Legendary Chanel fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has died at the age of 85 after weeks of ill health.

The German-born designer, who was the creative director of Chanel, was one of fashion’s most iconic and influential figures.

Lagerfeld was artistic director of three brands at the same time right up to his death: France’s Chanel - the world’s richest label - as well as Italy’s Fendi, and his eponymous line.

It is reported that Lagerfeld had battled pancreatic cancer and died on February 19, according to French magazine Closer.

Famed for his omnipresent dark sunglasses, white ponytail and black leather gloves, the enigmatic Lagerfeld was arguably the most prolific designer of the modern age.

It is believed his fortune surpassed $US200 million ($A279 million) and part of which is reportedly being left to his beloved cat, Choupette.

The famous workaholic was busy right up until the end, with Fendi due to show his final collection at the upcoming Milan Fashion Week. Lagerfeld missed two of Chanel’s haute couture shows in Paris on January 22, with the company saying it was because he was feeling “tired”.

‘CHOUPETTE’: FUTURE OF KARL’S CAT

It was the first time Lagerfeld had ever missed giving a catwalk bow at the end of a Chanel show.

The designer made headlines last October when appeared in public for the first time in decades without his famous sunglasses.

Lagerfeld was known for his model muses, but in particular his favourite feline inspiration: his cat Choupette.

He was famously close to his cat, and as recently as last April, he told Numéro magazine that he wanted to be laid to rest with his pet.

“There will be no funeral. I’d rather die! I’ve asked to be cremated and want my ashes to be scattered along with my mother’s ... and (my cat) Choupette’s, if she dies before I do,” he said.

“Choupette is a rich girl,” Lagerfeld told Vanity Fair. “She has her own little fortune. If anything happens to me, the person who will take care of her will not be in poverty.”

LAGERFELD ZINGERS

Known for his dry sense of humour, the fashion icon was famous for his quips such as “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat” and “I’m very much down to earth. Just not this earth”.

He also once said: “I don’t want to be real in other people’s lives. I want to be an apparition.”

He was at times criticised for his verbal attacks on women.

In 2012, he said about singer Adele: “She is a little too fat, but she has a beautiful face and a divine voice”.

After Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton he said she has a “nice silhouette”, but that her sister Pippa “struggles”.

“I don’t like the sister’s face. She should only show her back,” he said.

On Heidi Klum he said “I don’t know Heidi Klum. She was never known in France. Claudia Schiffer also doesn’t know who she is,” he said.

And on her former husband, Seal: “I am no dermatologist but I wouldn’t want his skin. Mine looks better than his. He is covered in craters.”

On Michelle Obama: “I don’t understand the change of hair. I adore Madame Obama, I love her. But there is a news reader at LCI which has this haircut...Frankly, this doesn’t suit her. The fringe was a bad idea, it’s not good.”

He said of Princess Diana in 2006: “She was pretty and she was sweet, but she was stupid.”

WHO WAS KARL LAGERFELD

Born in Hamburg in 1933, Lagerfeld was inspired to go into fashion when he accompanied his mother to a Dior fashion show as a child.

He got his start in Paris working under Pierre Balmain in the 1950s, moving three years later to the House of Patou. He had stints as a freelancer for Chloe and was hired by Fendi in 1967.

He began his long career with Chanel in 1983, a decade after Coco Chanel died.

The following year, he launched his own name label.

“At that time, I already had a good reputation, I was doing Fendi and Chloe. I had been warned, ‘Do not take Chanel, it’s awful,” he told Madame Figaro magazine.

“When I arrived, she (Coco) had been dead for 10 years and everyone lived in the respect of her memory. If you want to kill a house, show (her) respect.”

Lagerfeld rarely spoke about his love life but in 2017 he opened up about his partner of 18 years, the late Frenchman Jacques de Bascher.

Lagerfeld spent De Bascher finals days back in 1989 next to his partner’s hospital bed as he died of AIDS aged 38.

Jacques de Bascher & Karl Lagerfeld - Paris, 1979 pic.twitter.com/Jj2Y4ZdTfB — Çapamag Mazi (@CapaMagMazi) August 12, 2017

Lagerfeld said even though they were together almost two decades they never had sex, because he didn’t believe in sleeping with people he was in love with.

“I personally only like high-class escorts. I don’t like sleeping with people I really love. I don’t want to sleep with them because sex cannot last, but affection can last forever. I think this is healthy,” he told Vice magazine. “And for the way the rich live, this is possible. But the other world, I think they need porn.”

TRIBUTES FLOW FOR LAGERFELD

Bernard Arnault, owner of the luxury giant LVMH - the most powerful man in fashion - said he was “infinitely saddened” by the loss of a “very dear friend” and a “creative genius”.

“Fashion and culture have lost a major inspiration. He contributed to making Paris the fashion capital of the world and Fendi one of the most innovative of Italian brands,” the billionaire said.

“It’s a privilege to be able to say that you’ve worked with him, that you’ve listened to him speak, that you’ve talked with him, that you’ve been dressed by him,” said the French actress and singer Vanessa Paradis on Instagram.

“Karl Lagerfeld is an immense personality, someone out of the ordinary,” French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told RTL radio.

Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue, said his creative genius was “breathtaking”.

“Today the world lost a giant among men,” she said.

“Karl was brilliant, he was wicked, he was funny, he was generous beyond measure, and he was deeply kind. I will miss him so very much.”

Style commentator Melissa Hoyer said Lagerfeld was a “fashion genius” and remained relevant until the end.

“The word ‘icon’ is often overused, but when it comes to fashion design, Karl Lagerfeld really was the epitome of a fashion genius and a much imitated one at that,“ Hoyer said.

“No matter his age, Mr Lagerfeld always remained relevant and at 85, he was still designing four Chanel collections a year including the ready-to-wear pieces as well as the incredibly upmarket, one off, haute couture designs that we would often see on celebrity red carpets.

“Lagerfeld spent 30 years at the helm of one of the world’s most famous fashion houses – Chanel - when he took over the design helm 10 years after the death of Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel.

“When it comes to world’s fashion hierarchy, there is no question that Karl Lagerfeld was at the top and his legacy will go on and on.

“Whether it was a perfume, a lipstick, foundation, quilted handbag, shoe or a more expensive piece of designer clothing, the Chanel label has a cachet, especially with Lagerfeld at the design helm.

“There is no doubt his design and style legacy will continue as nearly every A-list celebrity is a fan of the label and will mourn his passing.

“There is no question that at next week’s Academy Awards, the man who has dressed every A-list star will absolutely be honoured.”