Haute couture houses in France. A brief history of the oldest fashion houses in France. Creative Director: Demna Gvasalia
These days, the cosmopolitan high fashion society moves between New York, London, Milan and Paris. Donna Karan, Oscar de la Renta, Vivienne Westwood, Valentino, Versace, Chanel, Dior and others have created real temples of fashion and luxury. Where is the extreme degree of luxury, the limit of what a woman who is not constrained by means can afford - a movie star, a princess, a supermodel, a top manager or the wife of a very rich man? The answer is obvious - high fashion.
Haute couture, or "Haute Couture" in French, means the most exclusive creations of fashion houses. However, not every fashion house creates haute couture. Usually such clothes are made by the most eminent designers - and most often they are created for specific customers. Most haute couture houses produce only about one and a half thousand dresses a year.
Each item from the haute couture collections is hand-sewn to the customer's measurements. Therefore, haute couture clothes always fit perfectly, and great couturiers such as the legendary Balenciaga (1895-1972) can even transform the proportions of the figure thanks to the cut.
Clients of haute couture houses can be sure that they will not meet anyone in the same dress. Haute Couture is the highest form of international fashion, akin to art. High fashion creators can tailor their ideas to the requirements of a particular customer. By the way, clients of haute couture houses often have a chance to personally meet celebrity couturiers, and also receive invitations to visit Paris Fashion Week as spectators, which take place twice a year - in January and July.
Paris is the center of high fashion
Since the extravagant court of Louis XIV, French fashion trends have been the focus of attention throughout the rest of Europe. Later, in the 18th century, Rose Bertin became famous, the "Minister of Fashion" at the court of Marie Antoinette, the queen's milliner, who is considered the first famous French fashion designer. Since then, dresses from Paris began to appear in London, Venice, Vienna, St. Petersburg and Constantinople. The unique Parisian elegance has created a reputation for French fashion throughout the world. High fashion as we know it originated in the 19th century. The father of haute couture was Charles Frederick Worth, who can be considered the first modern couturier. He opened his fashion house in 1858 and introduced a number of innovations, such as showing dresses on living models. His clients were Empress Eugenie (wife of the last French Emperor Napoleon III) and Princess Metternich (wife of the Austrian diplomat Metternich).
However, Worth came up with not only the first fashion shows. He and his sons founded the Paris Haute Couture Syndicate in 1868, an association of haute couture houses that determines what criteria fashion designers must meet in order to carry the proud title of couturier. Nowadays, the term haute couture is defined by the French authorities and has a number of precise criteria. Therefore, only a narrow circle of fashion houses can be called haute couture houses. Each year, their list is determined by the Paris haute couture syndicate.
To be considered haute couture, a fashion house must have a staff of at least twenty people. He must present to the press a collection of at least thirty-five ensembles twice a year in Paris. Moreover, the collection should include both daytime and evening items of clothing. Obviously, fulfilling and maintaining all these criteria makes the creation of a haute couture house very prestigious, but very difficult.
What is the uniqueness of haute couture
Who are the clients of haute couture houses? Haute couture houses rarely talk about their clients, and rightfully so. However, we know that in the past, their clients were the stars of the great era of cinema: Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn, Romy Schneider, Greta Garbo, Brigitte Bardot and Elizabeth Taylor. And also members of the royal families - Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, Queens of Belgium, Denmark, Spain and Thailand, Arab princesses - the list is very long. Nowadays, the clientele of fashion houses is replenished by pop stars such as Madonna or Jennifer Lopez, as well as women from industrial and financial empires such as Onassis, Getty, Thyssen, Rothschilds.
There is also a feedback - in haute couture clothes, a woman feels like a truly important person. It is important for top managers, women politicians and other serious ladies to look elegant and personable, as well as to feel good and confident. And what could be better for self-confidence than perfectly tailored clothes, the work of one of the top designers?
High fashion in practice
A lot of work is required to create each piece of haute couture. For example, it takes one hundred to one hundred and fifty hours of work to sew a daytime suit, and 
with embroidery, it may take a thousand hours. The process of creating clothes becomes a real art. So, for example, Karl Lagerfeld, couturier at Chanel, first draws a sketch, then patterns are made from it, according to which a draft version of clothes (toile) is first sewn from a simple fabric, and only after that real clothes are made, and at least two fittings are carried out. For regular customers, Chanel keeps special personal mannequins made to measure.
For today's successful woman, there are many reasons to turn to the most luxurious fashion. After all, there are many special occasions in life for which haute couture clothes are suitable: weddings, anniversaries, receiving awards, a theater premiere, a ball, attending official events, and so on.
Modern French fashion houses
The Duchess of Windsor, Mrs. Wallis Simpson, married King Edward VIII in 1937 wearing a dress from the French fashion house Mainbocher. Spanish Princess Alcantara wore a Lanvin gown to her wedding. The wedding dress of the Belgian Queen Fabiola was made by Balenciaga in 1960. Many great fashion designers such as Manbocker, Paul Poiret, Madeleine Vionnet, Robber Piget, Elsa Schiaparelli and others have already left this world. Others, such as Balenciaga, Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne, Ted Lapidus and Thierry Mugler, have retired from high fashion. But other great houses such as Chanel, Dior, Givenchy and Jean Paul Gaultier continue to exist and develop.
You need to speak correctly so that you are understood correctly - probably, something similar was explained to you at school by a Russian language teacher
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But does this rule apply in the fashion lexicon, or will you be understood if you show a gold credit card?
It is difficult to blame a Russian person for not knowing all the rules for pronunciation of French, Italian, English. It is because of this that brands such as Ermes are called Hermes in our country, and the world-famous Nike shoes have taken root only in Russia under the name Nike. So, today we begin our educational program on fashionable names.
A colleague recently related an interesting story. In one of the most expensive fashion department stores in Moscow, she accidentally overheard a conversation between two ladies and a saleswoman. Explaining to the store employee what they are looking for, the customers ruthlessly distorted the names of famous fashion brands in the German-English-Russian manner (this is how we got "Mason", that is, Mason Martin Marguela, and Michael Kors, he is actually Michael Kors), but the girl did not dare to correct them, fearing to offend and thereby frighten away potential customers.
Perhaps, sometimes it’s enough for us to just create a “solvent look” and indicate with your finger that you want this particular Maison Martin Margiela clutch and this particular Giambattista Valli evening dress, but when shopping in Europe or in the USA (this is especially true for multi-brand outlets, where and designer items are “hidden” at the most attractive prices) you may simply not be understood and left without a bargain.
That is why today's post is dedicated to how to pronounce the names of designer brands correctly. And we will start with French brands and a brief history of popular fashion houses.
💋 French stamps
Made in France brands have seriously complicated our lives: not only can we not live without Isabel Marant shoes, Chloe trousers and Christian Louboutin pumps, but we don’t always remember how to pronounce all this correctly. However, we do not despair, because sometimes even for the French themselves it is difficult.
Pay attention to Lanvin, Hermes, Rochas and Maison Martin Margiela - in these names, most often everyone makes mistakes.
- Chanel = Chanel. With this legendary name, everything is simple. The only stumbling block is the sound at the end of the word: snobs always pronounce "Chanel" with a hard and uncompromising "L" at the end. Americans also pronounce the brand name with a solid "L" at the end. But the French themselves prefer a more rounded, soft sound. Their example is worth following.
Coco Chanel (French Coco Chanel, real name Gabriel Bonheur Chanel; August 19, 1883 - January 10, 1971) - a leading French fashion designer, one of the most important figures in the history of fashion. She founded the world famous brand Chanel.
With her jackets and little black dress, Chanel became a style icon that is still worshiped by women all over the world.
Chanel's designs were truly revolutionary, she was the first to borrow elements of men's wardrobe for women's fashion. It was thanks to her that women were able to abandon uncomfortable corsets and puffy skirts. Chanel first of all appreciated convenience and comfort in clothes.
“Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury,” said Coco. The girl received the nickname Coco when she tried to become a singer, performing in the cabaret of Vichy and Moulins. It was there that she met Étienne Balzan, an influential French aristocrat who later helped Chanel start her own business. He was in love with a girl, but she left him for his friend, Artur Kapel, nicknamed "Boy".
Unfortunately, Koko's lover tragically died in a car accident, and she never married, although she had numerous novels.
In the 1920s, Chanel's booming business took off to new heights. She launched her own brand of perfume Chanel No. 5. In 1925, the famous Chanel suits appeared, consisting of a strict jacket and a skirt that sat on the figure.
The house of Chanel brought into fashion a lot of things that we consider quite ordinary today. Such things include pockets that were simply absent in women's clothing before, and long-handled bags that replaced radicules, the iconic handbag on a chain instead of a strap.
When Coco's lover, Gabriel Arthur Boy Caple, died, the great couturier made black fashionable. For five whole years, she produced collections of things from black fabrics.
Another revolutionary discovery of Chanel was the little black dress. She showed the public that the color, previously considered exclusively mourning, can add elegance to an evening dress.
With the Chanel brand, pleated skirts, transforming jewelry, tweed clothes, two-tone shoes, cotton white dresses and much more came into the world.
Another merit of Chanel is the decoration of a casual tweed suit with jewelry, in particular, a multi-strand pearl necklace, which is still a trend to this day.
The only thing that Coco Chanel never used in her collections was trousers. She believed that this part of their wardrobe does not paint women.
A little black dress or a fitted tweed suit, an intelligent hat, gloves and an elegant chain bag - Chanel's signature style is simply impossible to confuse with any other.
The style founded by Gabrielle Chanel and unchanged since the opening of the legendary fashion house, a style that allows a woman to feel free and elegant, feminine and sexy without too much affectation, holds its mark to this day!
- Maison Martin Margiela = Mason Martin Margiela. French fashion house specializing in the production of avant-garde collections of men's and women's clothing, shoes and accessories. It also produces perfumes, furniture and home decor items.
The brand was founded in 1988 by designer Martin Margiela. Belongs to the luxury segment of the market. Many years of existence of the Maison Martin Margiela brand under the ghostly leadership of its founder were shrouded in many secrets: its boutiques are not marked on maps and in phone books, instead of the brand name on the tag, a set of obscure, at first glance, numbers is stamped, the faces of models at shows are wrapped in capron , and those who managed to come earlier are sitting in the forefront.
From the first shows of Maison Martin Margiela, the faces of the models were deliberately hidden: they were hidden under wigs, painted, covered with stockings or a veil. Martin Margiela himself never went to bow at the end of the show. According to the Fashion House, this method helped the audience to focus directly on the collection itself.
In 1997, Maison Martin Margiela's traditionally blank white tag was numbered from "0" to "23". The numbers began to circle and mean a specific collection.
The designer himself hides from photographers and journalists, and answers questions by fax. Therefore, we know the history of the Martin Margiela house from fragmentary facts.
Martin Margiela skillfully combined materials of different textures in one set, offered jackets without one sleeve, dresses with seams outside, voluminous shoulder pads over the outfit, etc. The media began to call Margiela the founder of deconstructive fashion. The designer's first shows caused a real stir: among casual jackets with an unusual cut, he presents evening dresses made from a leather butcher's apron, and cropped jackets sewn from pieces of a tulle ball gown.
Currently, Maison Martin Margiela produces stylish men's and women's clothing, shoes, accessories and perfumes, as well as creates furniture and interior items.
Lady Gaga has repeatedly appeared in outfits from the Maison Martin Margiela collections. Maison Martin Margiela is favored by Rihanna, Nicolas Ghesquière, Julianne Moore, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mia Moretti, Alan Cumming, Kristin Kreuk, Gwen Stefani, Kirsten Dunst, Miley Cyrus, Kylie Minogue, Victoria Beckham, Kanye West, Chris Brown, Rita Ora and etc.
- Yves Saint Laurent = Yves Saint Laurent. Yves Henri Don Mathieu Saint Laurent is one of the leading French fashion designers of the 20th century. Subsequently, his triple given name was deemed too difficult to spell by the international media, so he shortens his surname to simply "Saint Laurent".
19-year-old Yves meets the great couturier Christian Dior and becomes an assistant to the head of the most famous French House - Dior.
Dior died suddenly in 1957. Investors make a bold decision by offering the 21-year-old Saint Laurent to become the successor to the illustrious master.
The first collection of Saint Laurent "Trapezoid" brings the House of Dior a resounding success. In the run-up to the show, everyone believed that the new head would inherit the style of his predecessor, who created feminine collections with fitted curvy silhouettes.
But the short A-line dresses that Yves Saint Laurent presented to the public turned out to be a completely different trend in fashion. Until now, Dior collections have been distinguished by smooth, rounded outlines and addressed to women with an already formed, mature beauty.
In Saint Laurent's defile, on the contrary, the spirit of youth was clearly felt, his products were full of sharp lines, unusual proportions.
The ideas of the young couturier seem to the investors of the House to be too avant-garde and, using Saint Laurent's draft into the army as a pretext, they reorganize the House and invite another talented designer, Marc Boan, to the post of head.
In 1961, Yves Saint Laurent met his future lover Pierre Berger, with whom he founded his own company, Yves Saint Laurent, whose logo was three gilded letters YSL. Berger remains Laurent's devoted business partner to the very end.
During the 60s and 70s, Laurent was at the forefront of fashion, designing black leather jackets, turtleneck sweaters, short skirts, trouser suits, sheer blouses, safari-style dresses and more.
The very first collection from Yves Saint Laurent establishes Saint Laurent as a fashion anarchist. The designer brings a model to the catwalk in a double-breasted suit, which until then was considered a privilege of the male image.
Saint Laurent is the first to present a woman in a cropped trench coat, as well as in transparent blouses.
In 1966, Saint Laurent invents a women's tuxedo, the show of which makes a splash in the fashion world and makes the maestro a legend during his lifetime.
Considered the founder of the unisex style. In addition, he becomes the first European designer who dared to use ethnic motifs of other cultures in his projects, as well as the first fashion designer who was not afraid to exhibit his outfits on dark-skinned models.
Yves Saint Laurent owns many inventions in the field of fashion. It was he who gave the world pumps with low heels with a square nose and a metal buckle, geometric black and white graphic patterns, dresses that do not have sleeves and a collar.
When designing women's outfits, the designer often borrowed elements of the men's wardrobe. Thanks to him, the ladies dressed in trouser business suits, but the main "calling card" and a symbol of his unique style will forever remain a women's tuxedo.
In 1977, Opium perfume appeared, the sale of which was banned in many countries (including China), since some authorities saw hidden drug propaganda in its name.
In many European countries, experts do not recommend using this particular brand of perfume, because according to some data (not proven!) This brand of perfume contains substances hazardous to human health, in particular, experts refer to such a musk keaton.
However, this did not prevent the fragrance from enjoying worldwide success. All these minor troubles only stir up the public's interest in the fragrance, the provocative name combined with a really wonderful smell has been haunting fans and admirers for the fourth decade.
Perfume "Opium" has already become a classic fragrance, and later a less concentrated eau de toilette of the same name was released. Opium fragrance was born in several stages: initially, several hundred fragrances were created from which 30 most suitable were selected. These 30 fragrances were presented to the public in the same packaging and, as a result of this market research, the one fragrance that received the most positive reviews was selected, which is the fragrance we now know as "Opium".
In 2004, Yves Saint Laurent sells his fashion house, but the brand continues to exist. Stefano Pilati becomes the new head of YSL, and a good relationship quickly develops between him and the couturier. Pilati does not try to copy what the maestro did, but remains committed to the culture of Yves Saint Laurent, which proclaimed luxury an integral part of life.
Currently, ready-made lines for men's and women's clothing are produced under the YSL logo. Lines of cosmetics, accessories, men's and women's perfumes, jewelry brought additional profit and glory to the Yves Saint Laurent empire.
