I CAN AFFORD CHANEL.

Well, the title may seem misleading as being a poor student I probably still won't be able to afford any collection by Karl Lagerfeld. My budget will pretty much only stretch to Primark right now!

However, the prospect of a less expensive offspring of Chanel excites me incredibly!

Yesterday, a page was launched on www.net-a-porter.com to launch Karl Lagerfeld's new collection 'Karl', which will be released on 25th January next year. The site shows previews of the collection - monocrome colours, pleated skirts, and tailord suits; pieces clearly showing similarities to those of true Chanel.

The new collection has already raised hype, with a countdown on the main page counting down the days until the collection is released. People who are interested in the release can sign up to 'Karl's Kult' where they receive emails about the collection and the chance to enter competitions.

There is also the opportunity to download a new iphone app, where people can play 'Find Karl' (imagine Pacman without the creepy ghosts) where you have to collect all of the Karl heads before the timer runs out. The winner will win up to £1000 to spend on www.net-a-porter.com, with Karl choosing the winner himself next month. 

Another exciting element is to 'Karlify' yourself, by uploading a picture wich will then transform you into an aviator and white collar wearing, white headed man. Supposedly. Again, Karl will choose his favourite in January.

So there it is, another exciting collection to look forward to! It seems Karl Lagerfeld seems at home with making collections for people who can't afford the elaborate prices of Chanel. In 2004 Karl was the first to collaborate with international fashion brand H&M, with the aim to create mass appeal for the brand. However, he claimed he would never work with H&M again. 'Accusing the Swedish retailer of "snobbery" for producing minimal numbers of his designs, it had defeated his intention of making clothes available to the thousands of people who could not afford to shop at Lagerfeld Gallery, Chanel or Fendi.’

I personally can't wait to for this new collection, so my student loan can go away if it thinks it's going to get in the way of this post-Christmas indulgence!