Born in England, Worth went to paris to work in 1845. He became famous in the 19th c. as dressmaker for Empress Eugenie and the ladies of the court of France's Second Empire. He is considered to be the founder of the industry of haute couture. In 1858, the house called Worth et Bobergh opened. It closed during Franco-Prussian WAr (1870-1871), and reopened as Maison Worth in 1874 with assistance of Worth's sons, Jean Phillipe and Gaston. For 50 years the house of Worth was a fashion leader without rivals, dressing ladies of the courts and society all over Europe and America.
Here are three orginial designs by Charles Frederick Worth.
Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel
Chanel started with a hat shop in 1913. She opened her own couture house in 1914 and closed it after World War II. In 1954 she reopened again, hardly changing her original concept of simple wearablity. Her business consisted of the couture house, textile, and perfume laboratories where Chanel No. 5 orginiated, and a costume jewelry workshop. In the 1960's her trademark suit braid trimmed, collarless jacket, patch pockets, and knee length skirt in soft scottish tweeds was worn with multiple gold chain necklaces with fake jewels; Chain handled quilted handbags; beige and black slingback pumps; flat black hairbows, and a gardenia. She died in midst of preparing a collection in January 1971.
Here are three orginal designs by Coco Chanel.
Yves Saint Laurent
Saint Laurent won a prize for a fashion sketch in a design competition judged by Dior, after which he was offered a position as assistant to Dior. From 1954 to 1957 he worked in the house of Dior, inheriting the top designing post at Dior's death in 1957. He opened his own house in 1961 and a series of pret-a-porter boutiques called Rive Gauche in 1966. His interests expanded to designing men's wear in 1974. Licenses using the famous YSL initials include sweaters, bed and bath linens, eyeglasses, scarves, children's wear. Saint Laurent was considered the most influential modern designer for the sophisticated woman, one who successfully interpreted the contemporary moods of fashion.
Here are three orginal designs by Yves Saint Laurent
Marc Jacobs
After managing his own firm from 1986 to 1988, jacobs joined Perry Ellis, then showed under his own name after 1994. Considered a design prodigy, he was immediately successful in building a reputation as a highly original young designer. He became artistic director at Vuitton in 1997.
Here are some original designs by Marc Jacob
Roy Halston Frowick
Halston studied at Chicago Art Institue. He worked for Lilly Dache in N.Y; and designed hats for Bergdorf Goodman from 1959 to 1968, where he made news with the pillbox hat he designed for Jacqueline Kennedy to wear athe the inaugural ceremony in 1961. He starte his own business on East 68th street in 1968 for private clients and opened a readt-to-wear firm, Halston Originals, in fall 1972. Though Halston died in 1990, the house of Halston continues under other designers.
Here are some original designs by Halston.
Peter Dundas
Peter Dundas was born in Oslo, Norway. He studied at Parsons in New York. Dundas began his career as an assistant costume designer for the comedie Francaise in Paris. In 1992, he became the design assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier where he remained for eight years. In 2000, Dundas became the chief designer at Roberto Cavalli. He became creative director at Emanuel Ungaro in 2005. Dundas became the artistic director of Emilio Pucci in October 2008.
Here are some orginal designs by Peter Dundas for Emilio Pucci
