Profile
Marant combines sophistication with an bohemian flair. She is known for her loose fabrics on her more urban clothes that abandon the form fitting trend, including clothing like casual dresses, slouchy trousers and loose-fitting knits. But she is also known for her more “glitzy” style that accompanies higher end designs.

Nationality
French

Born
France, 1967

Education
Studio Bercot

Labels
Isabel Marant

Awards
‘Award of Fashion’

Biography
When Isabel Marant was fifteen she started making her first clothing. After finishing studies at Studio Bercot in 1987, Marant worked with Michel Klein and together with Bridget Yorke she designed collections for label Yorke and Cole. In 1989 she created patterns for Claude Montana and Michael Perry. Isabel Marant also started her first jewelry line in order to finance larger goals she had. With enough money in her pocket, in 1990 Marant started a small knitwear company called Twen. Twen would later go on to be the Isabel Marant line that we know today. She currently has stores all across Europe and America and her quirky design style has always brought her attention.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website
www.isabelmarant.tm.fr

Image source: coolspotters.com

Profile
Mizrahi always knew that he wanted his clothes to have a certain level of elegance and style. All of his designs uphold his standards of the utmost elegance and he does everything he can to mix glamor and sophistication in a seamless fashion. Mizrahi is known for the youthfulness in his clothing and he always had an interest in the Empire waistline. He has designed a wide selection of both day and evening wear that works for all women.

Nationality
American

Born
Brooklyn, New York City, USA. October 14, 1961.

Education
Parons School of Design

Labels
Liz Claiborne and Isaac Mizrahi

Awards
CFDA, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design.

Biography
Isaac’s first line of clothing came out when he debuted his clothes at a trunk show. His designs caught the eyes of many notable designers, and they subsequently placed orders for more clothing from him. Chanel, in 1992, 5 years after Mizrahi debuted his clothes in the trunk show, bought a stake in the Isaac Mizrahi company. They fronted him millions of dollars to pursue his line and push it to the potential that they thought he had. But because Mizrahi decided to go against convention and have what essentially amounted to a different line every season, he heard a lot of criticism because customers could never figure out the “look” he was going for. His inability to focus on any one design gave him a bad name and caused a sharp decline in sales. Despite turning over millions of dollars in sales each year, his line was still not bringing in enough money to be justified as a big player in the industry. Mizrahi left the industry for a while and came back early in the 2000’s to design for the American company, Target. His lower end, high sophistication line brought in huge profits for the company. With traction on his side, he left Target and signed to Liz Claiborne, where he continues to work to this day.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website
www.isaacmizrahiny.com

Image source: ted.com

Profile
During the minimalist period of the 1990’s, Helmut Lang became popular for his modern, “urban” designs that fit in with the theme of “less is more.” He is known for his high-tech fabrics and sharp lines. He likes to bring in strong colors his simple palettes, which gives it the modern touch. He always looks forward in the way he chooses fabric combinations. Lang tries to bring a typically European minimalist approach to urban fashion with stunning yet quirky results.

Nationality
Austrian

Born
Vienna, Austria. March 10, 1956.

Labels
Helmut Lang

Awards
CFDA Men’s Wear Award

Biography
Helmut’s childhood, as described by himself, was one without many pleasures. He says that many of his designs are inspired by the fact that he grew up without any modern technology in his house. That, coupled with the fabulous designs of dresses brought out on special occasions, inspired Helmut Lang to design his own clothes. He began by opening a small fashion studio in Vienna for himself and debuted his first line there. During an exhibition in Paris, sponsored by the Austrian government, Lang managaged to bring some of his clothes to Paris. He was well received at the exhibition and managed to break into the French fashion scene as a result. He finally moved to NYC to make his business empire grow. He managed to make it to America during the minimalist period in the 1990’s. His designs wer clean cut and often different from the social norm and that made him popular. Lang’s line has grown through the decades and after a filed business Merger in the early 2000’s, Lang decided that it would be best if he left his own company. He said that he feared that he would become a “victim of his own success.”

