Christian Lacroix
(1951 - )
Christian Marie Marc Lacroix was born on May 16, 1951 in Arles, France. He studied history of art in Montpellier, and then enrolled at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1973. He also took a course at the Ecole du Louvre to become a museum curator. In 1978, he joined the
house of Hermes , as a design assistant in accessories ; where he learned the technical aspects of the profession. In 1982, he moved to the house of Jean Patou. In December 1986, Lacroix met Bernard Arnault, chief executive officer of the multinational luxury firm Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH), who offered him the financial support needed to open his own couture house).
Lacroix presented his first collection on July 26, 1987. That year the Council of Fashion designers of America awarded him the prize for “Most influential Foreign Designer. He combined overpowering colors and prints with high waists, asymmetrical draping and baby-doll shapes, particularly the "pouf," a full, puffed skirt which was sometimes tucked up at the back.
Lacroix has turned his fashion world into a stage, designing for more than twenty ballets, operas, and plays. In 1996, he was awarded the Moliere for best costume design for the Comedie Francaise production of Phedre. His work in costume has received many awards, but Lacroix’s main interest has remained in couture, and he has continued to make one-of-a-kind couture for many of his clientele. In 2005, Lacroix designed the flight attendant uniforms for the Air France Airlines.
