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French fashionFashion has been important industryand cultu ral expor t of Francesince the seventeenth century, and modern "haute

couture" originated in Paris in the 1860s. Today, Paris, along with Tokyo, London, Milan, and New York City, is considered one ofthe world's fashion capitals, and the city is home or headquarters to many of the premier fashion houses. Historically, many of theworld's top designers and fashion houses have been French, including Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Chlo,

Herms, Guy Laroche, Yves Saint Laurent and shoe designer Christian Louboutin. The Paris fashion houses also attract manyforeign designers

The rise in prominence of French fashion was linked to the creation of the fashion press in the early 1670s (due in large part toJean Donneau de Vis) which transformed the fashion industry by marketing designs to a broad public outside the French court

and by popularizing notions such as the fashion "season" and changing styles.

World war 2

Many fashion houses closedduring occupation of Paris during World War II, including the Maison Vionnet and the MaisonChanel. Several designers, including Mainbocher, permanently relocated to New York. In the enormous moral and intellectual re-education program undertaken by the French state couture was not spared. . Germany, meanwhi le, was taking possession ofover hal f of what France produced, including h igh fashion, and was also considering relocating French haute couture to the

cities of Berlin and Vienna, neither of which had any significant tradition of fashion.

Due to the diff icult t imes, the number of models in shows was limited to seventy-five, evening wear was shortened and day wearwas much lighter, made using substitute materials whenever possible. From 1940 onward, no more than thirteen feet (four meters)of cloth was permitted to be used for a coat and a little over three feet (one meter) was all that allowed for a blouse. No belt could

be over one and a half inches (four centimeters) wide. Among young men in the War Years the zazou suit became popular.

Post-war fashio nreturned to prominence through Christian Dior's famous "New Look" in 1947: the collection contained dresseswith tiny waists, majestic busts, and full skirts swelling out beneath small bodices, in a manner very similar to the style of the Belle

poque. The extravagant use of fabricand the feminine eleganceof the designs appealed greatly to a post-war clientle

The expression Haute couture is, in France, a legally protected name, guaranteeing certain quality standards.

The Paris Fashio n weektakes place twice a year after the London Fashion Week and before Milan Fashion Week. Dates aredetermined by the French Fashion Federation.

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JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

Jean-PaulGaultier

Jean-Paul Gaultier

Born April 24, 1952 (age 56)Arcueil, Val-de-Marne, FranceNationality FrenchLabels Jean-Paul GaultierJean-Paul Gaultier (born April 24, 1952, in Arcueil, Val-de-Marne) is a French fashion designer and past television presenter.Gaultier never received formal training as a designer. Instead, he started sending sketches to famous couture stylists at an

early age. Pierre Cardin was impressed by his talent and hired him as an assistant in 1970.

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His first individual collection was released in 1976 and his characteristic irreverent style dates from 1981, and he

has long been know n as the enfant terr ib le (bad boy ) of French fashion. Many of Gaultier's following

collections have been based on street wear, focus ing on popu lar culture, whereas others, particularly his

Haute Couture collections, are very formal yet at the same time unusual and playful. Jean-Paul Gaultier produced

scu lp tured costumes for Madonnaduring the nineties with herin famous co ne-bra for her Blond Am bit ion

Tourand designed the wardrobe for her Confessions Tour in 2006, as well. Gaultier has also worked in close

collaboration with Wolford Hosiery. He promoted the use of skirts, especially kilts on men's wardrobe, and the

release of designer collections.Gaultier caused shock by usingunco nvent ional mo dels for his exhib i t ions, like older men and full-figuredwomen, pierced and heavily tattooed models, and by playing with traditional gender roles in the shows. This

earned him both criticism and enormous popularity.He currently designs for three collections: his own couture and ready-to-wear lines, as well as the newly

relaunched clothing line for Herms, a French leather goods company well-known for their equestrian background,

scarves, and expensive and difficult to obtain handbags.He's also well-known for his exhibit in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art known as Bravehearts - Men in

Skirts.In addition to being a fashion designer, Jean-Paul Gaultier is known for a popular line of perfumes.

