Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (2024)

Iconic fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has died in Paris following a short illness.

The German designer, who was the creative director for Chanel and Fendi, was one of the industry's most prolific figures and worked up until his death.

His signature ponytail and dark glasses made him an instantly recognisable figure around the world.

Industry heavyweights, including Italian designer Donatella Versace, issued heartfelt tributes.

"Today the world lost a giant among men," said the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, Anna Wintour.

Lagerfeld's website says his year of birth was 1938 - though most placed his age at five years older.

Rumours of Lagerfeld's ill health had swirled for several weeks after he missed a number of events - including Chanel's spring/summer show last month.

He died on Tuesday morning after being admitted to hospital the night before, French media report.

As a designer he transformed the fortunes of Chanel, one of the leading names in high fashion, but his work also filtered down to the high street.

Away from his work, Lagerfeld made headlines for a range of provocative, and sometimes offensive, statements.

Who has paid tribute?

Members of the fashion industry have been lining up to praise Lagerfeld's work.

Donatella Versace said his genius had "touched so many" and was a source of inspiration for her and her late brother.

Allow Instagram content?

This article contains content provided by

Instagram

. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read

and

before accepting. To view this content choose

‘accept and continue’.

Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (1)Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (2)

Wintour described the designer's "creative genius" as "breathtaking".

"Karl was brilliant, he was wicked, he was funny, he was generous beyond measure, and he was deeply kind. I will miss him so very much," her statement went on.

The model, Claudia Schiffer, said: "What Warhol was to art, he was to fashion; he is irreplaceable. He is the only person who could make black and white colourful."

Chanel's chief executive, Alain Wertheimer, credited Lagerfeld with transforming the brand after he joined in 1983.

"Thanks to his creative genius, generosity and exceptional intuition, Karl Lagerfeld was ahead of his time, which widely contributed to the House of Chanel's success throughout the world," he said in a statement.

It has been announced that Virginie Viard, his deputy at fashion house Chanel, will succeed him as creative chief.

Pier Paolo Righi, his own fashion brand's CEO, described him as a "creative genius".

"He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy as one of the greatest designers of our time," a statement from the House of Karl Lagerfeld said.

Celebrities including Victoria Beckham, actress Diane Kruger and models Gigi and Bella Hadid have also paid tribute.

US First Lady Melania Trump shared images on Twitter of a design created by Lagerfeld for her first official White House appearance.

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by

Twitter

. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read

and

before accepting. To view this content choose

‘accept and continue’.

Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (3)Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (4)

New life at Chanel

He was born Karl Otto Lagerfeldt in pre-war Germany in the 1930s.

Lagerfeld changed his original surname from Lagerfeldt, because he believed it sounded "more commercial".

He emigrated to Paris as a young teenager, and became a design assistant for Pierre Balmain, before working at Fendi and Chloe in the 1960s.

Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (5)Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (6)Getty Images

But the designer was best known for his association with the French label Chanel.

He began his long career with the fashion house in 1983, a decade after Coco Chanel died.

Lagerfeld's designs brought new life to the label, adding glitz to the prim tweed suits the couture house was known for.

The designer worked tirelessly, simultaneously churning out collections for LVMH's Fendi and his own label, up until his death.

He also collaborated with high street brand H&M - before high-end collaborations became more common.

Lagerfeld was known to encourage new designers, like Victoria Beckham - who has praised him for his kindness.

Allow Instagram content?

This article contains content provided by

Instagram

. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read

and

before accepting. To view this content choose

‘accept and continue’.

Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (7)Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (8)

Lagerfeld's own look became famous in his later years - wearing dark suits and leather gloves with a signature white pony-tail and tinted sunglasses.

Lagerfeld said of his appearance: "I am like a caricature of myself, and I like that."

Despite his age and decades within the industry, the designer remained prevalent within popular culture - appearing in 2015 as a character in Kim Kardashian's Hollywood smart-phone game.

Lagerfeld's beloved pet cat Choupette, whom he doted on, has a cult following of her own online.

Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (9)Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (10)AFP

Questions about her fate have become a talking point on Twitter following the news of the designer's death.

Courting controversy

Lagerfeld became known for his scathing wit and provocative comments, famously describing sweatpants as a "sign of defeat".

However, some of his remarks drew sharp criticism in recent years.

In particular, he sparked outrage when he attacked Germany's open-door response to the migrant crisis, as reported by The Guardian, and for controversial remarks he made about the #MeToo movement, as reported by Papermag.

Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (11)Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (12)

Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Lagerfeld: 'I'm Joan of Arc of design'
Karl Lagerfeld: The emperor of fashion
Karl Lagerfeld: A life in quotes
Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Patricia Veum II

Last Updated:

Views: 6150

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Patricia Veum II

Birthday: 1994-12-16

Address: 2064 Little Summit, Goldieton, MS 97651-0862

Phone: +6873952696715

Job: Principal Officer

Hobby: Rafting, Cabaret, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Inline skating, Magic, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.