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website
www.helmutlang.com

Image source: vogue.co.uk

Profile
His collections were usually grand and classically inspired, with elegance and sophistication at the top of the priority list. His later designs became more feminine and fun including designs like puffed hems, scallop-effect necklines and gathered drapes. Like many high end designers, Laroche spared no expense at making his clothes stand out. He was known for his skillful tailoring and cutting.

Nationality
French

Born
La Rochelle, France. July 16, 1921 – February 17, 1989

Education
Has no formal fashion training

Labels
Guy Laroche

Awards
Macy’s outstanding creativity award. Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur.

Biography
After moving to New York in the 1940’s, Laroche quickly began learning all about the fashion industry. He built up a portfolio for himself while working on Seventh Avenue in NYC and made his way back to Paris to open his own boutique. His first collection was debuted in his apartment building in Paris when he opened his first clothing store. He came into the market just as elegance and grandeur were making a comeback in the fashion industry. He made sure to capitalize on that fact and his clothes and designs sold for high prices to well known celebrities and socialites. After realizing his success in the fashion industry, he went on to design accessories and perfumes. Unfortunately, after his death, the Guy Laroche fashion line declined dramatically. It struggled to keep up with the high standards Laroche set for himself and his designs and interest in the company decreased incredibly. But despite this failure, the Guy Laroche line will go down in history as one of the most ambitious and fantastic fashion lines to date.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website
www.guylaroche.com

Image source: fashionmodeldirectory.com

Profile
Versace took a while to find his own style. His theater costumes gained him fame but it wasn’t until the debut of his metallic designs that people started noticing him. In the 80’s and 90’s he became known for his strong colors and clean cuts. Versace’s designs were always executed with confidence, and they became powerful fashion statements with a high level of technical achievement. He worked a lot with leather and always experimented with new fabrics. His clothing has an heir of “elite” to it and is often worn by the rich and famous.

Nationality
Italian

Born
Reggio Calabria, Italy. December 2, 1946 – July 15, 1997.

Education
Architecture in Calabria.

Labels
Versace

Awards
CFDA International Award. Occhio d’Oro  award.

Biography
Gianni Versace started his fashion career by designing costumes for the theater. After a few years of relative success on the theater scene, he moved on to designing other things. It wasn’t until he began collaborating with Richard Avedon though that his career took off. In 1982, Versace began experiementing with a metallic look that would go on to be his signature style. Following the success of his metallic dresses, he was invited to help Elton John design his stage costumes for a tour. After critics traced the costumes’ origins back to Versace, his name grew larger. He was openly gay his entire life and lived with his partner in their Miami mansion. After being shot down by a rampant killer, Versace’s sister, Donatella Versace took over the family business and continues to run the fashion house to this day.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website
www.versace.com

Image source: onthisdayinfashion.com

Profile
Emilio Pucci became well known for his bold and colorful geometric shapes in his designs. During a period of stagnant designs, Pucci’s designs were a fun and flirty way to revive the fashion industry. His elegant sportswear has become a status symbol and the combination of the elegance and excitement made him into a very successful fashion designer. Celebrities like Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry and many more have worn Pucci’s creations.

Nationality
Italian

Born
Florence, Italy. November 20, 1914 – 29 November 1992

Education
Attended many universities. First attended the University of Milan and eventually graduated from the University of Florence with his Ph.D

Labels
Emilio Pucci

Awards
Neiman-Marcus Award, Burdine’s Sunshine Award

Biography
Pucci is one of the most decorated fashion designers in the world. Not only has he won many fashion awards, his life before his fashion career is stunning as well. Pucci was always involved with sports and through his skill, he was invited to compete in the Winter Olympics for his skiing abilities. He did not compete but was instead offered the opportunity to design costumes for the team. After designing the costumes, Emilio Pucci then designed a custom ski costume for a friend of his. Little did he know, his friend was going to model his work for a Harper’s Bazaar shoot. The photographer for the shoot was blown away by the design and style and when the model and designs made the cover of an edition of Harper’s Bazaar, Pucci received offers to design more clothing. After fighting in the war for the Italian Air Force, he left his position to pursue his fashion career. Pucci expanded his design to more swimwear and eventually moved on to other fabrics and types of clothing. His friends and colleagues encouraged him to experiment with patterns and fabrics in his women’s clothing lines. By the early 50’s, Pucci had made a name for himself, not just for his swimwear and skiiwear, but also for his brightly colored, and patterned dresses and other clothing.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website
www.emiliopucci.com

