The many muses of Karl Lagerfeld who helped inspire his creative vision

To be among these women was to be placed on fashion’s highest pedestal — meet Karl Lagerfeld’s most famous muses.

He died aged 85 on Tuesday as one of the most influential designers in the world.

Having landed his most iconic role as creative director of French fashion house Chanel back in 1983 — Karl Lagerfeld went on to attract generations of women with his innovative and unique flare.

In fact, the designer openly revelled in the women who flocked to him, famously saying: “I have my permanent muses and my muses of the moment.”

The German-born designer, who was also artistic director for Italy’s Fendi and his eponymous line, started to form creative partnerships with some of the world’s most stylish and interesting women back in the early 80s.

His first and most notable being Parisian style icon Ines De La Fressange. She walked in his early Chanel shows and became the face of his latest campaign, as well as being invited into his creative inner circle.

Karl Lagerfeld fits one of his designs on model Ines de la Fressange at Chloe's Paris studio. Picture: Pierre Vauthey/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images

As time went on, the legendary designer — known for his alabaster ponytail, black sunglasses and high starched collars — continued to take inspiration from many famous faces and enjoyed dressing them for his Chanel shows and campaigns — from Vanessa Paradis, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista and Claudia Schiffer.

“Karl was my magic dust, he transformed me from a shy German girl into a supermodel,” Schiffer said in an Instagram post of the two linking arms. “He taught me about fashion, style and survival in the fashion business.

“What Warhol was to art, he was to fashion; he is irreplaceable. He is the only person who could make black and white colourful! I will be eternally grateful to him.”

Schiffer modelled his designs in 1994.

Cindy Crawford, Karl Lagerfeld and Claudia Schiffer, during the Chanel fashion show in Paris, 1993. Picture: Rindoff Petroff/Castel/Getty Images

Kendall Jenner and Lagerfield walk the runway during the Chanel show as part of Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2015/2016. Picture: Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

German actress and former Chanel muse Diane Kruger wrote a heartbreaking tribute, revealing she was bringing her four-month-old daughter to meet him in France but was “too late”.

“Karl.....I cannot tell you how much you meant to me and how much I will miss you,” she wrote on Instagram. “I will never forget your kindness towards me, your laughs, your imagination.

“I came to France to see you this week and introduce you to my daughter … I’m heartbroken I was too late. Rest In Peace, I adore you.”

It was revealed Lagerfield died from pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, aged 85 and since then, many of the women whose fashion careers he helped shape, have flooded social media with messages of gratitude.

Model Lily-Rose Depp with Lagerfeld at the Chanel Spring Summer 2017 in Paris. Picture: Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images

They include the newest fresh talent he had formed strong ties with such as Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner and Cindy Crawford’s young model daughter, Kaia Gerber.

“This one hurts to write. my dearest Karl, you have taught me things that I am eternally grateful for,” wrote Gerber, who collaborated with the designer last year on ready-to-wear accessories.

“I cannot put into words how lucky we all are to have been gifted your vision. your girls love you so much. the world is more beautiful now because of you. thank you for everything, no one will ever compare.”

Lily Rose Depp, the 19-year-old daughter of Johnny Depp, who was announced as a Chanel ambassador in September 2015, described Lagerfeld as “sweet” and one of the nicest people she had ever met.

Keira Knightley and Lagerfeld attend the Chanel Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2011 in 2010, Paris. Picture: Michel Dufour/WireImage

Lagerfeld, Kaia Gerber and Pier Paolo Righi launch the Karl x Kaia collaboration capsule collection in 2018 in Paris. Picture: Francois Durand/Getty Images

He was also inspired by women in Hollywood, and was known to dress some of the most elegant women on the red carpet including Julianne Moore and Kristen Stewart.

But one of his biggest celebrity muses was British actress Keira Knightley who has been the face of Chanel fragrance Coco Mademoiselle for more than 10 years.

He had her “genius” portrayal of Coco Chanel in a film focusing on the opening of the designer’s first store in the French seaside town of Deauville.

He even expanded his creative horizons with unexpected celebrities such as Willow Smith, Miley Cyrus and Lily Allen.

Model Cara Delevingne and Lagerfeld attend the Chanel Spring Summer 2016 in Paris. Picture: Rindoff/Le Segretain/Getty Images

Singer Lily Allen and Lagerfeld pose backstage after the 2014 Chanel show in Paris. Picture: Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images

“You made me feel like a princess. I never quite understood what you saw in me but I am forever grateful for the support that you and Chanel have given me over the last 15 years,” Allen wrote on her Instagram. “Rest In Peace Karl, you were a true genius and will be missed, so much.”

Spice Girl and designer Victoria Beckham also paid tribute to Lagerfield, describing him as a “genius” who was always so kind and generous to her, both personally and professionally.

Lagerfeld’s fashion career began in the 1950s as Pierre Balmain’s assistant — a young man with ambition to shape the world of fashion.

In the words of the man himself: “The woman is the most perfect doll that I have dressed with delight and admiration.”

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Originally published as The many muses of Karl Lagerfeld who helped inspire his creative vision