Fashion genius and Chanel's artistic director, Karl Lagerfeld dies aged 85

German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has died at the age of 85, sources close to Chanel have said.

Various media reports indicate the creative director for Chanel died in Paris on Tuesday after being ill for several weeks.

He began his career as an assistant to Pierre Balmain in 1955 and joined Chanel in 1983, spending a record-breaking 36 years at the house.

The designer was known for wearing dark suits with high collars, dark sunglasses and his white hair in a pony tail in his later years.

RIP.