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Karl Lagerfeld
On the German Chancellor's dress sense: "Miss Merkel [should dress] according to her special proportions. [When she was pictured with Obama], the proportions were bad, like the cut. The pants were too long." Reuters

Style icon Karl Lagerfeld, one of the most recognisable and controversial figures of the 21st century, has turned 80.

Born Karl Otto Lagerfelt, to a wealthy German businessman father and Swedish mother in pre-war Germany, he took the fashion world by storm at the age of 20 when he was hired as Pierre Balmain's assistant.

He later changed his name to Lagerfeld, in an effort to be "more commercial".

Known as the Kaiser of fashion, he has since designed for brands including Chloé, Fendi and Chanel, which he joined in 1983.

In 2008, he was awarded the lifetime achievement award at Berlin Fashion Week.

After five decades in the industry, the Chanel supremo now joins veteran stars such as Joan Collins, Michael Caine, Joan Rivers and Yoko Ono who are still working and evolving in their 80s.

But while his creations have made him an institution, his sharp tongue and inflammatory views have made him are just as legendary.

Lagerfeld's outrageous quotes have inspired a book soon to be published by Thames & Hudson - The World According to Karl.

In honour of Lagerfeld's birthday, IBTimes UK has culled some of his best quotes of all time.

Germany Storm