Iconic Chanel fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld dies

In this Saturday, March 28, 2015 file photo, Karl Lagerfeld poses for photographers as he arrives at the Rose Ball in Monaco. Chanel’s iconic couturier, whose accomplished designs as well as trademark white ponytail, high starched collars and dark enigmatic glasses dominated high fashion for the last 50 years, has died. He was around 85 years old. (Lionel Cironneau/AP file)

FILE - In this hursday, Nov. 22, 2018 file photo, Karl Lagerfeld poses during the Champs Elysee Avenue illumination ceremony for the Christmas season, in Paris. Chanel’s iconic couturier, Karl Lagerfeld, whose accomplished designs as well as trademark white ponytail, high starched collars and dark enigmatic glasses dominated high fashion for the last 50 years, has died. He was around 85 years old. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File )

FILE - In this Monday, May 4, 2015 file photo, Karl Lagerfeld, right, poses with British actress Tilda Swinton after the presentation of his 2015-2016 Chanel cruise collection at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, South Korea. Chanel’s iconic couturier, Karl Lagerfeld, whose accomplished designs as well as trademark white ponytail, high starched collars and dark enigmatic glasses dominated high fashion for the last 50 years, has died. He was around 85 years old. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File )

PARIS — Chanel’s iconic couturier, Karl Lagerfeld, whose accomplished designs as well as trademark white ponytail, high starched collars and dark enigmatic glasses dominated high fashion for the last 50 years, has died. He was around 85 years old.

Such was the enigma surrounding the German-born designer that even his age was a point of mystery for decades, with reports he had two birth certificates, one dated 1933 and the other 1938.

Chanel said Lagerfeld died early Tuesday.

Lagerfeld was of the most hardworking figures in the fashion world holding down the top design jobs at LVMH-owned luxury label Fendi from 1977, and Paris’ family-owned power-house Chanel in 1983.

Lagerfeld’s designs quickly trickled down to low-end retailers, giving him an almost unprecedented impact on the entire fashion industry.