Hello, my Sierra-mists, happy Sunday! Without designers, we could not have our fabulous fashion world. They are the engine that keeps this industry, even this world moving forward. So this week, I want to introduce to you a few of my favorite fashion designers. They are truly revolutionary characters.
Coco Chanel
Full name: Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel
Born in 1883, France
Founder of the Chanel brand
"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different."
Chanel is the only fashion designer listed on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Her designs are found in jewelry, handbags, and fragrance. Her signature scent, Chanel No.5, has become an iconic product. Chanel's philosophy was to emphasize elegance through her clothing. She had a boyish figure, short cropped hair, and tanned skin instead of the usual pale-skinned, long-haired, and full-bodied women preferred at the time, but the world soon came to embrace her distinct type of beauty. Do you like laying on the beach and getting tan? Well, then say thank you to our very own Coco Chanel, she's the one that made tan skin fashionable!
Full name: Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel
Born in 1883, France
Founder of the Chanel brand
"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different."
Chanel is the only fashion designer listed on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Her designs are found in jewelry, handbags, and fragrance. Her signature scent, Chanel No.5, has become an iconic product. Chanel's philosophy was to emphasize elegance through her clothing. She had a boyish figure, short cropped hair, and tanned skin instead of the usual pale-skinned, long-haired, and full-bodied women preferred at the time, but the world soon came to embrace her distinct type of beauty. Do you like laying on the beach and getting tan? Well, then say thank you to our very own Coco Chanel, she's the one that made tan skin fashionable!
Christian Dior
Born in 1905, France
Founder of Dior, now owned by LVMH
"A woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting."
The most influential designer in the 1940s-1950s. He was actually in the military in 1940, then joined the fashion house in 1942. During WWII, he labored and designed dresses for the wives of Nazi officers and French collaborators. The perfume named Christian Dior is used in the novel The Wind-up Bird Chronicle as an influential symbol placed at critical plot points throughout. He defined a new business model in the post-war fashion industry by establishing Dior as a global brand across a wide range of products. After he died, Yves Saint Laurent unveiled his first collection in 1958. Christian Dior, the man who made the world look new; the one who provoked the magic of fashion.
Born in 1905, France
Founder of Dior, now owned by LVMH
"A woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting."
The most influential designer in the 1940s-1950s. He was actually in the military in 1940, then joined the fashion house in 1942. During WWII, he labored and designed dresses for the wives of Nazi officers and French collaborators. The perfume named Christian Dior is used in the novel The Wind-up Bird Chronicle as an influential symbol placed at critical plot points throughout. He defined a new business model in the post-war fashion industry by establishing Dior as a global brand across a wide range of products. After he died, Yves Saint Laurent unveiled his first collection in 1958. Christian Dior, the man who made the world look new; the one who provoked the magic of fashion.
Alexander Wang
Born in 1983, USA
Founder of Alexander Wang
At age 18, he attended Parsons in New York City. After two years, he decided to pursue the launch of his own label. His knitwear and handbag collections were the first two, then followed by Women's T, Men's T, Spring Collections, Accessories lines and many more. Wang is known for his urban designs. His athletic under-toned designs present a natural attractiveness, though he never even played sports. So for those of you who aren't as athletic as others, don't fret, simply take the intrigues and you can inspire your own dream!
"Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the most intriguing."
Born in 1983, USA
Founder of Alexander Wang
At age 18, he attended Parsons in New York City. After two years, he decided to pursue the launch of his own label. His knitwear and handbag collections were the first two, then followed by Women's T, Men's T, Spring Collections, Accessories lines and many more. Wang is known for his urban designs. His athletic under-toned designs present a natural attractiveness, though he never even played sports. So for those of you who aren't as athletic as others, don't fret, simply take the intrigues and you can inspire your own dream!
"Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the most intriguing."
Marc Jacobs
Born in 1963, USA
Founder of Marc Jacobs, Marc, and Louis Vuitton
"I always find beauty in things that are odd and imperfect, they are much more interesting."
He is the head designer for Marc Jacobs, as well as Marc by Marc Jacobs, a diffusion line, with over 200 retail stores in 80 countries. He was on Time magazine's "2010 Time 100" list of the 100 most influential people in the world, and ranked 14 on Out magazine's 2012 list of "50 Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America". In 1987, Jacobs was the youngest designer to have ever been awarded the fashion industry's highest tribute. In 1997, he was appointed Louis Vuitton's creative director, where he created the company's first ready-to-wear clothing line. Though it is revealed that he would leave Louis Vuitton after the Spring-Summer 2014 show to focus on his own line. Spring of 2014, the Marc Jacobs Global flagship store will open in Shanghai, hello, China!
