Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has died in Paris, aged 85, Chanel sources have confirmed.
The artistic director for Chanel had looked increasingly frail in recent seasons and had reportedly suffered ill health in recent weeks.
For the first time in decades, Lagerfeld did not come out to take a bow at Chanel’s couture show in Paris in January, something the company attributed to him being tired.
Lagerfeld – dubbed ‘Kaiser Karl’ and ‘Fashion Meister’ – was worshipped like a god in fashion circles around the world up until his death.
The Hamburg-born son of a German mother and Swedish father left his home country for France and the capital of fashion – Paris – in his early 20s and is best known for his association with Chanel, dating back to 1983.