Designer Showcase: Christian Lacroix, France (b. 1951)
 Designer Showcase: Christian Lacroix |
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“Fashion is authentic, coherent, and legitimate when it is a sincere, lucid, and unadulterated reflection of the times.”
—Christian Lacroix, 1996 |
The wild and fanciful designs of Lacroix come partly from an early interest in theater and opera when he was a child in Arles, France. He wanted to be a museum curator and found his interest in fashion emerge as he was writing his master’s thesis on French costumes viewed through seventeenth century paintings.
“His designs are like pieces of puzzles, bringing together a diverse group of craftsmen, including weavers, corset-makers, painters, and embroiderers. His spell-binding shows present a stylish clutter. Fantastic textures compete with embroidered materials, and fluid fabrics are blended with spangles–the perfect illustration of Christian Lacroix’s flamboyant design vocabulary.”
—Pamela Golbin, Fashion Designers
Lacroix’s croquis (say that ten times very fast!) are beautiful works of art in addition to being working sketches of his designs. Notice first the sense of attitude and energy in his models, how the poses are exaggerated for elegance and sexiness. The arms and legs are skinny and simply suggest the figure. There is much presence and attitude in the sway of the back, tilt of the head and how the shoulders dip low. He has a gorgeous sense of color and drawing in the direction that the fabric drapes. It’s all about the shape and silhouette of the garment. Notice too, that at least two of these croquis are done on a toned paper which adds to their importance.
 Internet Resource
For a lively presentation of more of Christian Lacroix’s fabulous designs and artistic croquis, visit:
This link will take you directly to Lacroix's Theater page:
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