Despite all his services to fashion, Yves Saint Laurent continued to be a deeply unhappy and lonely person until his death. A lifelong battle with depression, suicidal tendencies and addiction to drugs, Yves Saint Laurent was the latest in a line of great artists who turned Paris into the fashion capital of the world. Modern fashion designers only process his rich creative heritage.
- Lanvin = Lanvan. F French haute couture house founded in Paris in 1890 by Jeanne Lanvin Lanvin), the epitome of French luxury in fashion, perfumes and accessories, which beauties and handsome men strive to call "Lanvin" or "Lanvin".
The correct name "Lanvan" becomes a discovery for many.
The pronunciation of the Lanvin brand name according to the rules of the French language is unusual for Russian perception. The ending "in" is pronounced as a middle between "a" and "e" with a nasal "n". Although the name "Lanven" has stuck in the Russian fashion dictionary.
Jeanne Lanvin as a fashion designer gained fame at the beginning of the 20th century by designing elegant clothes for young mothers and their little daughters. The "muse" of the fashion designer was her daughter Marie-Blanche. Later, the silhouette of a lady leading a girl by the hand became a trademark.
Jeanne's dresses were very popular. Made from soft flowing fabrics in pastel colors, they existed as if out of fashion, reminiscent of antique robes.
Zhanna was the first to introduce practical and comfortable shirt dresses into fashion, and also began to use the “Russian style” and fur trim and embroidery in the styles of dresses.
Jeanne Lanvin created her first men's costume especially for the famous playwright Edmond Rostand. Since then, Lanvin menswear has been the benchmark for classic fashion.
In addition, furs, lingerie and interior items appeared in the assortment of the brand.
Women's clothing under the Lanvin brand is made in a purely elegant French style. It is divided into two areas: Paris and Tradition. The Paris line is classic and casual. The Tradition line is exclusive, expensive handmade clothing.
Lanvin brand bags are popular all over the world, they are famous for their quality materials and beautiful fittings. According to the traditions of production, each of them is made by hand. The end result is a true work of art. The model range is so diverse that even the most capricious and demanding buyer will definitely find what he likes;
- Hermes ( Hermès International S.A.)= Ermes.
In accordance with the rules of the French language, the name of the company is read as "Ermes", because the letter "h" is not pronounced, and the last sound is transmitted at the end of "-ès".
French fashion house, founded in 1837 as a workshop for the manufacture of equipment for carriages and riding. Continuing to specialize in the manufacture of leather goods, Hermès gradually changed the range, starting to produce perfumes, ready-to-wear and various accessories.
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In 1929, in Paris, the Hermès fashion house presented its first collection of women's clothing, Haute couture.
Scarves from this brand are also known all over the world, they are also called differently (Carrés Hermès). The company has always been very sensitive to the production of its scarves, overseeing all stages of production, from the purchase of Chinese silk to subsequent spinning and weaving. At that time, the silk material was woven in a double layer, which provided the scarves with special strength.
The firm's designers have spent years creating new scarf patterns, each individually printed using special vegetable dyes. Each new color in the pattern dries for a month, and only after that a layer of another paint is applied. The range of designers has up to 200 thousand different shades. Currently, the most "colorful" scarf is the "Charity" scarf, created in 2006 and having 43 colors in its pattern.
When the company first decided to manufacture silk scarves, it set aside a separate factory based in Lyon, France.
Modern scarves from Hermès are 90x90 cm and weigh 65 grams. Each scarf takes up to 250 silkworm cocoons. All edges of matter are processed manually. Each year, two new collections of scarves are released, some of them repeating updated patterns that already existed before. In addition, two new collections of cashmere and silk scarves are released each year.
Among other things, it is worth highlighting Ermes women's bags and belts. The start of their release was put by the complaint of the wife of the head of the campaign, Emile-Maurice Hermes, that she could not find a suitable handbag. Emile-Maurice personally designed the entire collection.
Bags are very popular these days. They always sell out very quickly, even despite their high cost. Moreover, in order to purchase such a unique bag, you should place an order long before the purchase.
The bag is completely made by one master, sewing the details with linen thread and an awl. The production of one bag takes from 18 to 24 hours.
Fans of accessories are such famous people as Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Lopez, Katie Holmes, Eva Longoria and others.
A distinctive feature of evening and everyday products is the original clasp and shiny metal fittings.
Small, original suitcases, which are used to transport things, are widely used. They are made of expensive crocodile skin, their difference is spaciousness and reliability.
Since the 80s of the twentieth century, he began the production of glass and silver utensils, which occupied a significant place in the overall activity of the company. By 1990, the Hermès line consisted of about 30,000 different items for table setting, for the production of which porcelain and crystal were used.
Ermes Fashion House also produces men's, women's and unisex perfumes.
Comme Des Garçons = Comme de Garçon. Design house Comme des Garcons (Comme des Garcons, French for "like boys") is known for its "intellectual", conceptual, avant-garde lines of clothing, perfumes and accessories. The company currently has several boutiques in France, the UK, China, the US, Russia, Japan and Hong Kong, including flagship stores in Paris and Tokyo, and over 300 outlets.
The history of the brand began in 1969, when its founder Rei Kawakubo, born in Tokyo in 1942, decided to open her own clothing brand. In the collections created by Ray there was no affectation, conventions and excess, there were practically no traditional forms and silhouettes. The very first Comme des Garcons collection presented in Paris shocked the European public, but this is where the worldwide fame of the brand began.
In fact, Rei Kawakubo had already been conducting her experiments in Japan for over a decade. But after Paris, her idiosyncrasies became the quintessence of everything radical from Düsseldorf to Boston: sweaters with moth holes, three-sleeve jackets, raw edges and crooked seams, all in solid colors in black or gray.
Ballet leotards with lush chiffon; skirts with sewn wedges, reminiscent of diapers; voluminous plaids wrapped around the shoulders of models, like bundles with things worn by tramps - just a few of what was presented in the latest collection of Comme des Garcons. However, it sold out within hours, and eBay prices are approaching those of the mainstream design houses.
The choice of saying used to print on the fabric of the Comme des Garçons collection a few years ago best sums up Kawakubo's position as a champion of dissent: "The majority is always wrong."
When it comes to Rei Kawakubo, the first thing that always pops up in memory is the change in the proportions of the figure, which will immediately be remembered by anyone who has ever looked at her collections.
The effect is further enhanced by over-size, processing and selection of materials that create the effect of a piece turned inside out and fitted out of size, like a sewn pattern that has not been translated into a soft and adaptable material.
Rei Kawakubo is one of the few who did not try to adapt her creative eye and her brand DNA for the sake of practicality, but makes really creative collections, albeit not the most practical, but really non-commercial.
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The Comes de Garcon perfume line is a strange, most often asexual fragrances that are designed for independent, extraordinary, bright people who have their own idea of elegance and style.
Officially, the perfume history of the brand began with the opening of Comme des Garcons Parfums in 1994 and the release of the first edition of Comme des Garcons Eau de Parfume. It was a monolithic combination of spicy and dense woody-resinous accords. The novelty quickly gained fans, and over time it became a classic of the brand.
In 1998, the brand released the famous Odeur 53, which included 53 synthetic ingredients, most of which had never been used in perfumery before. There was a smell of nail polish, burnt rubber, mountain air, freshly squeezed linen, hot asphalt, graphite, hot metal, desert sand in the aroma, but this did not prevent Odeur 53 from being quite light, unobtrusive and transparent.
A couple of years later, the next perfume was released - Odeur 71. It, like Odeur 53, included rare components, only their number was 71. This fragrance smells of fax ink, hot metal, toaster, battery, natural notes of white birch , bamboo, bay leaf, willow, lettuce and hyacinth leaf juice embodies the aroma of the real our planet.
Later, the brand released a large series of perfumes for both women and men, as well as the unisex category.
- Balmain = Balmain. Balmain is a French surname, so the brand name is pronounced in accordance with the rules of the French language: the middle between "Balmain" and "Balmain" with a nasal sound "n".
