'Fall' author Drake slammed by designer

LONDON, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- British author Alicia Drake, who wrote "The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris," is a liar, a noted designer alleges.

Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has asked a court to block the distribution of Drake's book in France contending it inaccurately challenges his personal history, The Sunday Times of London reported.

"It's a rubbish book by a mediocrity with the testimonies of a bunch of losers, most often ones that I fired," Lagerfield said of the book, which was published in Britain in 2006.

In her book, Drake alleges Lagerfield embellished his history to make it appear he was of aristocratic birth despite details to the contrary.

Denoel publishing house editor Abel Gerschenfeld, whose house published "Fall," told the Times the book was being reviewed in hopes of finding a compromise on the issue.

"I don't know what to expect," Gerschenfeld said. "But I hope it's not a lawsuit."