You could study style for years, and still have scope to learn more.
It’s an interesting topic that doesn’t always get the love it deserves, with some dismissing it as frivolous.
We wear clothes everyday (although a duvet day now and then is compulsory), and wearing something you love can often change your mood.
In homage to the dynasty that is style, this A-Z guide will bring you a little insider information on one of our favourite subjects, this week concentrating on all things J.
Jimmy Choo
Jimmy Choo and Tamara Mellon forged a partnership that led to the creation of a world-renowned and much sought-after designer shoe label. Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat was born to shoemakers in Penang, Malaysia and Tamara was born in London to Thomas Yeardye, who would go on to become the CEO of Vidal Sassoon, and Anne Davies, a Chanel no 5 model.
When in need of a cobbler, Tamara would always visit Choo and this led to them going into business together. However, Choo didn’t appreciate the publicity that followed Tamara and this led to friction. In 2011, the label was accquired by Labelux and Mellon resigned that same year.
Jasper Conran
English fashion designer Jasper Conran studied at the Parsons School of Art and Design in New York. Conran is an Honorary Doctor of Letters at Heriot-Watt University, a Visiting Professor at the University of the Arts London and an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law at the University of East Anglia. He has also served several times on the British Fashion Council.
The 54-year-old designer has collaborated with high-street retailer Debenhams on several occasions as well as with Waterford Crystal and Specsavers.
Jean-Paul Gaultier
His career began at 18 when he was hired by designer Pierre Cardin after sending sketches of his designs to 27 different fashion houses. He presented his first solo collection in 1976 and in 1984, Vogue ran a piece on him entitled, Gaultier, The Newsmaker. Gaultier was largely responsible for introducing bras to the catwalk, featuring in many of his collections.
1997 saw him debut his first haute couture collection and in 2000 he received the CDFA’s (Council of Fashion Designers of America) International award, an illustrious title in the fashion world. He says the way in which he mixes fabrics and patterns may be “disconcerting” but it allows him to “provoke new ideas about how pieces can be put together in different ways”.
John Galliano
John Galliano is a British born fashion designer who has been at the helm of three leading fashion houses throughout his career. He manned Givenchy (July 1995 to October 1996), Christian Dior (October 1996 to March 2011), and his own label John Galliano. The designer has cited theatre and femininity as sources of inspiration and once said his role in the fashion world “is to seduce”.
Things completely changed for Galliano when he was suspended by Dior in February 2011 after an alleged anti-Semitic tirade in a Paris bar. The matter ended up in court and in September 2011, Galliano was found guilty of making anti-Semitic remarks and sentenced to pay a total of €6,000. In early 2013 Galiano received an invitation from Oscar de la Renta to take up a three week residency at the designer’s studio. Recent rumours have suggested that he will return to de la Renta but this week it was announced that Galliano will join forces with Russian company L’Etoile, working as a consultant on beauty projects.
