Karl Lagerfeld and Steiff Choupette The Cat
Choupette, the white-haired feline companion to the white-haired Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld, has already taken the social media world by storm. So what’s next for the celebrity cat? Naturally, a luxury plush toy in her likeness.
The faux Choupette, available in a limited edition of 2,000, is 40 centimeters (16 inches) long and features soft white fake fur and big blue eyes. It comes with Steiff’s signature gold-plated button in one ear and a magnetic mouse made of black synthetic leather.
The toy will go on sale exclusively at Karl Lagerfeld stores and online at karl.com in May, priced at 499 euros, or $538 at current exchange rates. Later on, it will also be available at Steiff stores, its web site steiff.com and select fashion and toy retailers.
“Choupette is such a famous and beautiful cat that when this request came to me, I was not even surprised,” Lagerfeld said in a statement. “Steiff is the perfect choice for this kind of collaboration. It’s the only company that has the required expertise to highlight the extreme and absolute refinement of this young princess.”
Lagerfeld first announced a collaboration with German-based toy company Steiff to create a stuffed version of Choupette back in February, and now, the limited-edition doll is finally available for pre-order on the designer’s website. The replica of the famed Birman cat comes with Choupette’s signature white fur (accented with touches of brown around her whiskers, paws, and tail) and striking blue eyes. But owning a Choupette of your very own comes with a price—$545 plus shipping, to be exact.
The Birman is known as fashion’s most pampered pet, with two nurses caring for her full-time. She recently featured in a portfolio Lagerfeld lensed for the holiday issue of Vogue Paris and appeared in carmaker Opel’s 2015 calendar. Choupette has even inspired her own capsule collection, which included a knit cap with perky cat ears and leather whiskers.
“This playful collector’s item comes with a magnetic mouse and is presented in a chic carry case,” reads the item’s description. “Every Steiff Choupette comes with a certificate of authenticity, which is numbered and matches the number on Choupette’s ear tag.”
This isn’t Lagerfeld’s first collaboration with Steiff. In 2013 he created a Lagerfeld Steiff teddy bear in honor of the German firm’s 125th anniversary. The bear came complete with the designer’s signature dark glasses, high-collared shirt and black suit.