The world of design is dominated by some fashion icons, such as Coco Chanel, who dressed million of men and women with the most exquisite and original creations. These unique fashion designers had a lasting impact on the way people dress and influenced the popular culture for decades. Their suits and dresses are always present on the red carpet being admired by millions of people around the world. Here are the 5 greatest fashion designers of all time:
1. Coco Chanel
Gabrielle “Coco” Bonheur Chanel was a french native born in 1883. The founder of the Chanel brand wanted to liberate women from the uncomfortable corsets and popularize a more casual, sportive comfortable style. Gabrielle was a rebel, a visionary and a successful businesswoman. She did not only influence the way women dressed, but the way they thought and acted. Besides her elegant clothing lines, Chanel designed handbags, jewelry and perfume. Her Chanel No. 5 is an iconic product and a symbol of refinement. For the first Chanel suit, Coco used metal chains to weigh down the fabric so it would sit perfectly on the body frame.
2. Gianni Versace
Italian Gianni Versace was a fashion designer and founder of an international fashion house, Gianni Versace S.p.A. Versace’s mother was a tailor who owned a small shop. As a boy, he helped his mother tailor and embroider clothing, learning the techniques he would later use. Gianni decided to pursue a career in architecture until the age of 26, when he realized that fashion is his lifetime passion. He was openly gay and found the love of his life, the Italian model Antonio D’Amico in 1982. Fifteen years later, he was murdered in his Miami Beach house. Versace was inspired by Roman and Greek ancient sculpture and paintings, but also by abstract modern art.
3. Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is one of the most famous fashion designers and the 162nd richest person in the world, according to Forbes. His fructose career began with wide ties made from atypical materials. Soon they became popular and Ralph started to design casual wear and suits for both women and men, selling them in famous stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue. In the 80s, his signature polo shirts brought him fame and fortune.
4. Christian Dior
Dior was a famous fashion designer best known for his “New Look” silhouette and clothing that changed the way women dressed after the war. He founded one of the greatest fashion houses in the world with the same name, Christian Dior. Talented John Galliano is the one running Dior today, ensuring that the brand doesn’t fade away.
5. Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani is one of the most successful Italian fashion designers the world has ever seen, and also the founder of the Armany company. He was the first designer to ever ban fashion models with a body mass index lower than 18 from the runway, after the death of anorexic model Ana Reston. Although his personal life had many ups and downs, his creation stand the test of time.