The World Mourns The Loss Of Legendary Chanel Designer Karl Lagerfeld

Karl Lagerfeld died in a Paris hospital on Tuesday at age 85 after having been admitted the night before, according to French media. His cause of death is yet unknown, however there had been rumors that the prolific fashion designer was in poor health after he missed a number of recent events, such as Chanel’s spring/summer show in January.

Lagerfield was an iconic figure — instantly recognizable due to his dark glasses, dark suits, fingerless gloves, starched collars, and signature white ponytail — who worked right up until his death. It goes without saying that his passing will leave an indelible mark on the fashion world:

Creative director of Chanel since 1983 and Fendi since 1965, and founder of his own line, Mr. Lagerfeld was the definition of a fashion polyglot, able to speak the language of many different brands at the same time (not to mention many languages themselves: he read in English, French, German and Italian).

In his 80s, when most of his peers were retiring to their yachts or country estates, he was designing an average of 14 new collections a year ranging from couture to the high street, and not counting collaborations and special projects. His signature combinations of “high fashion and high camp” attracted Rihanna; Princess Caroline of Monaco; Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund; and Julianne Moore.

Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue said in a statement, “Today the world lost a giant among men.” Others have likewise taken to social media to mourn Lagerfield’s passing.

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 didn’t breath oxygen. He breathed fashion. He had both an artistic and a business eye that defined what a modern fashion house should be. He lived one hundred lives and his creative brain was always looking at the future instead of looking at the past. pic.twitter.com/azeubrJeHq

— Nina Garcia (@ninagarcia) February 19, 2019