Moscow: Vyacheslav Zaitsev, the most well-known fashion designer in Russia who dressed the first ladies of the nation, passed away on Sunday at the age of 85, according to Russian news outlets.

He was admitted to a hospital in the Moscow area with stomach bleeding, according to other Russian media reports, and passed away there.

In a Soviet Union where most of the common clothing was grey, antiquated, and unimaginative, Zaitsev was born on March 2, 1938 in Ivanovo, a centre for the textile industry, about 300 kilometres (185 miles) northeast of Moscow.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's wife Raisa wore his creations, catapulting him to fame in his native country—and to some extent, the world.

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Zaitsev went on to exhibit his clothing in Paris, Tokyo, and other major global cities as a result of the Soviet couple's popularity, the "perestroika" reform movement, and an upbeat economic and political plan.

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Lyudmila Putin, wife of Russian President Vladimir Putin, wore a Zaitsev dress and accessories during a state visit to the UK in June 2003, which included a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II.

Among Zaitsev's other accomplishments was the costume design for the New York City production of the musical revue Sophisticated Ladies, which was based on the compositions of jazz musician and big band leader Duke Ellington.

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He established his own fashion house in Russia and received numerous honours both at home and abroad.