Image source: marcdolls.ch

Profile
The New York City night club scene is the key source of inspiration behind Tahari’s works. It is evident in his clothing that the allure, sexuality, and colors associated with night life are present in all of his designs. Tahari likes to combine timeless style with sophistication for his womenswear, menswear as well as his accessories collections which truly brings out the character of his design.

Nationality
Israeli

Born
Jerusalem, Israel. 1952

Education
Trade school to become an electrician.

Labels
Elie Tahari Collection

Awards
Nominated for the CFDA.

Biography
Elie’s childhood was spent moving around throughout the Middle East quite frequently. Until he moved to New York City, Tahari moved with his parents between Iran and Israel. Tahari eventually moved to New York City where he began work as an electrician. His life in NYC was far from glamorous as he slept on park benches and at the local community shelters until he could get his feet. Tahari managed to land a job working at a fashion boutique and was introduced to the fashion scene. Inspired by what he saw, he began designing clothes with the New York night club scene as his influence. His clothes made their way into his own boutique and after marrying his wife, his fashion empire has grown to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each year.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website
www.elietahari.com

Image source: comlu.com

Profile
Donna Karan’s mix and match outfit styling has become popular in the fashion world. Their simplicity and elegance make them nonabrasive to the eyes. This approach along with the idea that clothes should be tailored to a modern audience has brought much attention to Karan’s fashion sense.

Nationality
American

Born
Forest Hills, New York, October 2, 1948.

Education
Parson’s School of Design in NYC.

Labels
Donna Karan, DKNY

Awards
CAFC (Coty Award) in 1977. CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Biography
Karan began her career working for the legendary fashion designer Anne Klein. When Klein passed away, Karan became the head of the fashion house. But she didn’t stay for long. She quickly left the company and decided that she wanted to design clothes for “modern people” and subsequently began her “Essentials” collection. It was this collection that launched her to fame. She only had seven different pieces in the collection and each of them could be mixed or matched to create a multitude of different outfits. After the success of that line, Karan wanted to try her hand at designing clothes for a younger generation. She began the Donna Karan New York line, or the DKNY line as it’s known now, and made herself a huge success. The clothes were a runway hit in the 1990’s as they appealed to the minimalist movement of clothing and catered for a wide audience.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website
www.donnakaran.com

Image source: ragstyles.co

Profile
Saab’s style can be summed up in the word elegance. His grandeur and luxurious choices in fabrics and designs shows off wealth and status while still retaining the aesthetic of class and sophistication. He uses themes such as romanticism and femininity while designing clothes that are cut-to-the-curve with soft edges and fine details. Silk and mousseline are among the fabrics that he likes to use and he works lot with hand embroidery and beading which adds Saab’s signature style the pieces.

Nationality
Lebanese

Born
Beirut, Lebanon. July 4, 1964

Education
Attempted to study fashion in Paris, but dropped out.

