Karl Lagerfeld, an icon who worked as fashion designer and creative director of Chanel, has passed away in Paris. He was 85 years old.
French magazine Closer reported that Karl had been admitted to a hospital last night and had passed away in the morning of Feb. 19. There are still no details on the cause of death.
According to the Mirror UK, Karl had missed two Chanel shows—which was unusual for the designer—due to his poor health. In a statement after he missed his second show, he was “feeling tired.”
Karl first worked as assistant to Pierre Balmain in 1955. He then moved to Chanel and became its creative director in 1983. In the seven decades he’s been active, he simultaneously created collections for Chanel and Fendi, plus his own namesake label.
Apart from his pieces, Karl was known for staging grandiose Chanel fashion shows at locations like the Grand Palais. Business of Fashion would note that this happened during his “golden years” when his runway productions “achieved a staggering level of theatrical opulence” that turned a fashion show to a visual spectacle.
We will update as more details come out.
Rest in peace, Karl Lagerfeld.
[Mirror UK, Business of Fashion, and The Guardian]
Photo courtesy of Karl Lagerfeld’s Instagram account
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