Le talk to the moustache
My TOP 5 BRITISH FASHION DESIGNERS
1) Alexander McQueen
The Gothic sensibility of a Brothers Grimm fairytale is closer in spirit to Alexander McQueen's clothing - than the fetish, gore and misogyny he's been accused of promoting. However dark McQueen's design, it still achieves a femininity that has seduced everyone from Bjork to the Duchess of Westminster.McQueen's rise to power is a fashion fairytale all of its own.
The East End taxi driver's son, born in 1969, is apprenticed to the
Prince of Wales' tailor Anderson & Sheppard on Savile Row where he
infamously scrawls obscenities into the linings of HRH's suits. He works
with Romeo Gigli, theatrical costumers Angels & Bermans and Koji
Tatsuno before Central Saint Martins MA course director Bobby Hilson
suggests he enrol.
2) Paul Smith
A serious accident while riding his bike put paid to Paul Smith's
dream of becoming a professional racing-cyclist. However, this mishap
propelled him to pursue a career involving his other passion: fashion.
In 1970, Smith (born Nottingham, 1946) opened a store in his
native city, selling his own early designs that reflected the types of
clothing he loved but was unable to buy anywhere else. Studying fashion
design at evening classes, and working closely with his wife, Pauline
Denyer, a graduate of the Royal College of Art, by 1976 lie was showing a
full range of menswear in Paris.
3)John Galliano
John Galliano is one of Britain's fashion heroes. Born in 1960 to a working class Gibraltan family, Galliano
lived on the island until leaving at the age of six for south London.
But it was the young Juan Carlos Antonio's early life, with its
religious ceremonies and sun-drenched culture, which has proved a
constant inspiration for Galliano's stylistic eclecticism wedded to the Latin tradition of 'dressing-up' has become his signature.Having attended Wilson's Grammar School for boys, Galliano
won a place at Saint Martins college, graduating in 1984. And it was
that graduation collection - inspired by the French Revolution and
titled 'Les Incroyables' - that was bought by Joan Burstein of Browns,
catapulting the young designer into the spotlight.
3) Christopher Bailey
Yorkshire-born Christopher Bailey has become something- of a household
name, thanks to his sterling work as creative director of Burberry,
the British company he joined back in 2001. Yet Bailey (born 1971) is
far from an overnight sensation, having previously notched up impressive
fashion credentials. On completing a Master's degree at the Royal
College of Art in London (1994), Bailey worked in New York for Donna Karan from 1994 to 1996, before being hired by Tom Ford as a senior designer of womenswear at Gucci in Milan, from 1996 to 2001.
4) Stellla McCartney
Stella McCartney's stratospheric success story has only a little
to do with her fabulous connections. Born in 1971, she graduated from
Central Saint Martins in 1995. Her final year collection was snapped up
by the biggest names in retail (including Browns and Bergdorf Goodman)
and a mere two years later her sharp-tailoring talents landed her the
top job as creative director at Chloe.Trouser suits, vintage-inspired dresses and jet-setting holidaywear are trademark Stella-style.
Her designs are often also possessed of that rarity in the fashion
world, an exuberant sense of humour (folk went bananas over her fruity
vests and knickers).
4)John Richmond
'Destroy, Disorientate, Disorder' and Debenhams, the British department store: John Richmond
is equal parts raring-to-rock and ready-to-wear. The music-loving'
Mancunian has a singular talent for reconciling anarchic punk aesthetics
with elegant tailoring. Born in 1961, Richmond graduated from Kingston Polytechnic in 1983 and worked as a freelance designer for Emporio Armani, Fiorucci and Joseph Tricot before forming his first label, Richmond-Cornejo, a collaboration with designer Maria Cornejo, in 1984.
P.S: http://www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Main_Page
X.O.X.O
Nicole