Labels
ES

Awards
None

Biography
After spending much of his childhood designing clothes in his free time, he claims that he always knew that he would eventually be able to make a living out of it. Elie moved to Paris in the early 1980’s only to move back to Lebanon shortly thereafter. His short stay in Paris was to study fashion, but he decided that he would be better suited in Lebanon working on his own clothing line. After working for a few years in Lebanon, he broke onto the fashion circuit and had one of his lines featured at a national fashion show where the Prince of Monaco was in attendance. It wasn’t until Saab dressed Halle Berry for the 2002 Oscars though that he gained recognition. Nowadays, many stars ask for his designs to wear on the red-carpet and Elie happily obliges. He now has boutiques located around the world and continually designs for the stars.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website

http://www.adolfodominguez.es/

Image source: arabianbusiness.com

Profile
Dries Van Noten’s style has always been perceived as over the top and eccentric. He uses multiple fabric types and designs in his works and is never afraid to be too “out there.” His signature design is characterized by the use of many different prints, colors and layering. He is known for layering jackets over pants and dresses and he makes use of different themes for his designs. Van Noten is also known for creating suits with jackets buttoned diagonally and sequined evening gowns.

Nationality
Belgian

Born
Belgium, 1958.

Education
Antwerp Fashion Academy

Labels
Dries Van Noten

Awards
CFDA Award in 2008.

Biography
Van Noten got his start with his family’s clothing store in Belgium. After graduating from fashion school in the 1980’s, he started his own line of clothing in New York City. A few items were picked up from the line and stocked at Barney’s retail shop in NYC. Van Noten’s name grew through the years and now the designer releases multiple collections every year. He is known for not advertising any of his new styles or clothing at all. It is all done by word of mouth and all of his clothes are ready to wear. He doesn’t believe in the high brow fashion world where designers become larger than life.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website
www.driesvannoten.be

Image source: imageshack.us

Profile
Fisher’s style caters to a demographic of women who wants business casual clothes that aren’t too loud or flashy. Her minimalistic style of keeping colors to a minimum and cutting the fabrics in such a way that they’re forgiving to the female form has made the Elieen Fisher corporation a force to be reckoned with in the fashion world.

Nationality
American

Born
Des Plaines, Illinois.

Education
University of Illinois.

Labels
Eileen Fisher Inc.

Awards
None.

Biography
Eileen Fisher, before she started her own line of clothing in the 1980’s, began work as an interior designer. Her first order for clothing made her only a few thousand dollars, but from the designs she submitted, she subsequently made tens of thousands of dollars. She often quotes her inspiration for her sometimes “bland” clothing as her hatred for clothes shopping. Eileen set out to design a line of clothing that could be fashionable all the time. She was tired of women not being able to find appropriate clothing for their needs, and if and when they finally do, the fashion industry has changed so much that their clothes were soon outdated. She wanted to create clothes that lasted a while and maintained their relevance.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website
www.eileenfisher.com

Image source: svn.org

Profile
Donatella is the sister of the founder of the international fashion house: Versace. Her clothing style is very proud and very sexy. She seeks to bring a certain boldness and prowess to all of her clothing and has made a name for herself, apart from the relationship to the Versace name, as being an innovative designer with her bold looks.

Nationality
Italian

Born
Reggio Calabria, Italy. May 2, 1955.

Education
Literature in Florence, Italy.

Labels
Versace

Biography
Donatella grew up on the Italian coast and throughout her childhood, it was always apparent that she was a bold and daring individual. Following in her brother’s footsteps, Gianna Versace brought her on to work with him on his newly founded Versace clothing line. The press mocked her and said that she was merely getting the position because of family affiliation. While it may be true that she got the position because of her family ties, she worked hard to make a name for herself. Always demanding perfection, Donatella made splashes in the fashion world when she demanded only the finest models for a Versace fashion show one year. Her demands seemed unfounded for someone that was merely a “shadow” of her brother. Following Gianni’s death, Donatella again made headlines when she managed to follow through with a planned fashion show just weeks after her brother’s death. Her recent designs have been very sexual in nature and bold. They were designed to hug every feature of a woman’s body, something Donatella doesn’t shy away from herself.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website
www.versace.com

Image source: natatattt.blogspot.com

Profile
Diane is the pioneer of the wrap dress. In her wrap dresses she tends to use bright colors that often clash with one another, making them striking to the eye. For Diane the fabric is key and it needs to be soft, breathable and allow the body to move freely. She is also known to use comfortable fabrics like linen in her dresses to make them have a summertime feel. Her style is about easy comfort, minimum fuss and maximum impact. Diane’s signature design can be described as hippie chic mixed together with 40’s glamour, that appeals to women of all ages.