French brand specializing in the production of clothing and accessories. Until 2001, the brand was called Pierre Balmain. Currently, Balmain brand products are sold in 75 countries around the world.
Pierre Balmain created his models in an exotic style peculiar only to him, drawing inspiration from works of world art, among which Mandarin and Arabic motifs prevailed.
This passion was especially noticeable in Balmain's frequent use of large drawings of various plants and flowers. However, the main element of the designer's style was arabesques - complex oriental ornaments made of bizarre floral and geometric interlacings. These patterns necessarily appeared in each new collection of the fashion designer.
In addition, Balmain's signature style was considered embroidery with gold, bronze, pearls, as well as the use of fur, pastel-colored satin, silk and taffeta. All this was complemented by unsurpassed manual work.
The fashion designer's outfits were bought with pleasure by the most famous and rich people of that time: Marlene Dietrich, Jennifer Jones, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Brigitte Bardot, Vivien Leigh, Sophia Loren, Katharine Hepburn, the Thai Queen Sikirit and many others.
Balmain chic clothes are in great demand among people yearning for beauty and luxury.
Since 1987, under the same label (since 2001 - as Balmain), the Swiss concern Swatch Group has been producing Swiss wrist watches.
- Givenchy = Givenchy.
You are absolutely right when you say Givenchy. Not Givenchy.
Hubert de Givenchy (in full Count Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy) is a legendary French fashion designer, founder of the Givenchy fashion house. It specializes in the production of clothing, footwear, accessories and perfumes.
Givenchy named his first Haute Couture collection "Bettina Graziani", in honor of the most popular model of those years and his muse Bettina Graziani. Most of the collection was made from cotton, the only affordable material for a young designer.
Graziani inspired the young master to create the blouse that became Givenchy's hallmark: a white cotton blouse with large black and white ruffles on the sleeves.
His close friends and muses were Jacqueline Kennedy and actress Audrey Hepburn. Elegant, in which the actress appeared in the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's", went down in fashion history and made Givenchy's name famous all over the world.
After the release of the film on the screens, Audrey Hepburn overnight turned into a real star, and Hubert de Givenchy in 1955 received an Oscar as the best costume designer.
The fashion designer has repeatedly said that Audrey Hepburn is the embodiment of his ideas about style and it is for such a woman that he creates all his outfits.
Audrey Hepburn inspired the fashion designer to create not only outfits, but also perfumes. The first Givenchy fragrance, called "L'Interdit" ("Forbidden"), was dedicated to her.
For its long history, the fashion house Givenchy released under his own name more than 100 fragrances for women, among which were Le De Givenchy and L'Interdit(1957), Ysatis (1984), Amarige (1991), Organza(1996) and many others.
Later, Hubert de Givenchy launches a men's line and presents the first men's fragrance, called "Givenchy Gentleman" then Monsieur de Givenchy and in 1986 the fragrance was released Xeryus.
In 1988, Hubert de Givenchy decides to sell his company to a large international corporation. The new management of the house Givenchy announced the need for a global reorganization. According to the owners, the style of Hubert de Givenchy is hopelessly outdated and the outfits he creates are no longer relevant. In 1995, Givenchy decides to retire. Since then, many designers have tried to return the legendary brand to its former glory, but these attempts have not been successful.
The new history of the Givenchy house began only in 2005 with the arrival of Riccardo Tisci, who at the time of 2016 remains the chief designer of the brand.
- Jean Paul Gaultier = Jean Paul Gaultier. Jean Paul Gaultier is a French designer. Founder and head of his own fashion house Jean Paul Gaultier S.A. His work defined the look of high fashion throughout the 80-90s of the last century.
Jean-Paul opens his own clothing company. His partners are two school friends. Francis Menuge was appointed director of the company, a position he held until 1990, the year he died of AIDS. The second companion was Donald Potar. He took over the business after the death of a friend.
Start-up entrepreneurs at that time had almost no money. They created the first collection from "improvised materials". It consisted, for example, of small dresses made of napkins or jewelry made of tea strainers and batteries. From this collection, Gauthier's signature style began to take shape, based on a mixture of genres and bold experiments with materials. In his subsequent work, he will often be engaged in the transformation of familiar things. During the demonstration of the first collection, the hall was almost empty. It turned out that at the same time there was a show of some famous designer who gathered the entire Parisian public.
Since then, Gauthier decided never to go unnoticed again. And he was great at it. He sought, by all means, to shock the public.
Gautier chose the most unexpected places for his shows, for example, a boxing ring or a museum of old carousels, a former prison building or a tram depot.
He also had different models: dwarfs, old men or fat women.
The Hi-tech collection brought its creator the status of a "fashion hooligan". Garbage-style clothes were presented here. Garbage buckets, cans - these are the main elements of decor. From electronic circuit boards and packages of cat food, beautiful bracelets turned out. So Gaultier opened the theme of reusing waste in fashion. This idea will soon capture the whole of Europe, concerned about environmental problems.
Then Jean-Paul released the first fragrance of his brand "La Classique". The glass female torso, owned by the singer Madonna (Madonna), in the Gauthier version was in a tin can. A little later, the first men's perfume from Jean-Paul Gaultier appeared - the Le Male fragrance, which is a fresh oriental fugère composition enclosed in an unusual bottle in the form of a male torso.
Now there are 93 fragrances in the collection from Gauthier. Perfume Jean Paul Gaultier for bright, bold, extraordinary men and women.
Gauthier also created a perfume for mature women Ma Dame. But in his understanding, this is not an aristocratic lady in multi-layered outfits, but a woman who does not feel her age, is able to enjoy life and its happy moments.
Jean-Paul in further work continued to return to the traditions of art of the early twentieth century. They have become the creative credo of the designer. It was here that his trademark "corset style" was born. The cut of the dress matched the cut of the corset with bones and cups. In the eyes of the people of that time, these clothes looked too vulgar.
The fashion designer owns a huge number of unexpected design inventions, such as corsets and skirts for men, jackets with open backs and much more. Gauthier is a true adherent of postmodernism, in his work he sought to erase the boundaries between man and woman.
This idea was even in the name of his collections: “And God created a man”, “Wardrobe for two”, “History of a man”, “French gigolo”, “Indiscreet charm of the bourgeoisie” and “Dear monsignor”.
The "talisman of good luck" of his show is the transgender model Andrei Pejic, who has become a regular participant in the designer's fashion show. Starting with shows of men's collections, the fashion model-station wagon gradually mastered the women's podium.
By the end of the 80s, Jean-Paul Gaultier became the recognized leader of all French fashion. Madonna, who had an incredible flair for new trends, met with the designer in Paris in 1987. Gaultier begins to design all of the singer's stage costumes. Thanks to this union, the French fashion designer soon gained worldwide fame.
Perhaps Gaultier's most famous invention was Madonna's pointed bra, which debuted during her 1990 world tour.
Among the famous clients of Gauthier are Marilyn Manson, Mylene Farmer, Dita Von Teese, Kylie Minogue and many other luminaries of today's scene.
Jean-Paul Gaultier also actively designs costumes for cinema. That's where you can bring his ideas "to life", even if it's on the screen.
Remember the action movie The Fifth Element by Luc Besson? Good example :)
The fashion designer has always paid great attention to his own image. It was another tool to attract attention. He was easily recognizable by his bleached hair, vest and boots.
Not only he walked in a vest, men's perfume was “dressed” in it, and many haute couture collections repeated this motif.
1997 - Jean-Paul Gaultier begins to develop full-fledged haute couture collections. Although earlier he spoke negatively about high fashion, and stated that she did not interest him. In his opinion, it was a fashion that "smelled of mothballs."
Jean-Paul Gaultier entered the 2000s no longer as a rebel, but as a classic of French fashion. The designer said that the main thing in clothes for him is the timeliness and democracy. Both features were characteristic of all the creations of Gauthier: from jeans to evening dresses.
Today, the experience and knowledge of the master have been added to the originality of the ideas of the fashion genius. His products are distinguished by their perfect cut and virtuoso handling of materials.
