The 5 biggest names in French fashion design are:
1) Coco Chanel: One of the most influential designers of the 20 t h century, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel founded her eponymous fashion house in 1910. Her timeless designs are known for their elegant simplicity and luxurious materials, and she is credited with popularizing the little black dress.
2) Christian Dior: After working for a number of years as a designer for other houses, Christian Dior founded his own fashion label in 1946. His “New Look” collection revolutionized women’s fashion, and he went on to create some of the most iconic looks of the 1950s.
3) Yves Saint Laurent: Another legendary name in fashion design, Yves Saint Laurent was one of the first couturier s to embrace ready-to-wear clothing. He also introduced a number of groundbreaking concepts such as the tuxedo suit for women and was unafraid to experiment with different silhouettes and materials.
4) Karl Lagerfeld: The creative director for both Chanel and Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld is one of the most prolific designers working today. He has been instrumental in keeping both brands relevant and modern,.
Jean-Paul Gaultier
Gaultier began his career working in Pierre Cardin’s workshop before moving on to design for Jean Patou. His first collection was shown in 1976 and was met with critical acclaim. In 1982, he launched his own label and began to gain international recognition for his designs.
Gaultier’s style is often described as flamboyant and eccentric, and he has been credited with helping to popularize streetwear among high-end fashion audiences. He is also known for dressing some of the world’s most famous celebrities, including Madonna, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, Rihanna, Grace Jones, and Dita Von Teese.
Yves Saint Laurent
In 1961, he founded his own fashion label YSL with partner Pierre Bergé. The label became an instant success with its first collection containing many now-iconic pieces such as the “le smoking” tuxedo suit for women. Over the course of his career, Saint Laurent designed clothing for some of the world’s most famous women including Catherine Deneuve, Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli and Tina Turner. In 2002, Bergé sold the YSL brand to Gucci Group for $1.6 billion (US).
During his lifetime Saint Laurent won numerous awards including eight Golden Globe Awards, six International Best Dressed List Awards and three Coty American Fashion Critics’ Awards. In 2006 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). The Smithsonian Institution has included several of his garments in their permanent collection including a baby doll dress from 1966 and a Mondrian dress from 1965.
Christian Dior
In addition to clothing, Dior also designed accessories, perfume, and jewelry. His company grew rapidly and by 1950 there were Dior boutiques all over the world. In 1957, however, scandal erupted when it was revealed that one of Dior’s top models had been photographed nude. As a result, several major department stores canceled their orders for Dior clothes.
Dior continued to design until his death in 1957 at the age of 52. After his death, Yves Saint Laurent became head designer for the House of Dior and continued many of Christian Dior’s design principles while adding his own unique twist. The House of DIOR remains one of the leading fashion houses today.
Coco Chanel
Despite her humble beginnings, Chanel went on to become one of the most celebrated fashion designers in history. In 1910, she opened her first boutique in Paris and began creating clothing for wealthy clients. Chanel’s designs were simple yet elegant, and she quickly became known for her chic style. In the 1920s,Chanel introduced the “little black dress” and other now-iconic clothing items such as tweed suits and quilted handbags. She also popularized the use of jersey fabric, which was previously considered to be only suitable for men’s clothing.
Chanel continued to design beautiful garments throughout her life; however, she also faced many challenges along the way. The outbreak of World War II forced Chanel to close all of her boutiques; however, she eventually reopened them after the war ended. In 1971, Coco Chanel passed away at the age of 87; however, her legacy continues on through the House of Chanel which is still designing stunning garments that embody Coco’s unique style.”