Fashion Opportunist Karl Lagerfeld

Karl Lagerfeld is a "fashion opportunist".

The CHANEL creative director has teamed up with online retailer Net-A-Porter for affordable diffusion line Karl - which goes on sale on January 25 - and the legendary designer says he agreed to the venture because no one of his standing had done so in the past.

He said: "This is something that didn't exist in the past and I am a fashion opportunist.

"I like to do things that have not been done. It has not been done with a name like mine so I think it's interesting and very exciting."

Net-A-Porter are equally excited by the collection - which is largely monochrome - describing it as "exuding effortless cool".

The site's buying director Holly Rogers told Britain's Grazia magazine: "From leather biker jackets to tailoring to the season's must-have detachable collar, the line exudes effortless cool."

When the collaboration was announced, Karl promised it would be "amazing".

He said: "We're working on a lot of amazing ideas that are all about making luxury affordable and accessible."