The essential guide to Karl Lagerfeld's tenure at Chanel from his early days in the 1980s, charting his constant reinvention of the fashion house that maintained Chanel as the most illustrious couture house in the world.

The House of Chanel is synonymous with not one, but two, iconic designers. First there was Gabrielle, and then there was Karl.

Chanel is a house known for its signatures that not only changed the course of fashion history but still resonate today - the Little Black Dress, the tweed suit, costume jewellery, Chanel No5. These signatures were inspired by Gabrielle Chanel's taste, life experience and travels - but it was Karl Lagerfeld who took these signatures and ingeniously adapted them for the twenty-first century woman. From his first days at the helm of Chanel in the 1980s, to his creative application of the Chanel logo to everything from biker boots to a space rocket, King Karl's reign at Chanel is nothing if not legendary.