

ON THE PAST

Yep, even Father Time falls prey to a withering, but confusing, Karlism: "I like today and perhaps a little future still, but the past is really something I'm not interested in. So, as far as I'm concerned, I like only the past of things and people I don't know. When I know, I don't care because I knew how it was."

Err, right. Deep.

ON SHORT DUDES

"The worst is ugly, short men. Women can be short, but for men it is impossible."

ON HIMSELF

"With me there's nothing below the surface - but it's quite a surface."

ON SAUCE

"If there's something dangerous, sauces are dangerous for the body." Come on, Karl! Sauce. Really? Leave condiments alone.

Showing his softer side. Karl and his beloved kitty, Choupette.

But for all the mudslinging, Karl also proves himself a bit brilliant - and quite a softie sometimes. File these Karlisms under helpful.

ON WORKING HARD

"I am never satisfied with myself and that is what keeps me going - I have no post-satisfaction."

ON BEING GAY

"When I was a child I asked my mother what homosexuality was about and she said - and this was 100 years ago in Germany and she was very open-minded - 'It's like hair colour. It's nothing. Some people are blonde and some people have dark hair. It's not a subject.' This was a very healthy attitude."

ON PIPPA MIDDLETON'S MUM

"I think Carole is very sexy. I think the mother is sexier than the daughters. There is something full of life about her. For a woman who must be 50 or so I think she's great. Full of energy."

What's your favourite Karlism? Comment below or on Twitter @newscomauHQ