There is something about notable fashion brands. If you know the feeling of carrying or wearing something from Coco Chanel (and her famous little black dress) to Calvin Klein, Alexander McQueen, Tommy Hilfiger and Donatella and Gianni Versace, you know that these fashion designers give us the freedom to express ourselves through clothing and accessories.
More importantly, their designs add to our self-worth and self-confidence. Let’s examine some fashion designers and their trademarks:
Hubert De Givenchy
After attending art school, Hubert de Givenchy worked for several important fashion designers in Paris. He opened his own design house in 1952 and was immediately praised for his chic, feminine designs. One of Givenchy’s most famous affiliates was actress Audrey Hepburn, who wore his designs in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Charade, among other films. Givenchy continued to design for decades, officially retiring in the mid-1990s.
Coco Chanel
Fashion designer Coco Chanel is famous for her timeless designs, trademark suits and little black dresses. In the 1920s, she launched her first perfume and eventually introduced the Chanel suit and the little black dress, with an emphasis on making clothes that were more comfortable for women. She herself became a much revered style icon known for her simple yet sophisticated outfits paired with great accessories, such as several strands of pearls.
Christian Louboutin
Born in France in 1963, Christian Louboutin first started dreaming up fantastical footwear in his early teens. He was expelled from school at age 16 and started working for famed shoe designer Charles Jourdan two years later. In the early 1990s, Louboutin launched his own line of women’s shoes. He added his legendary red soles in 1993. In 2003, Louboutin expanded into women’s handbags. He then started up his men’s shoes line in 2011.
Jimmy Choo
Fashion designer Jimmy Choo used the craftsmanship he learned from his father, also a cobbler, to create some of the most coveted shoes in the world. Choo rose to fame for the quality and style of his handmade women’s shoes.
Christian Dior
Legendary fashion designer Christian Dior exploded onto the Paris fashion scene with designs that flew in the face of wartime restrictions and reintroduced a femininity and focus on luxury to women’s fashion. His resulting success, based on the innovation of both his designs and his business practices, made him the most successful fashion designer in the world. His designs have been worn by film stars and royalty alike, and his company continues to operate at the forefront of the fashion industry.
Kate Spade
Fashion designer and businesswoman Kate Spade launched her own line of handbags in 1993, and the company expanded to include numerous retail outlets and selling its products through high-end stores. Spade sold the remaining shares of her company in 2006, but later resurfaced with a new fashion brand. She was found dead in her New York apartment from an apparent suicide on June 5, 2018.
Betsey Johnson
Betsey Johnson grew up with a passion for dance and art. Her fashion career skyrocketed when her avant garde designs became part of the 1960s “Youthquake” movement. In the 70s, however, her career slumped until the punk rock style inspired her to create fashion for a new generation. Johnson opened a boutique in New York’s Soho neighborhood, eventually followed by more than 60 stores worldwide.
Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace was one of the top fashion designers of the 1980s and ’90s. He launched his first clothing line in Milan, Italy, in 1978. In 1989, Versace debuted his first couture collection. He continued to add to his fashion empire, expanding into home furnishings and perfumes. Throughout his career, Versace designed for such high-profile figures as Madonna, Princess Diana, Elton John and Tina Turner. He was shot and killed outside his home in South Beach, Florida, in 1997.