MY ICONIC FASHION BRANDS
I appreciate the journey of major fashion luxury brands and their existence today. These are iconic brands; brands that are now woven into the culture of our lives - they no longer just create fashionable items, but a way of thinking and living.
HERMÈS
In 1923, the house of Hermès was commissioned by a client to design a collar for her bulldog. The result was a design that included a center O ring for the leash and stunning metallic pyramids around a leather collar. So compelling and excellent was the design,that it was refashioned into a belt for women in 1927 at the request of a Couturiere named Marie Gerber. Not to be stopped there, this stellar design that kept on giving was re-imagined again into something new, this time, birthing an accessory that would stand the test of time, the Hermès Collier de Chien (CDC) bracelet.
OSCAR DE LA RENTA
Oscar de la Renta defined femininity in swan like, elegant, flattering gowns and dresses. His philosophy for creating dresses was to make women feel beautiful and stand out in a room. He designed for the woman who went to opening nights at the opera and ballet, a woman who wanted to make a dramatic entrance.His style is identified by delicate fabrics, soft silhouettes, vibrant palettes and romantic flair all of which reveal his talent for creating feminine evening wear which has remained his trademark.
POLO RALPH LAUREN
Ralph Lauren's journey to beginning a high class brand began when his friend invited him to his first polo match. There, they were exposed and awed by high society lifestyle; from horses to silver to fine leather and stylish clothing all of which were new to them both. This exposure triggered inspiration in Lauren and steered him to begin Polo Ralph Lauren.
His first product and design was wide and colorful neckties which were contrary to the narrow, plain ones of the day. After approaching several manufacturers with no avail, he finally landed at an upscale boutique in New York where he created and sold neckties directly out of a drawer in the late 1960's. He later on got a deal with Bloomingdales who had initially rejected his designs and from then on, his brand continued to grow steadily and successfully, solidifying effortless elegance and class as its identity.
CHANEL
Brilliantly, in 1957, Madame Chanel in a stroke of genius created a fashion icon which she declared to be the height of elegance – a two-tone slingback otherwise known as ''the Cinderella slipper'' a term proclaimed by the press. Purposefully designed, the nude color is intended to lengthen the leg while the black capped toe shortens the foot.
In the famous words of Chanel, “We leave in the morning with a beige and black, we lunch with beige and black, we go to a cocktail party with beige and black. We are dressed from morning to night!”. These words summed up Chanel's philosophy of designing timeless, versatile and effortless pieces for working women to allow them freedom of movement without compromising on style.
LOUIS VUITTON
In 2003, an eccentric yet genius collaboration was made when Murakami Takashi, an acclaimed Japaneses artist known for his vibrant childlike art partnered with Louis Vuitton to infuse a new sense of style into their bags.
The Murakami collection was a re-interpretation of Louis Vuitton's classic monogram in different colors such as reds, purples, greens, blues and yellows on both white and black canvas. This seamless amalgamation of art and fashion became an instant success and the bags were made popular in the hands of various celebrities from Paris Hilton to Naomi Campbell.