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Pierre Cardin

Born July 7, 1922 (age 86)

San Biagio di Callalta, Italy,

Nationality French

LabelsPierre Cardin

Pierre Cardin is an I ta l ian-born French fashiondesigner, who was born on July 7, 1922,near Treviso.

Pierre Cardin (Pietro Cardin)A

Cardin was known for his avant-garde style and his space age designs. He prefersgeometr ic sh apes and m ot i fs, of ten igno r ing the female form. He advanced into unisexfashions, som et imes experimental, and no t always pract ical.

He introduced the "bubble dress" in 1954.

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He moved to Paris in 1945. There, he

studied architecture and work ed with

Jeanne Paquin after the war. Work w ith

Elsa Schiaparel l i fo l lowed u nt i l he

became head of Chris t ian Dior 's

tail leure atelier in 1947, but w as denied

wor k at Balenciaga. He founded his

own hous e in 1950 and began with

haute cou ture in 1953.Cardin w as the

f irst coutu r ier to turn to Japan as ahigh fashion market when he travel led

there in 1959.In 1959, he was exp elled from the

Chambre Syndicale for launching a

ready-to-wear co l lect ion for the

Printemps department store as the f irst

coutu r ier in Paris, but was soon

reinstated. he resigned from the

Chambre Syndic ale in 1966 and now

shows h is co l lect ions in h is own

venue.

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Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel

Born August 19, 1883Saumur, FranceDied January 10, 1971 (aged 87)Paris, FranceNationality French

Labels Chanel

Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel (August 19, 1883 January 10, 1971) was a pioneering Frenchfashion designer whose modernist phi losop hy, mensw ear- inspiredfashions, and pursuit ofexpensive simpl ic i tymade her arguably the most imp ortant f igure in the history o f 20th-century fashion. Her influence on haute couture was such that she was the only person in the fieldto be named on TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people of the 20th century.

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Gabriel le "Coco" Chanel's styl is h, elegant designs

revolut ionized fashion during the 1910s, freeing wom en from the

uncomfortable and st i f f apparel worn at the end of the 19th

century. Chanel furthered her own image: the wom an of the 20th

century, emb odying independence, succ ess, personal i ty, style,

and conf idence.The inf luential Chanel su it , launc hed in 1924, was an elegant

out f i t com posed of a knee-length skir t paired with a tr im, boxy

jac ket , trad it ional ly mad e o f woven woo l w ith b lac k tr im an d

gold bu t tons and wo rn with large costum e-pearl necklacesChanel also popularized the l i t t le black dress, wh ose blank-slate versati l ity allowed it to be worn for bo th day and night. Theblack Chanel dress was strapless, backless and more than a little risque. It shocked the general public at large but quickly became afashion sensation.It was Chanel who also in t roduced 'costum e' jewel lery to the w or ld of fashion, using a variety of accessories such as necklaces,chains or pearls of several strands. A bag with golden handles, an elegant pearl necklace, a tailleur dressed in black are the symbolsof elegance and status that marked forever the history of fashion. But it was Chanel No. 5.- considered the number-one sellingperfume in the world - which helped her become a millionaire.

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In 1923, she told Harper's Bazaar that "s im pl ic i ty is the keynote of al l t rue elegance." Chanel always kept the clothing she

designed simple and comfortable and revealing. She took what were considered poor fabrics like jersey and upgraded them. Shewas instrumental in helping to design the image of the 1920's flapper (The term flapper in the 1920s referred to a "new breed" ofyoung women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to new Jazz music, and flaunted their disdain for what was thenconsidered acceptable behavior. The flappers were seen as brash for wearing excessive makeup, drinking, treating sex in a casualmanner, smoking, driving automobiles,showing a lot of skin, and otherwise flouting conventional social and sexual norms).In 1939, at the beginning of the Second War, the designer decided to close her shops.Coco Chanel died in Paris on January 10,1971, 87 years old, in her private suite at the Hotel Ritz, and she was buried in Switzerland.The German designerKarl Lagerfeldis,since 1983, the art director of Chanel now.