Nationality
Belgian

Born
Brussels, Belgium. December 31, 1946.

Education
Studied economics at the University of Geneva.

Labels
Diane von Furstenberg

Awards
The International Center in New York’s Award of Excellence, CFDA.

Biography
During her years at college, Diane met her first husband. Her future husband would be connected to an inheritance from the Fiat motor corporation as well as German royalty. But upon finding love, she decided that she didn’t want to be the ditsy heiress that normally steps into view when a rich mogul marries. She found $30,000 in 1970 and decided to start her own fashion line. Her famous “wrap dress” was part of her first line of clothing and has since been included in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Upon the death of one of her favorite artists, she put in a bid to obtain the artist’s former studio. She purchased the house and until the mid 1990’s, she made the studio her own. It was there that she came forward with some of her best designs. Since her career explosion, she now does work for the television show, “Project Runway,” and released a high end line in her name.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website

http://www.dvf.com/

Image source: theblayreport.com

Profile
In 1989, Pliner became renowned for his influence in the world of footwear. He was the first to pioneer micro-fiber footwear and is known for his extravagant designs in accessories and shoes for both men and women. He still releases shoes and keeps true to his motto, “When the feet are uncomfortable, so is the mind, so is the body, so is the soul.”

Nationality
American

Born
Chicago, Illinois, USA. 1943

Labels
Donald J Pliner

Awards
Footwear News Hall of Fame

Biography
Pliner grew up and started his life as an apprentice to his family’s shoe store. When he was 24 years old he opened his own retail store in Beverly Hills and brought in over $1 million during his first year in business. Donald created more stores and chains through the 1970’s and was picked up by a Spanish shoe company to design and sell his own designs. Eventually, in 1989, Pliner released a revolutionary line. He opened his own accessory and shoe line that made him even wealthier. His fashion forward designs and ideas kept his customers coming back. Once they discovered the comfort of  his micro-fiber shoes and their elasticity, they swore by Pliner’s shoes. Nowadays, Donald Pliner continues to design his shoes in an even broader range. He now sells shoes for both men and women as well as handbags and accessories to a now global market.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website
www.donaldjpliner.com

Image source: photobucket.com

Profile
Until Hechter, no one had thought to capitalize on lifestyle dressing. Daniel Hechter came up with the idea of marketing entire lines of clothing to busy, working class people. He subsequently made a big name for himself in the ready-to-wear industry and as a result, made himself very wealthy. As a mainstream fashion designer it’s important to be able to follow and understand what is right for the moment, especially when dealing with the youth-oriented market. Hechter’s style has always been influenced by the club, pop and street culture. He is known for his practical and matter-of-fact approach to design.

Nationality
French

Born
Paris, France. July 30, 1938.

Education
Completed an education in a trade school.

Labels
Daniel Hechter

Awards
N/A

Biography
Hechter grew up in a fashion household. His parents owned a small clothing store that specialized in ready-to-wear clothing. He was inspired to follow in his parents’ footsteps and throughout his career, he has made a name for himself in the ready-to-wear industry. He came to prominence in the 1960’s when he began designing clothes for the youth that wanted to stay fashionable but couldn’t necessarily afford the high price of elite fashion. His clothes were average and trendy and were marketed towards the “on the move” generation. After starting with basics like sweaters and coats, he moved on to more and more aspects and grew to include things like fragrances, sunglasses, and even accessories. Nowadays, the Hechter corporation is committed to bringing in fresh ideas all the time. They are very open to the idea of hiring graduates of fashion academies to keep their company new and fresh. Daniel Hechter’s success is directly related to this idea that all clothes should be very “matter of fact” and not over the top in any way.

Collections
We haven’t reviewed any collections yet.

Online Stores

Store Locations
We haven’t updated this information yet

Official Website

http://www.hechtermontres.com/

Image source: purepeople.com