학내 언론사

All about the Legendary Fashion People Who

 Changed the World

Entrepreneurs? Designers? Negotiators? They Could Be Whatever It Takes For Fashion

by Yu-sun Kang, Reporter

dbtjs126@naver.com

‘Supersensitive Geek’, ‘Glamorous Life Heritage’, ‘Successful Socialite’ or ‘High Status Man’ which of these most comes to mind when you think of the name ‘Fashion Designer’? I can assume that the answer will be ‘all of them’ because it will definitely recall all the perspectives. The reason for fashion designers’ celebrity, power, fame and position among people is quite simple. We could see and feel it from the death of Karl Lagerfeld, one of the most influential and recognizable fashion designers of the 20th century,whodied about two months ago when he was 85. His death led people to try to find a replacement for him to refill the huge absence. Aside from the fashion industry, obviously, many other positions are tremendously influenced by them as well. Now, in this article, we want to recognize the fantasies and dreams they wanted to be, and the amazing genius that made then come true.

1. French Fashion’s Biggest Icon, “Christian Dior”

1) Spotlight of the early beginning

   Christian Dior was born in 1905 in Granville but moved to Paris with his family. Dior always wanted to work in art, but his father insisted on a good education, so he enrolled at a prestigious school in Paris where he took a degree in Politics, which would prepare him for a diplomatic career. Despite this, Dior remained passionate about working in art and his father gave him money to open an art gallery in Paris. However, tragedy followed soon after with the death of his brother followed by his mother, resulting in the closure of the gallery. In order to make a bit of money, right after the tragedy,Dior sold fashion sketches to haute couture houses until he was able to find a job as an assistant couturier during World War II. Dior spent the rest of the war dressing the wives of German soldiers and French collaborators. After the war, he joined his father and his sister on a farm in Provence until he was offered a job in Paris by couturier Lucien Lelong.

    
△Early sketches of Christian Dior

2) New evolution of the history

   The ‘New Look’ appeared in 1947 during the first Christian Dior couture fashion show. At the time, the Paris couture trade was in a precarious 

state. What it needed was excitement, and Christian Dior delivered it in a collection of luxurious clothes with soft shoulders, waspy waists and 

full-flowing skirts intended for what he called flower women. “It’s quite a revelation dear Christian Dior” pronounced Carmel Snow, the editor of 

US magazine Harper’s Bazaar. “Your dresses have such a New Look.” And the New Look dresses were born. The timing was absolutely spot-

on. Dior was correct in his perception that people wanted something new after years of war. His New Look was reminiscent of the Belle Epoque 

ideal of long skirts, tiny waists and beautiful fabrics. Dior himself attributed his inspiration to the pretty, elegant clothes he had remembered his 

mother wearing to the Deauville Races in the 1900s.

△Actresses in Dior’s elegant ‘New Look’

3) The influence all around the world

   Another famous assistant he had was Yves St. Laurent, a talented designer from Algeria who joined in 1955. Yves Saint-Laurent was then a 

young and capable designer aspiring to graduate from Chambre Syndicale School of Fashion, contributing 35 costumes to the fall 1957 

collection at the request of Dior, who recognized his talent. The talented genius designer, ‘Yves Saint-Laurent,’ is Christian Dior's chief designer 

and successfully developed and expanded the company even after Dior died in 1957. And his role enormously influenced this brand as the huge 

part of the many high-end fashion brands in this world.

2. The Powerful Woman of the Italian Fashion Industry Beloved By Hollywood Stars, “Donatella Versace”

1) Spotlight of the early beginning

   Donatella Versace, the younger sister of the famous designer Gianni, Versace was his adviser and inspiration while he was a budding designer.

When Gianni Versace started his own fashion company in Milan, she was right there by his side and organized many fashion shows and 

advertising campaigns. He awarded her with her own diffusion label, ‘Versus’ which produces clothes till today. But after his murder, the 

‘Versace’ Empire fell upon hard times and she became creative director of the Versace Group. It was during the rebuilding process that Donatella 

showed her other talent - public relations. Using such celebrity friends as Madonna, Demi Moore, Elton John and others, she began to equate the 

‘Versace’ name with celebrity in the public eye. By doing so, she managed to turn the ‘Versace’ line back into a force in the fashion industry.

△ Young Donatella Versace with her brother Gianni Versace

2) New evolution of the history

   After the death of Gianni in 1997 in Miami, his sister Donatella became not only the chief dressmaker and director but a chairman of the 

Versace group. She had the task of bringing Versace into the new millennium. The importance of Versace in the history of fashion is measured 

also under other aspects. It is in fact one of the brands that contributed most from the late 70s to make Milan the fashion capital of the world. 

3) The influence all around the world

   She soon proved to be important to Versace PR and spread its name throughout Europe and most of the United States. She placed Jennifer 

Lopez, Madonna, Courtney Love, Christina Aguilera, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Demi Moore, and Lady Gaga in high esteem in the Versace 

advertising sector. Her popularity grew when she designed the Versace Green Dress, also known as the "Jungle-Dress", which was worn by 

Jennifer Lopez at the Grammys. Her sense for designing and strategies through the mass media extended Versace even greater and bigger. Also 

its expansion reaches out to the cosmetics, eyewear and even resort and hotel businesses very shortly.

