It’s One of a Kind
Some may say Pierre Cardin is the futurist from the past. For example, Cardin is the modern day Marc Jacobs or Ralph Lauren. His vividly colored and “out of this world” geometric designs gave him a fine reputation all throughout the 60s. Pierre Cardin was a world-renowned fashion designer all throughout the 1960s because of his rich couture history, his extravagant designs, and the influence he left on the people from that decade forward.
Pierre Cardin was a daring clothing designer who ventured into the fashion community all throughout his life. Cardin was born on July 2, 1922, and was soon educated at Saint-Etienne, France in which he was intrigued with costume design (Victoria and Albert Museum). While Pierre was deep
“He embraced the use of plastics, silver vinyl, industrial zippers, and hammered metal jewelry in his designs and made a big splash with his multigender Cosmos Corps collection” (Colette). According to the Encyclopedia of World Biography, Cardin’s designs were a hit in America, but during the mid-60s he decided to create more traditional lines for the department stores in Paris. The beauty of his couture is that Cardin’s designs appealed to everybody’s taste in clothing, allowing the public to help themselves to a wide variety of his brand, without being unsatisfied. Pierre Cardin’s designs gained more popularity through one of his first hits, which was a men’s ready-to-wear collection in 1960 and his women’s ready-to-wear collection in 1963 (Pierre Cardin). Just as the Japanese fashion inspired Cardin years before, the Japanese designers went on to create designs based on his futuristic ideas of the “Space Age Look” that were produced all throughout the 1960s (Biography.com). Cardin’s many authentic designs allowed himself to not only have a sense of pride in what he has accomplished so far, but to have a substantial fan base that looked forward to him to keep on producing more of his own clothing. Since this was such a successful period in Pierre Cardin’s life, his work has
Philippe Petit changed numerous peoples’ thoughts about the Twin Towers when he performed his high wire walk between them in 1974. Before Philippe Petit walked the high wire between the Twin Towers in 1974, people weren’t certain how they felt about the construction of the World Trade Center. After Philippe performed, people began to warm up to the idea of the towers. Philippe Petit walked the high wire between the Twin Towers on August 7, 1974. This event prompted Andrew McMahon to write the song “Platform Fire” about this event for his band, Jack’s Mannequin. This song was not a hit for the band; however, fans of Jack’s Mannequin seem to have a special place in their heart for it.
After Jean-Michel Basquiat received acclimation from the public over his unique art, many young, creative and enthusiastic artists emerged beginning Neo-Expressionism, which means the new wild ones. Neo-expressionists would create pieces that incorporated objects we recognize and see on a daily basis such as people and animals in an abstract, yet stirring way. Neo-Expressionists would create with great emotion which could sometimes be in a turbulent manner which is what gives this type of art such meaning and why it caused such a great
Exploring Modern Day Artists: Jean- Michel Basquiat. Jean- Michel Basquiat also known as SAMO, is an amazing and inspirational modern day artist known for his neo-expression graffiti and paintings which consist of distinctive symbols, diagrams and a series of imagery which symbolized his heritage, struggles through life, and a new youthful movement which inspired experimental artists to express themselves. Being the descendant of Haitian and Puerto Rican ancestry, Basquiat’s diverse culture is a main factor behind his creative tactics and his artwork. Basquiat was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 22, 1960.
Andree Putman, one of the world best known contemporary designers was born in Paris, 1925. Every career that Ms. Putman has attempted she has excelled in. Therefore, many would say her style is eclectic ranging from interiors to perfume. Throughout all of her projects she has “worked with the idea of making beautiful things accessible to everyone”. Ms. Putman is a one of a kind designer who has reached beyond the borders of interior design itself.
Givenchy’s love for fashion grew when at the age of ten he attended the Pavillon d’ Elegance Paris Exposition. Once looking through Vogue magazine, he was inspired by Balenciaga men’s wear. He wanted to be a couturier and attended Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, to start a formal education in fashion. His designing inspirations came from Elsa Schiaparelli and Madam Gres’s work. His experience also came from working at the House of Piguet in Paris; this salon was known for its dramatic yet simple style and after, at the House of Lelong that was known for their high quality clothing. Those positions gave him knowledge on how to work with couture customers and gave him an opportunity to build strong relationships with them (Press, 2002).
Fashion has been around ever since ancient times, since the time of the Romans, it survived the world wars and is yet today a business with rapid changes. Fashion started off as an art form, a way for the riches to show their social status with unique and innovative designs that only they could afford. It was a way to separate the social classes of the society. In this paper I will include the creator of haute couture, and how the following designers developed couture, as well as having leading names in today’s ready-to-wear industry. The list is long, but I chose to focus on the three most important designers of the modern fashion industry.