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ITALIAN FASHIONItalian Fashion is something that sets Italy on a higher pedestal from the rest. Italian Fashion has an old and a richhistory to its credit. The Fashion Maestro of Italy Count Giorgini started by staging a fashion show in the year 1951on 25 th February in Florence . Giorgini broke the myth of fashion as something that only belonged to a higherclass of the society. This fashion show attracted audience from all over the world.

Fashion has always attracted people anddressing in one's own style gives one aself identity in the crowd. Italian Fashionhas been a landmark in the history offashion. Italian fashion took its course from

the finely dressed women in Italy.Education and culture of Italy had greatinfluence over the fashion scenario of thecountry. Fashion also influenced manycostumes and dresses in Cinema. Italianfashion reflected Italy as a land of art,beauty and love.

Fashion in Italy saw a big change during the sixties at the time when industrial boom was experienced. With thisfashion the concept of dressing changed from a mere dress to something that was a reflection of creation and

design.

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With this history of fashion in Italy , today Italy is a place

specially known for the famous designers of the world and

more often The Fashion Hub of the whole world.talian Fashion is well regarded for its sophisticated style

and its elegant designs. While Italian Fashion Designers

like Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Prada, and Versace produce

items that are not cheap, the money is worth it. After all, if

you buy an italian fashion product, you arent just buying

a piece of clothing rather, you are buying an attitude of

class and sophistication. Italian Fashion is well known for

producing some of the best high end clothing out there

and it is guaranteed to impress people when you walk

around decked out in Italian Fashion.

While fashion and Italy seem to have been connected for centuries, the birthplace of Italian

fashion can be traced back to 1951, when a fashion show was staged in Florence. From a

social perspective, Italians began to view fashion as an important way of self-expression

and self-assertion. A nation that doesnt particularly tolerate sloppy dressing, Italian

Fashion soon began to take off from here.

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Early Italian Fashion harkened back

to an earlier time where nobility

held fantastic parties and were

proud of their elegance. Elaborate

dresses and fine clothes were

commonly worn. However, italianfashion would drastically change in

the 1960s as Italian Fashion

Designers began to create clothes

that were still uniquely arty but

more street savvy.

To this day, Italian Fashion Designerscontinue to produce some of the most

elegant and innovative clothing in the

world. Inspired by avant-garde art

and cultural movements, Italian

fashion has produced advanced new

twists to popular fashion items like

the min-skirt and blue jeans. Italian

Fashion continues to produce

gorgeous dresses, stylish suits, and

some of the best eveningwear you

can find in the world.

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In a country where police uniforms are designed by Armani, it isn't surprising that the women take

dressing very seriously.talian women take great pride in putting themselves together - the bella figura. To show off one's best

features is the idea,In a nutshell, there are three key ingredients:SHOES Spice comes from style not comfort. The hottest design this season conveniently incorporatespointed toes and high heels in the same shoe for maximum discomfort.When it comes to jeans, you can'tt forget the fit.Jeans have been a wardrobe staple for years

Italian women love to look sexy and it is very important for men to notice them on the street," . But this

doesn't mean overt nakedness. Italian women infer a more subtle sexiness by keeping their bodies fit and

wearing slim-cut clothing. Brassiere straps are a look that tries not to be one. The idea is to let your brastrap show but not look like you're trying. Care must be taken to purchase a new bra with transparent

plastic straps. Yes, transparent, because you don't want what is supposed to show to show too much.

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If you are striving to have a classic

fashionable look, you cant go wrong

with Italian Fashion. With its array of

accomplished fashion designers anda populace that understands the

importance and power of personal

style, Italian fashion is a force in the

fashion world. A nation that reveres

its fashion industry, you can expect

Italian Fashion in the future tocontinue its tradition of elegance,

innovation, and sophistication!

