Karl Lagerfeld, Creative Director for Chanel and Fendi, Dies at 85

It's a sad day for the fashion world. Karl Lagerfeld, one of the world's most iconic fashion designers, passed away on Tuesday morning, 19 February, at the American Hospital in Paris after bringing admitted a week ago.

The 85-year-old, who missed the end-of-show bow at the Chanel Haute Couture show earlier this January, died after a period of ill health. 

Over his seven-decade career, Lagerfeld created collections simultaneously for Chanel and Fendi, in addition to his eponymous label. He served as Chanel's creative director for the past 35 years since 1982 and under his command, the brand was reborn. In a statement released by Chanel, Virginie Viard, the creative studio director, will succeed Lagerfeld as the creative direction of the maison. "Virginie Viard, Director of CHANEL’s Fashion Creation Studio and Karl Lagerfeld’s closest collaborator for more than 30 years, has been entrusted by Alain Wertheimer with the creative work for the collections, so that the legacy of Gabrielle Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld can live on."

At Fendi, he ran the ready-to-wear line together with Silvia Venturini, heiress of the Italian fashion house. According to the WWD, Karl Lagerfeld tirelessly until the end, giving instructions to his teams for the Fendi Fall 2019 show, due to take place at Milan Fashion Week this coming Thursday, 20 February.