Jean-Paul Gaultier was often called "the most ingenious designer of the late twentieth century." His work ideally corresponded to the postmodern era. The surrounding reality seems to be mixed in his models into some unimaginable cocktail of style.
In addition, Gauthier deserves the title of "great hatter" no less than Philip Tracy!
Gaultier loves beige and semitone, distinct tones are not to his taste. His images are refined, and the cut is processed carefully and in detail. T-shirts with open backs, single-breasted jackets that have more cutouts than fabrics, skirts for men - this is the whole Gaultier.
He works in the spirit of minimalism. Starting with a classic, such as a familiar blazer or shirt, gives it a new silhouette through tying and marking, while maintaining the classic look. The 21st century fashion for Gaultier is simple and affordable clothing, without seams, defiant cutouts, which is put on as it is taken off - with a slight movement of the hand.
How to recognize Gauthier's clothing style? If you see vests, kilts, boots and models with bleached hair on the podium, it means that He is conjuring behind the scenes.
According to wiki.wildberries.ru
To be continued...
Designers are those authorities in the fashion industry who dictate fashion standards to us and define trends. Each designer is famous and recognizable for something of his own, and each has a special unique handwriting. Some of these people become real legends in the world of fashion and style. How did they do it? Maybe they are just minions of fate - or behind this is the desire to make their dream come true and gigantic work? What made them famous?
Gabrielle Boner Chanel (Coco Chanel)
Probably everyone knows the famous Mademoiselle today. She is quoted, she is sought to imitate. She had a huge impact on the fashion of the 20th century, founded the fashion house Chanel, gave the world her signature perfume under the numbers. Coco got her nickname when she sang in a cabaret. She was an extraordinary, bold and bright personality, with great willpower and impeccable taste. We owe it to the modernization of women's fashion, the adoption of many elements from the men's wardrobe, the popularity of the universal little black dress, pearls, tweed suits, small hats, costume jewelry and tan.
Coco Chanel made luxury practical. Most of all in clothes she valued comfort and embodied this principle in her collections. She said that "luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury." Among Mademoiselle's clients and acquaintances there were many world celebrities. In an interview, when asked about what events in her life aroused her interest in art, she replied: “Living in an orphanage under the supervision of nuns, I learned to sew. They taught me basic seamstress skills and I was smart enough to understand the method. I really got my hands on and focused on design at an early age, which is why I got famous clients so quickly.”
Chanel opened her first store in 1910 in Paris. They sold hats. Later, clothing appeared in her stores. Interestingly, the very first clothing that Chanel created was a dress made from a sweater. People paid attention to her outfit and asked where she got it, and in response, Koko offered to make the same outfit for those who were interested. She later said that her condition was "based on an old sweater I wore because it was cold in Deville."
Karl Lagerfeld
One of the most influential fashion designers, a man of phenomenal capacity for work, a multifaceted nature, the owner of many talents. This world-famous designer of German origin has been head of the Chanel fashion house since 1983. In addition, Karl is a designer and founder of his own fashion brand, a talented photographer, director, owner of a publishing house and a personal library of 300,000 volumes. Lagerfeld says about himself: “I am like a chameleon, several people live in me at the same time. Creating for me is like breathing. I don't even think about it. When I sit in the director's chair of Chanel, I am Chanel. When I go to Rome and I am at the Fendi House, I am Fendi. I start work on a new collection the day before the previous one is shown."
His creative abilities manifested themselves in early childhood. He studied at the Lycée Montaigne under the High Fashion Syndicate on the same course as Yves Saint Laurent. Lagerfeld collaborated with a large number of famous fashion houses, creating fragrances, ready-to-wear lines, shoes, and accessories. After he created his first fur collection for Fendi in 1966, which was a huge success, he was noticed by the most influential people in the fashion world.
In the 70s, Lagerfeld began to collaborate with famous directors and create costumes for the actors of the La Scala theater. He breathed new life into the fashion house of Chanel, becoming its head and designer, saying: “Yes, she said that fashion is dying, but style is immortal. But the style must adapt, adapt to fashion. Chanel had her own life. Great career. She's over. I did everything to make it last, and I continue to do everything to make it last forever. My main task is to try to transpose what she did into today. Guess what she would do if she lived now and here, if Mademoiselle were in my place.
Friends call Karl Kaiser (Caesar, in German) for his amazing ability to do several things at once. He hides his age and worries that there is not enough life to realize all his creative ideas. Lagerfeld loves books (he even created the Paper Passion fragrance with the smell of a freshly printed book), draws illustrations for works, cannot imagine life without photography, sews costumes for cinema and theater, produces perfumes, develops his own brand, creates hotel design, shoots short films and organizes exhibitions, produces women's collections.
Elsa Schiaparelli
The famous Italian designer of the first half of the 20th century, who is considered a surrealist from the fashion world, the main rival of Chanel, the creator of the ready-to-wear style. Elsa was born into a family of aristocrats, from childhood she studied painting, art history, and loved the theater. Working part-time as a tour guide in Paris, Elsa watched how the wives of wealthy Americans were least interested in architecture and most of all in fashion stores. Presumably, it was then that she came up with the idea to shock the public with unusual clothes.
Having met an emigrant from Armenia, whose knitted sweater Elsa liked so much, she persuaded her to create unusual models of clothes together. The fruit of their labors was a very unusual black woolen dress with a bow in the form of a butterfly. Thanks to their work, they attracted attention and received a large order from the Strauss sportswear store. It was this order that gave fame to Schiaparelli and the knitwear factory to the Armenian diaspora. Elsa founded her own fashion house. As originally planned, she shocked the public with her collections. They embodied her wildest fantasies and dreams, expressed something irrational and incomprehensible. Each item was unique. Many were created in a single copy. Hearts, constellations, hugging hands, snakes, giant flies, unusual drawings, embroidery and bizarre accessories - all this attracted attention and shocked.
It was Elsa who first invented the concept of "boutique" (a store that sells small series of designer clothes). Many celebrities collaborated with Elsa and bought her clothes with pleasure. Schiaparelli had a contract with Hollywood. She was friends with Salvador Dali (it was he who suggested to her the idea of a dress with lobster and parsley and a phone bag). Under the influence of Dali, Elsa created her most unusual things: a hat in the form of a shoe or an inkwell, gloves with pockets for matches. Costume jewelry was the embodiment of the strangest ideas; lollipops, medicines, erasers, pens, pencils, dried beetles were used as materials.
Elsa often called her fashion house crazy. The popularity of the Schiaparelli collections was huge, everyone wanted to have these strange clothes, even the Duchess of Windsor herself. But when she had to leave for the United States due to the outbreak of World War II, she seemed to be forgotten about. Upon returning to Paris in 1944, her style was no longer in demand. Chanel dominated the fashion scene and Elsa decided to leave the fashion world.
Both talented women were innovators in the fashion world, but completely different. Chanel created within the framework of the classics, without focusing on brightness and catchiness. Elsa was extravagant, loved to shock and provoke. The contribution of both to fashion is undeniably invaluable, although the Schiaparelli brand has not existed for a long time. Elsa's ideas and discoveries can be seen embodied in modern fashion, as if she was ahead of her time. Unusual color combinations, fuchsia color (shocking pink is also Schiaparelli's idea!), bottles in the form of a female body, fur shoes, ankle boots, unusual bags - all these are the ideas of the talented Elsa, who had a huge impact on the world of fashion and style .
Christian Dior
One of the most famous French fashion designers, to whom we owe ultra-feminine New Look dresses. He had artistic talent, and in his youth he dreamed of becoming a great artist. After his private Art Gallery went bankrupt, he went through hard times, poverty and unemployment, but fate seemed to be preparing a different path for him. He began to design theatrical costumes, draw sketches for French fashion magazines. And these sketches became extremely popular, he began to cooperate with the fashion department of the newspaper Figaro, he was noticed. I decided to specialize in fashion models, although hat designs were much more popular. Dior was noticed by the famous fashion designer Piguet, but due to the war, Dior's career did not start at that time.
