Christian Lacroix designs clothes that are glamorous, expensive-looking, and unapologetically dramatic. Such an aesthetic implored fame on the French label, which eventually came to epitomize the eighties through the designer's use of sumptuous fabrics (velvet, satin, taffeta) and overlapping patterns (patchwork, stripes), all of which left buyers clamoring for more. However, for such a momentous name in fashion, Lacroix fell into the industry by chance, as he spent his childhood in Arles, France and enjoyed attending bullfighting events, and then went on to study art history with dreams of becoming a museum curator or costume designer. Yet, he was destined for high fashion. Before launching his own line, he was an assistant at Hermès, collaborated with the couturier of the Tokyo Imperial Court, and then joined the House of Patou in 1981. Five years later, he launched his own couture label with the bouffant, or "pouf," a fantastical puffy skirt that soon became milestone in fashion history for its inventiveness. A year later he expanded into ready-to-wear, and then diversified into menswear in 2004. At one time part of the LVMH universe, the Falic Group bought the label in 2005. Though profitability’s been tricky, Lacroix’s pouf skirts, Renaissance-inspired tapestries, and masquerade-ball tulle and lace continue to earn critical praise. His ready-to-wear, which now includes handbags, fragrance, and shoes, can be found in more than 1,000 international stores, including twenty of his own namesake boutiques (New York opened in 2007 for the label's twentieth anniversary), as well as on the bodies of adventurous red-carpet walkers.

Status

Established

Clients

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ivana Trump, Uma Thurman, Julianne Moore

Other Product Lines

Fragrances, Home, Handbags, Shoes

Owned By

Falic Group

Address

73, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
Paris, France 75008
33-1-42-68-79-00

Where To Buy

Christian Lacroix, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Net-a-Porter

Related Websites

• Christian Lacroix (Official)
• Wikipedia: Christian Lacroix (Other)
• Style.com: Christian Lacroix (Media)
• The New York Times: Christian Lacroix (Media)