Karl and Le Nain bleu (The blue dwarf)

Karl Lagerfeld offers dresses to historic toy shop to support Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Foundation

It’s Karl  the campaigner!  After creating a Bob the Sponge figurine for the environmental organisation WWF and appearing in an advertising campaign on road safety,  the celebrated  designer has just  offered a doll’s dress and a princess disguise outfit to the historic Parisian toy shop Au Nain bleu.   Part of the profits from the sale will go to the Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Foundation.  (Lagerfeld and Bruni-Sarkozy have already appeared on television together for a charity edition of the show Who wants to be a millionaire?)     Thus has the creative chief of the Chanel fashion house – who has also just designed a new collection for H & M – assured his continued support for the cause.  Au Nain bleu  was founded in 1836.  Its renown today stems not just from its longevity but also from the rare and precious items that it regularly puts on sale.  These limited editions, licenced products and one-offs are made by local craftsmen and artisans, mainly in Europe.   Sitting alongside the regular array of  toys, they add a new dimension to  a child’s curiosity and imagination.