Bio: Pierre Cardin

I'm feeling quite mod today so I'll with a designer who rose to fame with his innovative designs in the sixties, Pierre Cardin. He comes to mind only because I've been dying to get my hands on Assouline's new book on his work. Let's begin...

Cardin was born in Italy to French parents. after moving to Paris in 1945 where he studied architecture. Cardin then moved on to work with the likes of Elsa Schiaperelli and became the head of Christian Dior's atelier. He created his own house in 1950 where he worked on his haute couture designs and in 1954 while experimenting with geometric shapes with a space age and often unisex look he came up with the bubble dress.

Following his success Pierre Cardin went on to venture as a designer for AMC Javelins where he designed beautiful and shocking interior's and exterior paint jobs including the designer's emblem for the 1972 and 1973 models. he also purchased a chain of Maxim restaurants and hotels.

While some may consider his work outlandish and impossible to wear I think Cardin's designs are gorgeous. His designs provide a challenge but that is what fashion is all about stretching, and in most cases getting rid of, the bounderies of your imagination. Pierre Cardin's work is chic and thought-provocking, how often do you come across that?

Cristobal Balenciaga and Nicolas Ghesquiere

Anyone who knows me knows Balenciaga is my absolute favourite fashion house. In it dwell the designs of two of my favourite designers: Cristobal Balenciaga and Nicolas Ghesquiere.

The house originated in Spain in 1914 but Balenciaga was forced to moved to Paris with the events of the Spanish Civil War. The french fell in love with his designs and soon after his first runway show he was in high demand. Balenciaga was most popular for the way his designs complimented the shape of women's bodies with his babydoll dresses, square coat, spherical balloon jacket, caccoon coat, sack dress and balloon skirt. We also have Balenciaga to thank for the modern popularity of the empire waist-line. He's quite sculptural in his techniques with collar that stand out from the coat and 3/4 sleeves that leave room for a view of a beautiful bracelet.

You can notice some of his influences in the designs of those how have worked with him, most notably: Oscar de la Renta, Hubert de Givenchy, emanuel Ungaro and Andre Courreges.

In 1997 Nicolas Ghesquiere took over the reins and is doing an amazing job. Ghesquiere managed to turn the house around for the better and has given the house it's cool edge back. His designs and innovative and look gorgeous on the body. Above are some of his Fall/ Winter 2009 designs and beolw are a pair of boots that have been out for a while but I could care less I'm still coveting them.

Burberry/Trench Coats

At the head of this story is Thomas Burberry a young man who opened an outdoor-goods shop wherein he invented Garbardine, a yarn that goes through a process of waterproofing before it is weaved. After years of good customer recomendations/relations, Burberry was comissioned by the War Office to create a jacket that would keep soldiers dry through most weather conditions and he developed the trench coat which soon became popular with soldiers and citizens alike as it was stylish and equipped with pockets and straps (D-rings) which were meant for keeping hand grenades as well as many other things. In the 1920's the Burberry check was designed and placed inside trench coat linings and became even more popular. Well after the war was over Burberry was common with footbal players then soon rebuilt it's image to compete with high fashion houses in Europe.

Christian Louboutin: The Man With the Red Hot Sole

The story of Louboutin’s craft begins at the Musee National des Arts d’Afrique et Oceanie where a picture of a stiletto heel stands with an X marked on it (the museums parquet floors are unable to handle a spiked heel). As a teenager Louboutin would make sketches of the shoe bewildered by it as platforms were most ubiquitous at the time. Soon he was given a book of design by Roger Vivier, the man said to have invented the stiletto, by a friend. While assessing the beauty of the designs Louboutin stumbled upon his ambition.

At the age of sixteen Louboutin became a shoe designer for the cabaret Folies Bergere then went on to work at fashion houses: Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Charles Jourdan and Roger Vivier. After completing his work with Roger Vivier, Louboutin decided to open up shop where he sold his shoes to one of his first customers, Princess Caroline who was in the boutique with a friend who happened to be a writer for W magazine. Soon after W published a critique of Louboutin’s shoes with Princess Caroline singing his praises gaining him more success and recognition.

The most recognizable thing about Christian Louboutin’s designs is the famous red sole added in his third season. Other attributions that have propelled him into the world of luxury are the exclusive and “made-to-measure” shoes he produces. These “Cinderella shoes” enable his customer to have a pair of pumps that she’ll rarely see anywhere else as she can purchase one of Louboutin’s limited edition designs or have a brand new design according to the customer’s preference of style and materials and measurements.

His shoes are one of my new obsessions, enjoy these visions of beauty.

Christian Dior Biography

Today's lesson is on Mr. Christian (ABC's of fashion himself) Dior. He who "designed flower women" mastered the skirt and took women out of those horrid flapper dresses.

He created "the new look" by offering the world a shape in clothing that gave words such as, the hourglass, voluptous and curvy new meaning. Dior's clothing had edgy shoulders, tiny waists and covered the knee giving women eloquence and style. Dior's creations infuriated some as his piece's were said to have too much fabric and during WWII it caused much controversy as there were shortages in material all around.

Famed for his precisely tailored suits and establishment of the A-line, Dior's couture house currently lives through the breath of ultra-fierce creative director John Galiiano.

Louis Vuitton Biography

Louis Vuitton 1821-1892

Being one of the oldest fashion houses in the world Louis Vuitton has made some serious history. Well known for it's trunks, bags and prominant designer Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton Malletier was in business in 1854. This fashion house is at the centre of name-recognition and brand loyalty and is the model for luxury brands everywhere. Men and women, young and old can all spot the LV monogram just as easily as the McDonald's arches and it is rare to find someone who wouldn't jump at the opportunity to add a "Speedy" or "Keepall" to their collection of status bags.

Who knew the man who traveled over 400 kilometres by foot to Paris would end up with such a prominant fashion label?! Appointed by Napoleon III Vuitton's career began to rocket as he continued making fine luggage for France's aristocracy. His trunks were light-weight and airtight and could also be stacked but had impeccable style (let us revel in the memory of watching a young Eddie Murphy's LV luggage being hualed throughout the airport in 'Coming to America'). It was as soon as 1858 that luggage makers began to imitate Vuitton's craftmenship and style -funny how some things cease to change.

After Louis Viuitton's death the company was passed on to his son Georges Vuitton who gave the company world-wide fame by launching the LV Mongram Canvas including Japanese flowers and other details in the designs. Soon stores were opening in places such as: New York, Bombay and London to name a few. Louis Vuitton Co. is over 150 years old and it's clear why he was so successful. His bags teach people everywhere about the importance of quality as his bags are built to last and never short of stylish. The Louis Vuitton brand is known for wonderful investment pieces so if you were interested in what the big deal is, now you know.

P.S. Isn't Tyra just working her Louis bag?!