Karl Lagerfeld, the legendary German fashion designer who spent decades as the creative director of Chanel and Italian fashion house Fendi died Tuesday , February 19, in Paris. He was 85 years old.
Lagerfeld had been working up until his death but was sick in recent weeks. In January, he missed Chanel’s couture fashion show, with the brand attributing his noticeable absence to tiredness .
He was known for his signature look dressing all in black, with leather gloves, sunglasses, and white hair worn in a ponytail which made him recognizable and celebrated character in fashion. Throughout his career, he also made headlines for a range of provocative, and sometimes offensive, statements.
Lagerfeld’s position at Chanel will be taken over by Virginie Viard, the brand’s studio director and a close collaborator of the designer for more than 30 years. His wealth may be inherited by his eight year old famous cat, Choupette and 10-year-old godson, Hudson Kroenig.