Jean Paul Gaultier’s style is constantly evolving. He continues to be excited about the changes in society and the arts. His curiosity and need to absorb information fuels his creativity. He constantly takes qualities ascribed to a particular gender and mixes them up. Even after all these years Gaultier still manages to shock people though his creativity and ability to ignore stereotypes. “He knows how to surprise people, how to reinvent himself, how to innovate.” Martin Margiela [Page 103] Gaultier has left a last impression in the minds of humanity. “I believe that his playing with the concepts of gender and sexuality will be regarded as one of the key aspects of his career,” Valerie Steele
“I know what women want. They want to be beautiful” (www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Valentino) said Valentino Garavani who was one of the most influential fashion designs of the 20th and 21st century, “Known for his classic designs, he's been dressing the world’s rich and famous for almost the last five decades. Valentino has built his once small fashion house into a fashion empire.” (www.lifeinitaly.com/fashion/valentino-garavini.asp) His career in fashion started in the fifties but his passion for it began as a young child with the approval and encouragement of his parents. Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was born in Italy in 1932 where he lived for 17 years until he left for Paris to study fashion at the famous school of L’ecole de la Chambre Syndicate de La Couture Parisenne. Valentino’s first career within the industry was with couture atelier Jean dresses where he sketched any chance he got which showed his elaborate aesthetic. He meets extraordinary people during his time there and also designed one of his first solo creations. After five years at Jean dresses he leaves. Valentino has a brief job with friend Guy Laroche, in his small fashion house before moving back to Rome in 1959 to continue his fashion career independently with the backing of his parents. Valentino established his status amongst the elite of the Dolce Vita. In 1960 he met Giancarlo Giammetti in a coffee shop and one of the most significant partnerships in fashion was formed. Giammetti would become his partner in both business and life.
Ralph Lauren is American's leading designer in the classic tradition, who has stayed true to his own point of view, despite the seasonal vagaries of fashion. Mr. Lauren has always believed that fashion is function of lifestyle. He believes that clothed should be natural, comfortable and elegant, for the way people live today. His clothes have timeless grace and become more personal and special age.
Haute couture can be referenced back as early as the 1700s. Rose Bertin, the French fashion designer to Queen Marie Antoinette, can be credited for bringing fashion and haute couture to French culture. French leadership in European fashion continued into the 18th century when influence was sourced from art, architecture, music, and fashions of the French court at Versailles were imitated across Europe. Visitors to Paris brought back clothing that was then copied by local dressmakers. Stylish women also ordered fashion dolls dressed in the latest Parisian fashion to serve as models.
“Once she began to apply herself, Chanel became a femme d’entreprise forever. Throughout the remainder of her life she would work unremittingly as craftsman and business woman, imposing her personal conception of the art of dressing upon an ever-expanding clientele” (Charles-Roux 6-7). Even though Chanel left the fashion industry during the war and was heavily criticized for it, she was and still is one of the most famous fashion designers (Charles-Roux 7-8). Until her death, Chanel continued working on new designs that were accustomed to her style (“Coco Chanel Biography” par. 20). In 1971, Chanel died at the age of 88. To this day, her house still exists. Chanel is buried in Switzerland with five stone lions surrounding her tomb (Gabrielle par. 1). Because of Chanel’s new bold ideas, the women’s fashion industry has forever been changed (Charles-Roux 6).
In the early 1800s, France was the sole fashion capital of the world; everyone who was anyone looked towards Paris for inspiration (DeJean, 35). French fashion authority was not disputed until the late twentieth century when Italy emerged as a major fashion hub (DeJean, 80). During the nineteenth century, mass produced clothing was beginning to be marketed and the appearance of department stores was on the rise (Stearns, 211). High fashion looks were being adapted and sold into “midlevel stores” so that the greater public could have what was once only available to the social elite (DeJean, 38). People were obsessed with expensive fashions; wealthy parents were advised not the let their children run around in expensive clothing. People would wait for children dressed in expensive clothing to walk by and then they would kidnap them and steal their clothes to sell for money (DeJean, 39). Accessories were another obsession of France‘s fashion; they felt no outfit was complete without something like jewelry or a shrug to finish off the look and make it all around polished (DeJean, 61). As designers put lines together, marketing began to become important to fashion in the nineteenth century; fashion plates came into use as a way to show off fashion l...
This essay aims to analyse the key role that the surrealist movement has played on fashion and the fashion industry. Both from a historical point of view, as well as its continued impact on fashion today, as a source of inspiration for contemporary fashion designers.
Iconic and world renowned fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy created an impacted in fashion in the 1960s. He is known for creating feminine pieces in his collection to make woman look softer, delicate, and elegant. Hubert de Givenchy was born on February 21, 1927 in Beauvais, France. He decided that he wanted to be in the fashion industry at the young age of seventeen. At that time he worked with designers such as Jacques Faith and the French couture houses designers. He opened his own design house in 1952, were he presented feminine designs to the fashion industry that were immediately viewed by press and consumers as chic. “By the 1960s, Givenchy, setting new trends and embracing certain aspects of youth culture, had begun to favor shorter
The Bauhaus was one of the most influential art and design schools of the past. Although closed down due to the Nazi’s power over Germany in 1933, its influence has and will continue to manifest in design industries and spread its principles to young and old designers alike. Walter Gropius revolutionized design theories by emphasizing products function and form, influencing the development of modern design theory. We see this in students such as Marianne Brandt, Joseph Hartwig, Marcel Breur and Stephen Dell whom have taught and influenced the design world with their products, Tee-Extraktkännchen MT 49, Bauhaus Chess Set, Club Chair and The Table Lamp respectively. These products are examples of simple modernist style with no extra fancy decoration it has excellent function expression and simple shapes. This influenced can be traced all the way forward through America’s architecture to today’s contemporary product design. Products such as the Alain Silberstein Bauhaus 2 Titan watch, displays this influence.