Creative director of Chanel and Fendi and one of the most prolific designers in the industry, Karl Lagerfeld passed away earlier today, at the age of 85. The news was confirmed in a statement by his brand Chanel. 

Known as The Kaiser of fashion because of his German origins, speculations about his health were rife when he had missed the Chanel haute couture show at Paris in January. According to reports, he was admitted to the American hospital in Paris on Monday night. His cause of death is still unknown.

Uncompromising in his design vision, Karl Lagerfeld once stated: “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants.”

Since the news broke, celebrity fans and fellow designers have been paying their respects to the legendary designer. Donatella Versace led the tributes on social media, praising his “genius” and “incredible talent.”