Christian Lacroix

Born in Arles, France, 1951. The man with the irreverent spirit, who put a spin on couture! A student of art history at the Sorbonne, before working as an illustrator at Hermes, Lacroix designed haute couture at Jean Patou before establishing his own house in 1987. His designs are woven with embroidery into opulent colours and textures and often verge on theatrical. They are beautiful and romantic and underpinned with couture technique.

We have Lacroix to thank for the puffball skirt and the costumes of world-famous matadors.