Born in 1963, USA
Founder of Marc Jacobs, Marc, and Louis Vuitton
"I always find beauty in things that are odd and imperfect, they are much more interesting."
He is the head designer for Marc Jacobs, as well as Marc by Marc Jacobs, a diffusion line, with over 200 retail stores in 80 countries. He was on Time magazine's "2010 Time 100" list of the 100 most influential people in the world, and ranked 14 on Out magazine's 2012 list of "50 Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America". In 1987, Jacobs was the youngest designer to have ever been awarded the fashion industry's highest tribute. In 1997, he was appointed Louis Vuitton's creative director, where he created the company's first ready-to-wear clothing line. Though it is revealed that he would leave Louis Vuitton after the Spring-Summer 2014 show to focus on his own line. Spring of 2014, the Marc Jacobs Global flagship store will open in Shanghai, hello, China!
Guccio Gucci
Born in 1881, Italy
Founder of Gucci
"Fashion is what you're offered four times a year. Style is what you pick out of that fashion."
Italian business man and fashion designer. A craftsman, he founded the House of Gucci in Florence, Italy in 1921 as a small shop. As a young man, he rapidly built a reputation for quality. In 1938, Gucci expanded his business to Rome. Soon his one-man business created a huge wave in the fashion industry. In 1951, Gucci opened stores in Milan, and expended overseas not long after. Believe in your dream, you, too can be an icon!
Born in 1881, Italy
Founder of Gucci
"Fashion is what you're offered four times a year. Style is what you pick out of that fashion."
Italian business man and fashion designer. A craftsman, he founded the House of Gucci in Florence, Italy in 1921 as a small shop. As a young man, he rapidly built a reputation for quality. In 1938, Gucci expanded his business to Rome. Soon his one-man business created a huge wave in the fashion industry. In 1951, Gucci opened stores in Milan, and expended overseas not long after. Believe in your dream, you, too can be an icon!
Vera Wang
Born in 1949, USA
Founder of Vera Ellen Wang
An American fashion designer based in New York City and former figure skater. She is known for her wide range of haute couture(Fashion that is structured by hand from start to finish, made with expensive, high quality fabrics with unique techniques) bridesmaid gowns and wedding gown collections, as well as dresses for figure skaters for competitions and exhibitions. Ladies, still looking for that perfect wedding dress for that perfect day? Let Vera Wang make your dreams come true!
"A woman is never sexier than when she is comfortable in her clothes."
Born in 1949, USA
Founder of Vera Ellen Wang
An American fashion designer based in New York City and former figure skater. She is known for her wide range of haute couture(Fashion that is structured by hand from start to finish, made with expensive, high quality fabrics with unique techniques) bridesmaid gowns and wedding gown collections, as well as dresses for figure skaters for competitions and exhibitions. Ladies, still looking for that perfect wedding dress for that perfect day? Let Vera Wang make your dreams come true!
"A woman is never sexier than when she is comfortable in her clothes."
Ralph Lauren (Ralph Lifshitz)
Born in 1939, USA
Founder of Polo Ralph Lauren
"I don't design clothes, I design dreams."
Fashion designer and business executive, best known for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing brand, and a global multi-billion-dollar enterprise. In 1967, Lauren opened a store where he sold ties of his own design, under the label "Polo" which he later received rights for. In 1971, he expanded his line and opened a Polo boutique in Beverly Hills. Then he released a line of women's suits and unveiled his first Ralph Lauren collection for women in 1972. In 1997, Ralph Lauren Corporation became a public company, traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RL. By 2007, Ralph Lauren had over 35 boutiques in the United States, and 23 locations carrying his label.
Born in 1939, USA
Founder of Polo Ralph Lauren
"I don't design clothes, I design dreams."
Fashion designer and business executive, best known for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing brand, and a global multi-billion-dollar enterprise. In 1967, Lauren opened a store where he sold ties of his own design, under the label "Polo" which he later received rights for. In 1971, he expanded his line and opened a Polo boutique in Beverly Hills. Then he released a line of women's suits and unveiled his first Ralph Lauren collection for women in 1972. In 1997, Ralph Lauren Corporation became a public company, traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RL. By 2007, Ralph Lauren had over 35 boutiques in the United States, and 23 locations carrying his label.
These are just a few of my favorite designers. They are all amazing and unique, each possesses a talent of their own. They inspire me, as a young girl who desires to be in the fashion industry someday, to never give up and chase my dream. I wish the best for every single one of you! See you next Sunday, and don't forget to check out this week's Outfit of the Week. If you wish, you can tell me who YOUR favorite designer might be. "Stay Classy!"