WEBKarl Otto Lagerfeld (German pronunciation: [kaʁl ˈʔɔtoː ˈlaːɡɐˌfɛlt] ⓘ; 10 September 1933 – 19 February 2019) was a German fashion designer. Lagerfeld began his career in fashion in the 1950s, working for several top fashion houses including Balmain , Patou , and Chloé before joining Chanel in 1983.