Karl Lagerfeld, German haute-couture designer, Chanel artistic director and an icon of the fashion industry with his extravagant outfits and striking catwalks, has died aged 85.
On Chanel twitter account announced the passing of Karl Lagerfeld.
The House of CHANEL announces the passing of Mr. Karl Lagerfeld.
More on https://t.co/eVh2QWHta2 pic.twitter.com/mD8Y4GvSvh— CHANEL (@CHANEL) February 19, 2019
Karl Lagerfeld was born on 10 Sep 1933. He died in Paris on 19 Feb 2019, Tuesday morning after he was taken to the hospital the day before.
This was following health complications he had the earlier month in January 2019.
Karl Lagerfeld made his debut with designer Pierre Balmain as an apprentice before moving on to Patou and Chloe and then Italian brand Fendi.
But it was after he joined French fashion house Chanel in 1983 that he gained rock-star status, credited with helping jazz up the label founded by Coco Chanel in 1910 and attracting younger clients.
Karl Lagerfeld is usually seen sporting dark suits, white, pony-tailed hair and tinted sunglasses in his later years that made him instantly recognizable, an irreverent wit was also part of a carefully crafted persona.
Following his passing, tributes has began pouring in on social media.
Donatella Versace, Italian fashion designer and current vice president of the Versace Group, wrote on Instagram: “Karl your genius touched the lives of so many, especially Gianni and I. We will never forget your incredible talent and endless inspiration. We were always learning from you.”
Britain’s Victoria Caroline Beckham OBE wrote on Instagram: “So incredibly sad to hear this. Karl was a genius and always so kind and generous to me both personally and professionally.”
Chanel said Virginie Viard, deputy artistic director of Chanel, would take over creative work for the brand’s collections.
