Karl Lagerfeld dead: Fashion icon and Chanel creative director dies aged 85

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In an official statement, Chanel said: “It is with deep sadness that the House of Chanel announces the passing of Karl Lagerfeld, the creative director for the Chanel Fashion House since 1983. “An extraordinary creative individual, Karl Lagerfeld reinvented the brand’s codes created by Gabrielle Chanel: the Chanel jacket and suit, the little black dress, the precious tweeds, the two-tone shoes, the quilted handbags, the pearls and costume jewellery. The good thing about Chanel is it is an idea you can adapt to many things.”’ Chanel CEO Alain Wertheimer said: “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. Tributes to the late designer have been pouring in from people in the fashion industry, including designers Donatella Versace, Henry Holland and Caroline Rush, chief executive at the British Fashion Council, who said: “We are deeply saddened to learn the news of Karl Lagerfeld’s passing today.” Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH, the French company that owns Fendi, also wrote a tribute to the late designer on Instagram, saying “we owe him a great deal”.