Upon his return from the army, Christian began working at the famous fashion house Lucien Lelong, where he learned a lot. In 1946, thanks to the financing of a textile magnate, Dior's fashion house opened in Paris. At the age of 42, he became famous, his first collection, called by himself "The Crowned Line", was recognized as revolutionary and was a resounding success. Just imagine the post-war period, when women yearned so much for beauty and sophistication, for emphatically feminine and luxurious outfits. Dior, incredibly sensitive and talented, felt the mood of the society, its desires and dreams. Parisians were so tired of masculine jackets and short skirts then that they greeted the Dior collection with delight. Feminine silhouettes, luxurious and bright fabrics, cinched waists, ankle-length skirts (either puffy or straight), small round shoulders - everything in this collection was the very embodiment of traditional femininity and charm.
But not everything was so rosy. Feminists have criticized the collection, saying that the return to crinolines and corsets indicates the oppression of working women. Many believed that after the war, luxury and flamboyance were out of place and blasphemous. However, despite the criticism, the new look captivated the public. Dior's popularity was overwhelming, his name became associated with luxury and good taste. Each of his collections was awaited with bated breath, and each was a success.
Only in 1954 was there a slightly dangerous moment for Dior's career, when Chanel returned to the fashion scene, who could not stand the "horrors of the 50s", as she spoke of Dior's models. But Dior very intelligently got out of the situation by releasing a new collection, light and unconstrained. Different than before, but still the same feminine. The silhouettes were more natural, the lines softened. Dior's personal assistant, after the death of the great couturier, once said that "if Dior were alive, fashion would not be in such a deplorable state in which it is now."
Yves Saint Laurent
One of the leading fashion designers of the 20th century, whom Christian Dior chose as his successor. From childhood, he drew and loved the theater, made home puppet shows, glued costumes and painted scenery. Laurent worked as an assistant to Dior and was fascinated by his genius, and Dior, in turn, immediately recognized the future master in the young man.
At 21, Laurent becomes the head of one of the most famous fashion houses after the sudden death of Dior and literally saves the brand from financial ruin. He presented his first women's collection of a softer and lighter version of the new look with an A-line silhouette. Laurent was the first to introduce French fashion to the USSR (1959) by flying here with 12 fashion models.
It seemed that bright prospects lay ahead as a successor who lived up to the expectations of the late Dior. But it was not, however, without envy and trouble. The owner of the fashion house Dior (Marcel Boussac) is rumored to have insisted that Saint Laurent be sent to military service in Africa, thereby wanting to get rid of the designer. There he learns that he was fired from the Dior fashion house.
In 1961, the brand Yves Saint Laurent (Yves Saint Laurent) appears, his first collection was a great success. Oriental motifs, bright colors, inspiration comes from African countries. Saint Laurent also produces perfumes, works as a theater designer, creates scenery and costumes.
The ideas of Laurent's subsequent collections also received great recognition and became a kind of fashion classic: women's tuxedos (later they became the brand's signature feature), trouser suits, high boots, turtleneck sweaters, black leather jackets, safari-style dresses, ethnic motifs. Laurent becomes the first designer to launch a full-fledged ready-to-wear line and also the first designer to have an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art during his lifetime.
Giorgio Armani
The Italian fashion designer is called a fashion pioneer of the 20th century, a master of tailoring, an adherent of quality and a great aesthete. Giorgio from childhood loved art and theater, he painted and sewed clothes for dolls. He had a dream of becoming an actor, but his parents insisted on the profession of a doctor. After two years of study, Giorgio dropped out of the university. He found himself in the world of fashion. Armani created his own brand in 1974, and before that he worked as a window dresser in a large chain department store, and also designed menswear for Nino Cerruti.
Armani's professional fabric skills have led to the fact that, in fact, thanks to him, the approach to tailoring menswear has completely changed. Lightness and smoothness appeared, which, along with simplicity and conciseness, provide his products with a special chic and convenience. After the overwhelming success of the men's collection, Armani began to present women's collections, paying special attention to working women. In his collections, traditional views harmoniously coexist with the most modern trends. He modernized the classics with great grace and taste. Luxurious materials, experiments with the combination of fabrics, functionality and versatility, casual elegance are the hallmarks of the Armani collections.
Ralph Lauren
A well-known American designer, who is called the king of ready-made dresses, who "discovered America for America." His company (Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation) produces accessories, clothing, underwear, textiles, furniture, wallpapers, perfumes, dishes. Lauren has been named Designer of the Year three times and has also been named Fashion Legend by the U.S. Designers Council. For many people, Ralph Lauren is an example of how a person from a low social stratum can reach great heights with a dream and talent. A native of Belarus (his parents met and got married in the USA), from a poor large family, Ralph from a young age set himself the goal of succeeding. He was struck by the wardrobe of a classmate, which belonged only to him alone, and in which the clothes were so neatly laid out. In Ralph's apartment, there was only one closet for everyone. Since then, the future designer decided to work and save money for his dream.
Interestingly, Lauren does not have a fashion designer diploma, but at the same time he is one of the world's best designers. He does not sew clothes himself, but he is an inspirer, a designer, he thinks through each collection to the smallest detail. The designer himself says this: “I never went to fashion school - I was a young guy who had his own style. I could not imagine that "polo" would become what it is. I just followed my instincts."
At first, Ralph worked as a salesman (sold clothes, gloves and ties), then became a tie designer, created a fundamentally new model (he was inspired by the novel The Great Gatsby): a wide silk tie (while thin ties were in vogue then). Thanks to an investor, Lauren and her brother opened a store and their own Polo Fashion brand. People wanted high-quality and stylish things and accessories, the brand was gaining more and more popularity. Lauren released ready-to-wear collections (first for men and then for women) and accessories. He was the only one to produce sports shirts in 24 shades.
Loren's collections combine chic, sophistication and at the same time ease, simplicity and brightness. “My clothes are a vision of what I believe in. Someone once told me that I am a writer. It's true - I write through my clothes. She embodies history, not just clothes, ”said Lauren. Ralph's wife inspired him to create women's clothing collections: “My wife has good taste and her own style. When she wore shirts, sweaters and jackets bought from men's stores, people always asked where she got it. I associated her appearance with a young Katharine Hepburn - a rebel girl on a horse with her hair fluttering in the wind. I made shirts for her." Lauren brought Western style into fashion. And polo shirts never seem to go out of style.
Boy Ralph's dreams come true: he is one of the richest people in the world, he has a strong family, three children, owns a ranch and is one of the world's largest collectors of vintage cars.
Roberto Cavalli
The famous Italian designer asks to be called a "fashion artist" and is famous for his exotic and spectacular collections of clothes and accessories. His fashion house adheres to the philosophy of femininity, chic and bright temperament. The designer himself in an interview said that his fashion “became successful and relevant, because other designers continued to produce monotonous things ... For a long time, designers tried to dress women on an equal basis with men. I changed this trend. I'm trying to emphasize the feminine, sexy side that is present in every member of the fair sex.
A great influence on the disclosure of Cavalli's talent was made by his grandfather, the famous artist Giuseppe Rossi, and his mother, who was a dressmaker and designer. As a child, helping his mother with sewing clothes, Cavalli realized that he wanted to work in design and fashion. He was one of the best students of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, he studied the technology of printing on textiles. Even then, he created a series of floral prints that attracted the interest of large factories in Italy. Cavalli always loved to experiment, while still studying at the Academy, he began to come up with different ways of dyeing leather and fabric, he was then only 20 years old.
And so, these experiments led to the fact that in the early 70s, Cavalli himself invented and patented a printing system on leather, which allowed it to be dyed in six different colors. This revolutionary invention instantly became popular with various fashion houses. Stretch denim jeans are yet another hit from Cavalli that made the Maison prosperous and successful.
