30 fashion designers you should know... #23

CHRISTIAN LACROIX

Born in Arles, France 1951, Christian Lacroix left school in 1969 with the firm intention of one day organizing museum exhibitions. Lacroix started studying French literature and moved to Paris writing a thesis on costume in seventeenth-century painting. But instead of gaining access to the capital's museum world, he met is future wife, who helped him entering the fashion world. Francoise Rosensthiel was convinced of Lacroix's talent and introduced him to her boss, chief of a PR and marketing agency. The latter took him to Jean Patou's haute couture house, where Lacroix proved his talent and became chief designer in 1987. Paris fashion scene soon recognized Lacroix's style was different to the minimalist-conceptual ready-to-wear fashion of this time. With the founding of his own fashion house in 1987, Christian Lacroix became an overnight star. Crinoline skirts, torero jackets, stripes, checks, lace, tweed, brocade, shimmering silks- everything found its place under his hands and his hands made everything from it. In 2009 the house had to declare itself insolvent. Not once in twenty-two years had it turned a profit.