In 1984, he orchestrated Pat Cleveland’s descent from the ceiling of Le Zénith Paris. From the 1970s until 2002, when he quit the fashion world, the designer established himself as one of the most daring and inventive couturiers of his time. įormer ballet dancer and fashion designer Thierry Mugler is known for creating some of the most over-the-top moments in fashion history.
You can read about Saint Laurent’s relationship with his romantic and professional partner, Pierre Bergé, here. He used metallic and transparent fabrics, popularized pants for women, and introduced the haute peasant look. In 1962, Saint Laurent opened his own fashion house, emerging as one of the youngest and most influential French couturiers. Saint Laurent took over the House of Dior after the designer’s death, and introduced many famous looks including the chic beatnik style. When Saint Laurent was only 17, Dior, after seeing some of Saint Laurent’s sketches, hired him as his assistant and protégé. īorn in Oran, Yves Saint Laurent left for Paris to pursue a career in fashion and attended design school for a short period.
In 1957, his assistant Yves Saint Laurent (see below!) took over the House of Dior.
Dior went on to create many famous silhouettes (the A-line, the H-line, the Y-line…) and he revolutionized the world of French fashion throughout the 1950s until his death. Financed by French entrepreneur Marcel Boussac, Dior created the New Look in 1947, which became a worldwide sensation. ) In 1938, he became an assistant designer for Robert Piguet, Paris’s leading couturier.
Want to start off with a little French practice right now? Read “ Les 11 plus beaux hommages de la mode à la culture queer ” (Fashion’s 11 most beautiful tributes to queer culture”) here ! By Sophia MillmanĪlthough he had trained for the French foreign service, Dior began working for the Figaro Illustré in the 1930s. Finally, you’ll have lots of opportunities to brush up on your language skills with our “Practice your French” tips that allow you to delve deeper into the lives of these revolutionary designers. You’ll learn about the inspirational careers and most iconic designs of classic couturiers like Pierre Balmain, and also discover newer couturiers like Simon Porte Jacquemus and Olivier Rousteing, who are currently reinventing French culture. To continue celebrating Pride Month, we’ve put together a list of the most famous gay couturiers. While it’s true that haute couture in France traces its origins to two heterosexual designers ( Charles Frederick Worth and Paul Poiret ), since around WWII, gay designers have dominated the industry.
As this French Slate article explains, gay men have excelled in the art of dressmaking since the early 20th century. In fact, you’d probably be hard-pressed to name a French fashion designer who isn’t gay (apart from Coco Chanel!). When you think of French fashion designers, whose name springs to mind first? Christian Dior? Yves Saint Laurent? Most of France’s most celebrated couturiers are gay men.