The bright and extravagant clothes of Roberto Cavalli are in great demand among fashionistas around the world, they are worn by the most glamorous celebrities on the planet. Cavalli believes that a woman should have a character and a strong personality. In an interview, he said: “Beauty comes from within, and is a reflection of the individuality of each person ... Beauty is a calling card that helps at the first meeting, but is completely useless at the second.”
Valentino Garavani
The founder of the Valentino fashion house, the famous Italian fashion designer loved to draw since childhood, in his youth he loved art and was interested in fashion. He was an apprentice, studied at the School of Fine Arts in Paris, and at the School of the Chamber of Haute Couture. He worked in several fashion houses, then opened his own atelier. His works were distinguished by refinement, excellent cut, expensive fabrics, handmade decor, and sophistication. In 1960, the Valentino brand was born.
Thanks to a meeting with the architect Giametti, the future CEO of the fashion house, Valentino gets the opportunity to engage only in creativity, without delving into the intricacies of business. He himself said: “I only know how to draw dresses, receive guests and decorate a house, but I don’t understand anything in business.” In one of the collections of the 60s there were red outfits, which later became the hallmark of the Valentino fashion house. The fashion designer says: “Red is the best color. It suits any woman, you just need to remember that there are more than 30 different shades of this color.
Over the years, the designer has dressed celebrity celebrities, many of them preferred to purchase exquisite wedding dresses from him. Among his clients were such legendary personalities as Jacqueline Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor. At the Oscars, many actresses shone in outfits from Valentino. In 2007, the famous fashion designer announced his retirement from the world of fashion, and in 2008, a farewell show took place at Paris Haute Couture Week, where all the models took to the catwalk in red dresses, and the audience gave a standing ovation.
fashion brands not only determine the wardrobe, the production of clothes and shoes, accessories and gadgets depends on them. They serve as a measure of success and respectability. From year to year, fashion brands of the world even influence the relationship between people and different social groups.
Fashion brands did not immediately receive their fame and authority. Behind the promoted and popular brand are years of painstaking work, whose fate (successful or not), ups and downs. No brand or trademark wins fans in the very first days of its existence. On the other hand, the gained prestige allows well-known brands to keep leaders even when there is a crisis all over the world and the profits of enterprises and companies are falling.
What is the secret of fame of world brands?
As a rule, global brands are closely connected by their destiny with the life of their founders, and therefore many bear their name. The surname and name of a person becomes a symbol of fashion, trendy things, a symbol of success and good luck.
The most fashionable brands in the world make a big list. Some are engaged only in the production of clothes or shoes, perfumes, leather accessories. But many of the brands produce everything in their factories to look successful and fashionable. With the name of the same brand, you can buy shoes and a stylish dress or suit, pick up an original bag or belt for them. Fashion brands of the world develop all their products in one concept, even if the collections differ in design style.
Popular fashion brands are closely related to trade, because the brand determines the popularity and demand for certain goods. There is something very attractive and magical about things with the logo of a famous brand, even if their design is unremarkable.
Acquaintance with the list, which includes the most famous and reputable world brands, allows you to navigate when choosing clothing or shoes. Having earned credibility, the brand will do its best to keep it, controlling the high quality of its products. Therefore, in most cases, buying a product from a well-known brand is a pleasant event.
Famous fashion brands in the world constantly expanding the range of products, offering consumers not only new things, but also a new look at familiar phenomena. The development of the brand cannot stop, because there are a lot of competitors in the world market in any area. Constant movement forward, creative solutions and ideas, a responsible attitude to one's authority - these rules are invariably observed by the fashion brands of the world in order to stay in the lead.
Throughout history, fashion in clothing, cosmetics, and accessories has been dictated by different countries; At the moment, Paris, Milan, London, New York are considered the most “fashionable” cities in the world. The largest fashion houses appeared, and in connection with this, the most diverse brands that became famous and popular among consumers. We decided to make Top 12 most fashionable and best brands in the world.
12. Ermenegildo Zegna/ Ermenegildo Zegna or Zegna is an Italian fashion label for menswear, footwear and fragrances. It was founded in 1910 by Ermenegildo Zegna. Now run by the fourth generation of the Zegna family. It is one of the world leaders in the production of men's clothing and fabrics.
Spanish model Oriol Elcacho / Oriol Elcacho
11. Ermes / Hermes Founded in 1837, the French haute couture house specializes in leather goods, accessories, perfumes, luxury goods and ready-to-wear. The company logo, since the 1950s, is a harnessed carriage.
American supermodel Karlie Kloss
10. Fendi / Fendi is an Italian fashion house, most famous for its baguette bags. The company was founded in 1918 by Adele Casagrande as a leather and fur shop in Via del Plebizio, Rome. The brand is now owned by luxury giant LVMH. Karl Lagerfeld is the creative director of the house. In 1925 Adele married Eduardo Fendi and they decided to change their name to Fendi. In 1962, Karl Lagerfeld became the creative designer of the house and created the famous logo - two Fs, one of which is upside down.
Polish top model Anja Rubik / Anja Rubik
9.Louis Vuitton / Louis Vuitton- a French fashion house specializing in the production of suitcases and bags, fashionable clothes and luxury accessories under the same name brand. The company is currently part of the international holding LVMH.
American model and actress Uma Thurman / Uma Thurman
8. Salvatore Ferragamo / Salvatore Ferragamo- one of the most famous and significant Italian and world luxury brands representing shoes, leather goods, accessories, clothes and fragrances. All things that make up the exposition of Salvatore Ferragamo brand boutiques are completely made in Italy. The company is owned by the Ferragamo family and controlled by Salvatore Ferragamo Italia SpA, whose president is Wanda Ferragamo, the wife of the founder of the House, and whose CEO is Ferruccio Ferragamo, their eldest son.
Brazilian top model Raquel Zimmermann / Raquel Zimmermann
7. Gucci / Gucci is an Italian fashion house and fashion brand. Gucci is considered one of the most famous, prestigious and easily recognizable fashion brands in the world. Gucci is owned by the French conglomerate Pinault-Printemps Redoute (PPR) and is the second largest fashion company in terms of sales after LVMH.
Chinese actress Li Bingbing
6. Dolce and Gabbana / D Olce & Gabbana is an Italian fashion house founded by fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.
Italian actress and fashion model Monica Bellucci / Monica Bellucci
5. Prada / Prada- a well-known Italian private company specializing in the production of fashionable clothes, shoes and accessories, which owns the fashion house and trademark of the same name. The headquarters is located in Milan.
Canadian top model of Italian descent Linda Evangelista / Linda Evangelista
4. Giorgio Armani / Giorgio Armani- Italian fashion house that produces men's and women's clothing, shoes, accessories, watches, haberdashery, cosmetics, interior items and jewelry. The brand also produces perfumes in collaboration with L'Oreal Corporation. Currently Giorgio Armani S.p.A. has over 2000 boutiques worldwide. The creator of the brand is the talented designer Giorgio Armani.
Canadian model and face of fragrance by Giorgio Armani Simon Nessman
3. Chanel / Chanel- French company, manufacturer of luxury goods, one of the most famous fashion houses in the world. The headquarters is in Paris.
Model and actress Elisa Sednaoui
2. Christian Dior / Christian Dior- French company. Founded by French couturier Christian Dior in 1946. Under the Christian Dior brand, not only clothes, accessories and perfumes are produced, but also cosmetics, decorative cosmetics, and skin care products. In 2006, the brand launched the Dior Homme Dermo System cosmetics for men.
Hollywood actress Sharon Stone / Sharon Stone
1. Versace / Versace- Italian company, manufacturer of fashionable clothes and other luxury goods. The company was founded in 1978 by fashion designer Gianni Versace, after the death of the founder in 1997, the company was headed by his sister Donatella. The emblem of the company is the jellyfish Rondanini.
Models Angela Lindvall / Angela Lindvall, Carolyn Murphy, Kate Moss / Kate Moss, Christy Turlington / Christy Turlington and Daria Werbowy
France is a country that has been rightfully considered the trendsetter of world fashion for more than one century in a row. People for whom chic and taste are not an empty phrase, first of all look at fashion from France, following all the fashionable Parisian rules. Are there any peculiarities in French fashion? Since when does the dominance of French fashion in the global fashion industry begin? It is worth stopping at these questions and answering them in detail.