Cinema too was influenced by Italian fashion: a classic case was the wedding of Linda Christian and

Tyrone Power in 1949 for which the bridal dress was chosen in Rome. All of this went towards creating a

stereotyped yet realistic image of the Land of the Beautiful, of Art and of Love. Dress took on the role of a

charm for just like in ancient fairy tales, it was the magic means that made transformation possible.

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ValentinoBorn May 11, 1932 (age 76)Voghera, Pavia, LombardyNationality Italian and French

Education cole des Beaux-ArtsLabels ValentinoAwards Grande ufficiale dell' Ordine al merito della Repubblica Italiana, Cavaliere del Lavoro, TheNeiman Marcus Award

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, best known as Valentino (born 11 May 1932) is an Italianfashion designer. His fashion house is among the world's most famous haute couture and ready-to-wear fashion empires.

Giancar lo Giamm ettibecome Valentino's busin ess partner.Giammetti's entrepreneurial geniuswill prove fundamental to the worldwide expansion and success of the House. Thanks toGiammetti, Valentino was able to focus on the creative aspect of design leaving all business

intricacies to Giammetti.His f i rs t showat the Pitti Palace was welcomed as a true revelation and the young couturier wassubmerged by orders from foreign buyers and enthusiastic comments on the press. Valentinostarted to dress the ladies of the international best-dressed crowd such as his acquaintance fromthe Paris years Countess Jacqueline de Ribes and New York socialites Babe Paley and JayneWrightsman.

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At a Rome exhibition in 1991 a smattering went on display and current clients at that time such asMarie Hlne de Rothschild and Elizabeth Taylor marveled that the DNA ofValentino 's stylewasalready apparent in the layers of wh i te pleats and animal pr ints.Valentino became known for h is red dresses, in the bright shade of valentino red, known in thefashion industrie.

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It is difficult to deny that Valentino in his long career has created some of the most so phist icateddresses to be seen and worn, part icular ly for the evening, the time of the day in which hisf lamb oyant and opulent sty lehas expressed itself at the best,Valentino's style can be seen as much more con servat ive and f ixed. His concept of elegance andbeauty is basically an exercise in glamour for the sake of glamour itself. Inventive as it may be i tlacks the moderni ty, the conceptual depth and the dar ing spir i t

In September 4, 2007 Valentinoannounced that he would ret irefullyfrom the world stage after his last Haute-Couture show in Paris.His new designerat Valentino's brand is AlessandraFacchinet t i, the former designer at theHouse of Gucci.He delivered his lastwomen's Ready-to-wear show in Parison October 4 to a raptuous applause.45

years of Valentino: 6 - 8 July 2007,Rome

A collection of black dresses by Valentino at the Museo AraPacis in RomeIn order to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Valentino's career

a fashion extravaganza took place in Rome

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DOLCE AND GABBANAType Privately heldFounded 1985Headquarters Milan, Italy

Key people Domenico Dolce, Stefano GabbanaIndustry FashionProducts Clothing, footwear, handbags.Employees 3,140

Dolce & Gabbana is an Italian fashion house. Its designs are worn bythe likes of Madonna,Monica Bellucci, Christina Aguilera, Isabella Rossellini John Hooks and Kylie Minogue amongst

others

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Specializeson more expensive luxury items, is influenced more by designers and is mo re formaland 'timeless', responding to long-term trends rather than seasonal changes.It also sel ls:

beachwearunderwearcorrective eyewearsunglassesfragrancespurses

jewelrytimepieces

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D&G is a more casual line that follows an urban inspirat ionand attemp ts to s et trendsrather than fol low them. It is the younger, more flamboyant line of the brand

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Christian DiorBorn January 21, 1905Granville, Manche, Basse-Normandie, FranceDied October 23, 1957 (aged 52)Montecatini, Tuscany, Italy

Christian Dior (January 21, 1905 October 23, 1957), was an influential French fashion designer,probably best known as the found er of one of the wo r ld 's top fashion hou ses Dior. He wasborn in Granville, Normandy, a seaside town off the coast of France.

