Giambattista Valli is responsible for injecting a dose of cool kudos into what was one of the more conservative Parisian couture houses: Emanuel Ungaro. Established in 1965, Ungaro has had a kick up the derriere from Valli, who has catapulted it straight into the 21st century. Born in Rome 1966, Valli attended the city's School of Art in 1980, where Cocteau's drawings, Gruau's illustrations for Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent's watercolours inspired him. After studying fashion at the European Design Institute in 1986, Valli acheived a degree in illustration at Central Saint Martins before going on to work with Capucci, Fendi (as Senior Designer for the Fendissime line) and Krizia (as Senior Designer for women;s pret-a-porter). Then in 1996, Valli met Ungato through a mutual friend and was appointed Head Designer for the label's pret-a-porter and haute couture collections for two years, before becoming Artistic Director and finally Creative Director for pret-a-porter.

How do you pronounce Kors (as in Michael Kors)?

Cores

How can I learn fashion design without going to school for it?

Honey, try looking in fashion magazines to get inspration and when you got it try makin a sketch and see what you come up with

Which designers can use the term "Haute Couture"?

"The term haute couture is a designation protected by law and "only those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves thereof," to quote the Syndical Chamber for Haute Couture. The main criteria, set forth in 1945 and updated in 1992, are as follows: to employ a minimum of fifteen people at the workshops, to present to the press in Paris each season (spring/summer and autumn/winter) a collection of at least thirty-five runs consisting of models for daytime wear and evening wear."

"There are eighteen houses of haute couture in France today: Balmain, Pierre Cardin, Carven, Chanel, Christian Dior, Louis Féraud, Givenchy, Lecoanet Henant, Christian Lacroix, Lapidus, Guy Laroche, Hanae Mori, Paco Rabanne, Nina Ricci, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean-Louis Scherrer, Torrente, Emanuel Ungaro."

Why and when did Giambattista Valli leave Ungaro?

Who is Karl Lagerfeld?

Karl (Otto) Lagerfeld (born September 10, 1938 (according to some sources 1933) in Hamburg, Germany) is widely recognized as one of the most influential fashion designers of the late twentieth century. He made his name as an independent creator who collaborated with a variety of different fashion labels, including Chloe, Fendi and Chanel. In the early 1980s he set up his own label, called Lagerfeld, which launched perfumes and clothing lines. He has also played a role in equipping leading artists.

Born in Hamburg in 1938, Karl Lagerfeld emigrated to Paris at the age of 14. He was to go on to become one of the most celebrated designers this century has seen.

In 1955, at the age of just 17, Lagerfeld was awarded a position at Pierre Balmain, after winning a competition sponsored by the International Wool Secretariat (the coat he had designed for the contest was later put into production by Balmain). In 1958, he left to take up a job with Jean Patou, which gave him an invaluable knowledge of couture but apparently very little pleasure. After just one year, he quit to work as a freelance designer for such fashion houses as Krizia, Charles Jourdan and Valentino. By 1964, he had grown so disillusioned with the world of haute couture that he left Paris altogether to study art in Italy.

In 1967, Lagerfeld returned to fashion, joining Fendi as a design consultant. In the Seventies, however, his name was m... (read full answer)

How did Yves Saint Laurent influence fashion?

One of the seminal fashion designers of our era, Yves Saint Laurent not only created a venerable fashion empire, but has also inspired many other designers.

Born in Oran, Algeria on August 1, 1936, to French parents, Yves Saint Laurent had a difficult childhood. Although taunted at school, he found solace at home in his drawing and painting and occasional designs of dresses for his mother and two sisters.
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He first came to the fashion world's attention when he was seventeen and studying in Paris. He won first prize in a dress design competition sponsored by the International Wool Secretariat.

When Christian Dior saw Saint Laurent's designs, he was so impressed that he offered the young man a job as an assistant and was soon referring to Saint Laurent as his "dauphin." When Dior died in 1957, Saint Laurent took over the house. His first collection for Dior in 1958, the Trapeze line, was greeted enthusiastically and increased Dior's sales by 35 per cent.

Also in 1958, Saint Laurent met Pierre Bergé, who was at the time the manager and lover of the Parisian painter Bernard Buffet. At a weekend party Buffet met his future wife, and Saint Laurent and Bergé commenced a romantic relationship that lasted until 1976. After their breakup Bergé continued to serve as Saint Laurent's business manager and remained living in their jointly owned home until 1986.

Is Zac Posen gay?

Jenna and Barbara (Bush), once derided for their "prom-like" formal wear, today pal around with the fashion industry's largely young, queer elite, including Zach Posen, a rising star who has signed a deal with P.Diddy to promote his own clothing label.