Karl Lagerfeld’s Best Quotes On Fashion, Life And More

The fashion world has lost one of its most iconic names. Karl Lagerfeld, the creative director for Chanel, has passed away at the age of 85.

Lagerfeld’s death came one month after he missed the Chanel show during Paris Fashion Week in January. He had been at the helm of the fashion house since 1983 and became instantly recognizable for his signature look of dark glasses, a silver ponytail, black clothing and fingerless gloves. Prior to making himself into a household name at Chanel, his career saw him working for Balmain, House of Patou, Chloé and Fendi.

In addition to being known for his own look and his vision for the Chanel brand, Lagerfeld was also known for his ability to deliver some colorful—and at times, controversial—soundbites as well. Here are some of his most iconic quotes about fashion, life and more.

On His Feelings After A Fashion Show In 1984:

• “I’m a kind of fashion nymphomaniac who never gets an orgasm.”

On Photography:

• “What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.”-From the 2007 documentary “Lagerfeld Confidential”

From An Interview With Harper’s Bazaar In 2009:

On Buying Inexpensive Clothing:

• “Never use the word cheap. Today everybody can look chic in inexpensive clothes (the rich buy them too). There is good clothing design on every level today. You can be the chicest thing in the world in a T-shirt and jeans—it’s up to you.”

On Being Creative With Fashion:

• “Reinvent new combinations of what you already own. Play with it. Improvise. Become more creative. Not because you have to, but because you want to. Evolution is the secret for the next step.”

From An Interview With The New York Times In 2015:

On Other People’s Opinions:

• “There are not too many people with an opinion I care for.”

On Referring To Himself As An Artist:

• “I’m a designer, I do photos, I do books, I’m a publisher, but I don’t have the self-proclaimed label ‘Artist.’ I hate that. Very pretentious. If other people say it. It's very flattering, but if you start to say it yourself, you better forget about it.”

On Sweatpants:

• “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants.”

On The Middleton Family:

• “I think Carole is very sexy. I think the mother is sexier than the daughters. There is something full of life about her. For a woman who must be 50 or so, I think she’s great. She’s full of energy.”

On Kim Kardashian West After Her Paris Robbery:

• “I don’t understand why she was in a hotel with no security. If you’re that famous and you put all of your jewelry on the internet then you go to a hotel where nobody can come near to the room. You cannot display your wealth and then be surprised that some people want to share it with you.”