Chanel's artistic director Karl Lagerfeld dies at 85

Lagerfeld, who was the creative director of Chanel, is believed to have been unwell for weeks before his death in a Paris hospital.

He looked increasingly frail in recent times and missed two of Chanel’s haute couture Paris shows on 22nd January. His studio director, Virginie Viard, appeared in his place and the company attributed his absence to him feeling tired.

A statement read out after he missed the second show, says: “Mr Lagerfeld, artistic director of Chanel, who was feeling tired, asked Virginie Viard, director of the creative studio of the house, to represent him.”

It was the first time he had ever missed giving a catwalk bow at the end of a Chanel show. As yet, no cause of death has been confirmed.

Karl has presided over the iconic fashion house, established by Coco Chanel, for more than three decades, producing as much as eight collections a year – to the joy of fashion editors, fans and collectors.

He was best known for his signature outfit: a black suit with his white hair pushed into a ponytail, fingerless gloves and dark glasses.