Creative director, designer and artist behind numerous fashion brands, including Chanel and the Karl Lagerfeld Collection. He was recognized worldwide for his white hair and black sunglasses.
After winning the coats category in a design competition, he secured a coveted apprenticeship with Pierre Balmain.
In 2001, he lost nearly 100 pounds after claiming that he wanted to wear tighter clothes. He had a diet created specifically for him and became the inspiration behind a book titled The Karl Lagerfeld Diet.
He was the son of Otto Lagerfeld, a wealthy businessman who introduced the concept of condensed milk, and Elizabeth Bahlmann. He had a longterm relationship with socialite Jacques de Bascher up until his death in 1989.
In 2005, he was the photographer for V magazine's feature of Mariah Carey.