9/4/15  

1  

Fashion Capitals

Milan, Italy

•  Features casual elegance and luxurious fabrics such as Merino wool.

•  Bright colors and bold ideas

•  Fashion Designers: •  Giorgio Armani •  Fendi •  Versace

New York City

•  Clean-cut and casual style •  Known for use of separates and also

sportswear •  Uses natural fabrics

•  Famous Designers •  Calvin Klein •  Ralph Lauren •  Donna Karan •  Vera Wang

Paris, France

•  First fashion capital •  French fashion is chic and stylish •  Defined by its sophistication, tailored cut

and smart accessories

•  Famous Designers •  Yves Saint Laurent •  Christian Dior •  Chanel

Tokyo, Japan

•  Known for loose and unstructured looks. •  Typically considered somber and subtle and

richly textured •  Pattern added through complicated

cutting, sewing and applique. •  The young Japanese are favoring the

harajuku look inspired by anime.

London, England

•  Modern British designers tend to favor a “rebel” street look

•  Known for conservative cuts and traditional styles of the upper class

•  The young embrace an individualistic style. (Real impact of modern fashion)

•  Home of the punk movement

•  Famous Designers: •  Vivienne Westwood

9/4/15  

2  

Fashion

Designers

Coco Chanel

•  Fashion Capitol: Paris •  Chanel’s philosophy

was to emphasize understated elegance through her clothing

•  Famous for the little black dress, costume jewelry and the more unstructured clothing

•  Worked with Christian Dior on the New Look

Background

•  Coco Chanel was raised in an orphanage and taught to sew.

•  She had a brief career as a singer before opening her first clothes shop in 1910.

•  In the 1920s, she launched her first perfume

•  Eventually she introduced the Chanel suit and the little black dress,

•  Her emphasis was on making clothes that were more comfortable for women

Christian Dior

•  Fashion Capitol: Paris •  Famous for the “New

Look”-freeing women from the masculine look-more feminine

•  Designed the hourglass silhouetted with the exaggerated lower half famous in the 1950s.

Background

•  Born in northern France in 1905. •  In 1947, he exploded into the fashion

scene with designs that reintroduced femininity and focus on luxury to women’s fashion.

•  He is the most successful fashion designer in the world.

•  The company continues to operate at the forefront of the fashion industry.

•  He died in Montecatini, Italy in 1957 at the age of 52.

9/4/15  

3  

Calvin Klein

•  Fashion Capitol: New York

•  Famous for: sportswear for men and women-also well known for his suits.

•  His business now includes clothing, cosmetics, fragrances and home furnishings.

Background

•  Born in 1942 in Bronx, New York. •  Studied at the Fashion Institute of

Technology in New York. •  Set up his own business with Barry

Schwartz. He loaned him $10,000 and in 4 years, they made over $4 million dollars.

•  Won Coty award 3 times for his womenswear designs.

Ralph Lauren

•  Fashion Capitol: New York

•  Famous for: Polo Ralph Lauren, sportswear and the modern take on button downs and khakis.

•  He made the Olympic Uniforms for team USA.

Background

•  Born in 1939 in New York. •  Last name was originally Lifshitz. •  Worked in retail and then opened his first

Polo Ralph Lauren store in 1967 selling neck ties.

•  5 years later he expanded to include cotton short-sleeve shirts in 24 different colors.

•  Now his line includes, western wear, cologne, luxury clothing lines, and jeans as well as many others.

Vera Wang

•  Fashion Capitol: New York

•  Famous for: wedding dresses

•  Her other designs now include figure skating outfits, jewelry, and home products.

9/4/15  

4  

Background

•  Born in 1949 in New York City. •  She is a former figure skater. •  She was a senior fashion editor at Vogue

for 15 years. •  She started by designing her own

wedding dress because she didn’t like the slim selection of other wedding dresses

•  With funding from her father, she opened her own bridal boutique and continues to design today.