The Great Fashion Designers: From Chanel to McQueen, the vente Names That Made

Over the last 180 years designers have propelled fashion from an elite craft into a cornerstone of popular culture. This brilliantly written guide to the lives and collections of 55 iconic fashion designers draws on the latest academic research and the best of fashion journalism, including the authors own interviews with designers. Beginning with 19th century couturier Charles Frederick Worth and concluding with the star names of the 2010s, Polan and Tredre detail each designers working methods and career highlights to capture the spirit of their times.



This beautifully illustrated revised edition features five new designer profiles: Hedi Slimane, Raf Simons, Phoebe Philo, Alessandro Michele and Demna Gvasalia. Its also been updated throughout to reflect a fashion world in constant ferment, with designers swapping jobs and fashion houses at unprecedented speed. The industry has expanded into a global phenomenon - and designers have emerged as true celebrities; The Great Fashion Designers explores their passion and flair to show us fashion at its most inspirational.

Brenda Polan is a fashion writer, editor, lecturer and academic. She was formerly fashion editor and womens page editor of The Guardian and has since written for all Britains major newspapers and many magazines. She was until recently Programme Director (Media) at London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London.



Roger Tredre is Course Leader, MA Fashion Communication, at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. Prior to his academic career, he worked in newspaper fashion journalism and was the first Editor-in-Chief of WGSN, the online fashion trends and research business.

AcknowledgementsForewordIntroduction PART 1 EARLY DAYSIntroduction, Charles Frederick Worth, Callot Soeurs, Jeanne Paquin, Paul Poiret, Mariano FortunyPART 2 1910s-1930sIntroduction, Jeanne Lanvin, Gabrielle Coco Chanel, Jean Patou, Madeleine Vionnet, Elsa Schiaparelli, Mainbocher, Adrian, Salvatore Ferragamo, Madame Alix GrèsPART 3 1940-1950sIntroduction, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Charles James, Claire McCardell, Hubert de Givenchy, Norman Norell, Pierre Cardin, Mary Quant, Rudi GernreichPART 4 1960s-1970sIntroduction, Yves Saint Laurent, André Courrèges, Valentino, Karl Lagerfeld, Halston, Kenzo, Ralph Lauren, Issey Miyake, Geoffrey Beene, Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani PART 5 1980sIntroduction, Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Azzedine Alaïa, Gianni Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana, John Galliano, Donna Karan PART 6 1990s Introduction, Miuccia Prada, Martin Margiela, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Alexander McQueen, Nicolas GhesquièrePART 7 2000s-2010sIntroduction, Raf Simons, Hedi Slimane, Phoebe Philo, Alessandro Michele, Demna Gvasalia Bibliography