“If you ask me what I’d most like to have invented in fashion, I’d say the white shirt… Everything else comes after,” Karl Lagerfeld once declared.

So to honour one of the late designer’s greatest wishes, the fashion world’s starriest names paid tribute to Lagerfeld at The White Shirt Project during Paris Fashion Week last night. 

In ode to the muse, Lagerfeld’s closest friends were asked to design a white shirt inspired by their favourite memories of the Chanel muse which have now gone on display in the heart of the capital.

Participants who took part in the project, curated by Carine Roitfeld, included Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne, Diane Kruger and Tommy Hilfiger. 

Seven of the designs have since been replicated 77 times and are now available to shop for £777 - in case you hadn’t already figured, seven was Lagerfeld’s favourite number.

Moss’s white shirt for instance was emblazoned with words from a short poem titled ‘Clutching Pens’ which was written by a poet the supermodel believed Lagerfeld would have loved.

Meanwhile, fellow model Delevingne - who famously worked with Lagerfeld on a number of big-hitting campaigns - created a shirt with sketches of her famous tattoos sprawled across it.   

Selected items from the honourary line will also form part of an exhibition which will tour Karl Lagerfeld stores across the globe with proceeds set to be donated to Sauver la Vie, a charity for medical research at Paris Descartes University which the designer supported.

Lagerfeld passed away on 19 February, 2019 after a period of ill health. 

“It is with deep sadness that the House of Chanel announces the passing of Karl Lagerfeld, the Creative Director for the Chanel Fashion House since 1983,” read the luxury fashion house’s official statement.

The indisputable icon was responsible for reinventing some of the world-famous brand’s most legendary pieces from the Chanel little black dress to the atelier’s heritage tweed. 

Virginie Viard, Lagerfeld’s closest collaborator for more than 30 years, has since taken the helm and will carry on the fashion great’s legacy.   

Shop The White Shirt Project on Karl.com and Farfetch.

Shop The White Shirt Project on the official Karl Lagerfeld website and Farfetch.

Images: Getty