French fashion history
The concept of “fashion” has been associated with France since the reign of Louis XIV, when the country, under the control of the ruling power, began to rapidly develop the industrial industry. The French royal court therefore came to be regarded as the trendsetter of the European baroque style made possible by the production of silk fabrics and lace. Luxurious lace and silk outfits, complemented by bright decorations and skillful draperies, were an attribute of pomposity and wealth.
In more recent times, French fashion has become truly revolutionary, introducing men's clothing into women's wardrobes in the twentieth century: trousers, jackets, formal shirts and even ties. She made such a bold revolution from romanticism to modernism, forcing all women's fashion to follow a new path, known to everyone, even people far from fashion, Frenchwoman Coco Chanel.
Coco Chanel
Almost every modern woman has pants, a jacket and a little black dress in her wardrobe - Chanel's greatest creative find. No less famous fashion accessories named after her are metal jewelry and the famous quilted handbag on a chain. The same can be said about the iconic perfume of the house of Chanel.
Coco Chanel is long gone, but her business lives on, and the fashion house named after her continues to be considered one of the main houses participating in the main French fashion week in the fashion industry. Coco herself is still trying to imitate, she is quoted and inspired by her, which is completely justified, because it was this great woman who was able to so boldly and irreversibly influence the fashion of the 20th century by founding the Chanel fashion house, introducing completely new images into women's fashion. In addition to trousers and other comfortable items from the men's wardrobe, in addition to the little black dress that is universal and accessible to almost any woman, we owe it to Chanel that we owe the appearance and constant presence in fashion of small hats, tweed suits, jewelry, as an independent fashionable and prestigious world of jewelry, and even a stand tan fashion.
Dior
Another eminent French designer is Christian Dior. One of the most famous fashion designers who invented feminine dresses in the new look style and raised the concept of “French fashion” to new heights.
Dior caught women and their post-war mood, dreams and desires with all the flair of a talented master. Parisians at that time were already tired of cropped strict skirts, trousers and almost masculine jackets, so Dior's super-feminine collection was greeted with enthusiasm and enthusiasm. Bright colors, luxurious fabrics, ankle-length skirts (puffy or straight), small rounded shoulders, tight waists - everything in this new collection screamed the charm of traditional femininity. It was a new French fashion, which soon became the world.
Yves Saint Laurent
The name of one of the leading fashion designers of the 20th century, whom Christian Dior himself chose as his successor, is forever inscribed in the history of fashion.
Many of Laurent's fashion ideas are now fashion classics. So, women's tuxedos, which struck the imagination of fashionistas, later became the brand's signature business card. It was Yves Saint Laurent who suggested actively wearing women's trouser suits, high-necked sweaters, black safari-style jackets, high boots, ethnics - without all these things it is already difficult to imagine the wardrobe of a woman from any city in the world.
Of course, these are not all French fashion houses, the fashion world would not be complete without the unbearable and outrageous Gaultier, the fantasy Lacroix, the chic Pierre Cardin, the master of bags and accessories Louis Vuitton, the elegant Hubert Givenchy and many other great fashion designers.
Modern young designers
Today, the titles of "young designer" or "up-and-coming couturier" have little meaning as the fashion industry is flooded with young artists who are attempting to modernize the traditional notion of ready-to-wear. Individuals succeed. For example, who was lucky to achieve recognition in the fashion world, competently balancing between the traditions of the Balmain Fashion House and his own new youthful taste. Each fashion show of the Balmain brand is held to loud applause from the audience, and Western stars themselves offer friendship and cooperation to Rustan.
Another successful young French designer is Nicolas Ghesquière, who until 2012 worked as the art director of the Balenciaga Fashion House. Ghesquière's collections abounded in elegant silhouettes combined with geometric forms generously spiced with futuristic design. Since 2013, Nicolas Ghesquière has been the creative director of another famous brand - Louis Vuitton.
The young designer Guillaume Henri made the world fashion remember the almost forgotten fashion house Carven, giving the girls a new favorite brand for them. According to rumors, this designer was made an interesting offer to lead the next major fashion house with history - Nina Ricci.
fashion magazines
From the second half of the distant 18th century, it was in France that the first magazines specializing in fashion and everything connected with it began to appear. At that time, French fashion magazines were separate large engravings, which were hand-painted with watercolors and accompanied by a description of every fashion detail.
Modern fashion glamor originated from early French fashion publications, such as L'Officiel, published in Paris in 1921, the oldest of French fashion publications, whose publication continues to this day. In 1938, this particular magazine was the first with color photographs on the pages.
In 1937, the weekly Marie-Claire appeared in France, which also came down to contemporaries. It was an innovative publication for those times, telling not only about what world and French fashion is, but also about secular and cultural events, about health and beauty recipes, publishing letters from readers and answers to their questions, covering other important aspects of women's life . Thus, the publication was the first of a large army of women's popular magazines.
In 1945, the French magazine Elle was introduced to readers, the main content of which was articles and photographs related to fashion. The first issues of the magazine were sold out in record time, and after a couple of decades, Elle was recognized as the most widely read magazine in the world.
Street fashion
French style, which has already become notorious, is the taste that manifests itself in the style and choice of clothes and accessories among French fashionistas. At all times, he was distinguished by special sophistication and charm.
The proximity of the catwalks to haute couture, of course, leaves its mark, but not only this factor affects the special charm of French street fashion. A virtuoso mastery of the art of combining seemingly incongruous things, building a harmonious and unbanal image, is the basis of what is called French fashion and style. Wearing a warm coat with a thin T-shirt or as if taken out of a great-grandmother's chest, with an almost masculine tweed jacket, and seasoning the image with original accessories to taste, the French achieve a completely unique impression, showing the world a signature French look.
French women are Europeans to the marrow of their bones, most of them preach a commitment to European values and gender equality. They are independent, make a career, and this cannot but be reflected in their appearance. Usually, French women prefer light, maximally natural makeup (and often do without it), democratic brands and calm colors of clothes. In the guise of a genuine Frenchwoman, the leitmotif is slight negligence, but not slovenliness. This negligence can only be afforded by a very well-groomed woman who knows the power of her attractiveness and has an undeniable taste. The most important thing in the appearance of a French fashionista is accessories and costume jewelry. The matched set makes a casual dress an evening one. French women are not indifferent to jewelry “with history”, they love to delve into the goods of flea markets and antique shops.
How to create a French look
The main difference between the French style and others is the absence of bright colors and variegation in clothes. Women of Provence use a skillful combination of snow-white clothes with unobtrusive cream shades and black classics. So, the usual black maxi dress, combined with well-chosen jewelry and cute details, will turn the French into a delightful outfit for the evening.
Dresses are a special article in the wardrobe of a true Frenchwoman. Lightweight dresses and skirts can be easily integrated into a feminine, playful and at the same time sophisticated look. French women also have straight-cut skirts and tulip skirts as the quintessence of everything that French fashion has to offer.
Clothing is not everything, to create an image you can not do without accessories. Since the time of Chanel, ladies have continued to wear hats of neat shapes and soothing colors. This season, fedora and trilby hats will be especially in demand.
Handbags French women prefer roomy, but elegant styles. Baggy bags, similar to duffel bags, are unlikely to interest them. Classic shoppers for everyday wear, an interesting clutch for going out - this is the choice of a Parisian.
France also gave us long stylish necklaces. But keep in mind that they are not very suitable for women with large breasts. The French style in jewelry is original jewelry made of metal and wood of noble varieties. They fit most looks.
The French are virtuosos of the art of creating interesting images. The resulting ensemble consists of many layers. It is complex and simple at the same time. Additions always work flawlessly on the image of the owner, and all together make up the mystery of eternal French charm. This charm, combined with democracy, makes the French style so attractive to others.