15. Christian Lacroix

Fantasy creations, wildly photogenic designs, short puffball skirts, bright colors, luxuriance, perfection, dramatics and extensive experience in couture

"People want to be in their own fashion tribes, so they want to wear the same clothes to be connected to everyone else in that tribe. But they want to be different from other tribes." (Christian Lacroix)

French fashion designer born in 1951. He studied Art History at the University of Montpellier. His aspiration first was to become a museum curator. In the 1970s he met Jean-Jacques Picart who helped aid in gaining Lacroix a job working at Hermes in 1978 and then Guy Paulin in 1980.

In 1987, he opened his own haute couture house. In 1989 he opened ready-to-wear boutiques in France, Japan, UK and Switzerland. In 1994, Lacroix launched his Bazar line, in 1996 a Jeans line, and in 2001 he also launched a children's line. He is known for his theatrical style and 'le pouf' dress. He served as the Creative Director for the Italian fashion house Emilio Pucci from 2002 until 2005.

Website: http://christian-lacroix.com/

His first Haute Cotoure Collection (1987)

Source: http://theredlist.com/media/database/fashion2/history/1990/christian-lacroix/057-christian-lacroix-theredlist.jpg

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/may/29/christian-lacroix-fashion-retrospective

Lacrois' Couture Fall 2008

Source: http://www.fashionmagazine.com/fashion/2013/04/17/christian-lacroix-to-design-for-schiaparelli/

Air France uniforms designed by Christian Lacroix in 1970

Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features; source: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/may/29/christian-lacroix-fashion-retrospective

Christian Lacroix with Jane Seymour in the 1980s

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/may/29/christian-lacroix-fashion-retrospective

Vogue US April 1997

Source: http://shapingcontours.tumblr.com/post/64970581268/httpnotordinaryfashiontumblrcom

Madonna on stage in Lacroix outfit (2004)

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/may/29/christian-lacroix-fashion-retrospective

Audi Fashion Festival in Singapore (May 2009)

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/may/29/christian-lacroix-fashion-retrospective

Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2007

Source: http://www.vogue.it/en/shows/show/fw-06-07-haute-couture/christian-lacroix

Helen Mirren in Lacroix dress at the 2007 Oscars

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/may/29/christian-lacroix-fashion-retrospective

Read more:

http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/biographies/christian-lacroix-biography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Lacroix

http://fashion-forum.org/fashion-designers/christian-lacroix.html

http://fashion.infomat.com/christian-lacroix-designer.html

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/may/29/christian-lacroix-fashion-retrospective