After leaving school he received moneyfrom his father so that in 1928 he could

open a small art gallery, where he soldart by the likes of Pablo Picasso andMax Jacob. After a family financialdisaster that resulted in his father losinghis business, Dior was forced to closethe gallery. From 1938 he worked with

Robert Piguet and later joined thefashion house where he and PierreBalmain were the primary designers. In1945 he went into business for himself,backed by Marcel Boussac, the cotton-fabric magnate.

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Dior's designs were more vo luptuousthan the boxy, fabr ic-con serving

shapesof the recent World War II styles,in f luenced b y the rat ions on fabr ic. Hewas a masterat creat ing shapes andsi lhouettes; Dior is quoted as saying "Ihave designed flower women." His lookemployed fabrics lined predominantlywith percale, boned, bustier-sty lebodices, hip padding , wasp -waisted

corsets and pett icoats that made his

dresses f lare out from the waist,giving his models a very curvaceousform. The hem of the skirt was veryflattering on the calves and ankles,creating a beautiful silhouette. Initially,women protested because his designscovered up their legs, which they hadbeen unused to because of the previouslimitations on fabric..

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The New Look revolutionized women's dress and reestablished Paris as the center ofthe fashion world after World War II. After his death in 2003, Christian Dior Companydonated to the Aaliyah Memorial Fund.

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Donatella Versace

Born May 2, 1955 (age 53)

Reggio Calabria, ItalyNationality ItalianLabels Versace

Donatella Versace (born May 2, 1955) is an affluent Italian fashiondesigner, like her famous brother, the late Gianni Versace, the founder

of the Versace clothing brand. n the mid 1970s, Donatella followed herolder brother, Giovanni ("Gianni"), to pursue knitwear design inFlorence, Italy.Her current title is Vice-President of the Versace Groupand Chief Designer of the fashion line. She holds a great amount ofVersace stock, totalling 20% of the entire stock market assets ofVersace.

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Donatella is the first designer to use notable celebrities to broadcast herclothing into the world on the catwalk and other public media such asadvertisements, instead of using unknown models.After ginnia n July 1998, Donatella Versace mounted her first couture show forthe Versace Atelier at the Htel Ritz Paris. She built her runway over the hotel'sswimming pool, as her brother had done every season, though this time usingsheer glassIn October of 2002, Gianni and Donatella's most famously designed Versaceclothing were displayed in a special exhibit of the historical Victoria and Albert

Museum of London to be honored for extraordinary fashion success andsymbolism worldwide

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Elsa SchiaparelliBorn 10 September 1890RomeDied November 13, 1973 (aged 83)ParisResidence Paris

Nationality ItalianOccupation Fashion designerKnown for Knitwear, surrealism

Elsa Schiaparelli (September 10, 1890 November 13, 1973) was an influential Italianfashion designer. Along with Coco Chanel, she dominated fashion between the two

World Wars Starting with knitwear, her designs were heavily inf luenc ed by Surreal is tslike her collaborator Salvador Dali. However unlike Chanel she never adapted to thechanges in fashion after WWII and her business closed in 1954.

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She launched a new collection of knitwear in early 1927 using a spec ial dou blelayered st ich created by A rmenian refugees. Although her first designs appeared inVogue, the business really took off with a pattern that gave the impression of a scarfwrapped around the wearer's neck.The "pour le Sport" collection expanded the following

year to include bathing suits, skiwear and linen dresses. The div ided s kir t , aforerunn er of shorts .[She added evenin g wearto the collection in 1931, and thebusiness went from strength to strength, culminating in a move from Rue de la Paix tothe Schiap Shop in the Place Vendme.

Chanel referred to her as ' that Ital ian art is t who makes c lothes' .Dal designed for her

a dress with a large lob ster pr inted ontoit, and a hat that looked like a giant shoe.Another hat was shaped like a giant lamb chop