△Donatella and supermodels in Versace dresses / Palazzo Versace resort on the Gold Coast of Australia

3. The Most Iconic Star Designer Writing a Legendary History in the Whole New World, “Alessandro Michele

1) Spotlight of the early beginning

   At the center of Gucci's growth is Gucci designer Alessandro Michele. Born in Rome in 1972, he joined Gucci in 2002 and worked as a 

designer for the right arm of Gucci's former chief designer Prada Gianni and a designer dedicated to accessories in Gucci. However, he was 

always a prominent unknown designer compared to other famous designers, and no one expected him to be the chief designer. When Gucci 

designer Prada Gianni and his lover Gucci CEO Patizio Dimarco left Gucci in 2014, Alessandro Michele reportedly planned to leave the 

company. The Gucci chief designer post was vacant and CEO Marco Visiri, who was just appointed to Gucci in January 2015, reportedly came 

to Alessandro Michele's home for coffee. Michele says he never dreamed it would be an interview. He had left Gucci at the time, so he was very 

open and had no audacity to talk to Marco about his thoughts. A few days later, Marco Visiri called to ask Michele to be in charge as the main 

designer of the collection.

△Alessandro Michele’s first runway collection that changed the history of Gucci



2) New evolution of the history

   It was common practice for a chief designer of a large brand like Gucci to hire a famous designer from the past. However, it was almost the 

first time that an unknown designer was promoted from the company to a senior designer. Alessandro Michele's appointment as chief designer 

was close to a big gamble in Gucci. But the appointment of him as chief designer allowed Gucci to pop the perfect jackpot. Michelle says he 

loves the "decorative splendor" of the Renaissance and the "rulesless idea" where everything is possible. He is also full of free-spirited artists 

who are not conscious of anyone's gaze due to his father's influence as a hippie. 

3) The influence all around the world

   Looking at his fashion works, he seems to have been reborn as a Gucci, whose unique and freshness and beautiful colorfulness only reminded 

him of the logo, with patterns and beautiful color. I can't help but go wild with the Gucci transformation with Alessandro Michele. Alessandro 

Michele, who recreated Gucci's colors and patterns to create Gucci's fashion, is expected to see what kind of waves he will show in Gucci as

exclusive designer. And now, he is the most famous fashion designer and also influencer who has tremendous potential and gets along with 

other socialites, celebrities and social elites.

△Alessandro Michele, Lana Del Rey and Jared Leto in the most famous fashion show ‘Met Gala’

4. The Undeniable Eternity of the Fashion World, “Coco Chanel”

1) Spotlight of the early beginning

   She was born in Saumur in 1883 and was raised by nuns in an orphanage where she learned to sew at a young age. Chanel started her career 

as a milliner opening her first shop in Paris in 1913 following in the footsteps of fellow French milliner and fashion designer Caroline Reboux. 

As she expanded her business to Deauville and Biarritz, she began designing clothing where her first hit was actually jersey dresses. 

However, Chanel is most known for her legendary collarless jackets and well-fitted skirts which borrowed elements from menswear and focused 

more on tailoring and comfort than femininity and restriction. Chanel is also known for popularizing the little black dress, worn by Chanel as 

chic mourning wear after the death of a lover. The idyllic little black dress is now a closet staple for all occasions.

△Chic, classic and elegant looks Coco Chanel made by herself

2) New evolution of the history

   As the century morphed into the ‘20s, Chanel was acknowledged as one of the great fashion leaders not only in Paris, but across the globe. Her 

entire style seems as modern today as it was then. She created feminine evening dresses of lace that gave women as much authority as her day 

wear did. In the 1920s, Chanel took her thriving business to new heights. She launched her first perfume, Chanel No. 5, which was the first to 

feature a designer’s name. Perfume “is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion that heralds your arrival and prolongs your 

departure,” Chanel once explained.And it is considered one of the most loved perfumes in the world, with Marilyn Monroe's iconic 

advertisement in 1920.

△Marilyn Monroe and Chanel No.5 that she used to wear

3) The influence all around the world

   She is irreplaceable and we know this because so many people still look up to her designs and continue to use her creativity. Karl Lagerfeld 

have run her company and he continued to use her iconic symbol, and the ideas that inspired Chanel's original designs. Chanel Also inspired 

other designers with other fashion risks, meaning a really nice achievement that shows how much of an impact she had on the fashion world.

It is no exaggeration to say that the power of the "Fashion Golden Age" where they had become legends in a field over fashion greatly 

influences and inspires young creators and designers. Designers are people who have no fear, enjoy change and are destined to create trends 

and be pioneers to make the new sense with constantly tremendous attempts. These effects can be influenced by the potential from the classics 

and the old things also. The great designers mentioned above must be classified like the ‘valuable materials’ that remain forever, not ‘just past’.  

I think the young, up-and-coming designers should live to catch up with the challenges they have faced and the inner talents to make a brand 

new world.

Sources :

http://versace.com/

https://www.chanel.com/us/

https://www.gucci.com/kr/ko/

https://www.dior.com/ko_kr

https://www.harpersbazaar.com.au/fashion/chanel-brand-history-9363

http://www.vogue.co.kr/?international