Introduction

The designers I chose hold a special place in my heart and most are in my wardrobe. Ferragamo, Lanvin, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, and Prada are designers that I have loved for a very long time, I remember always browsing their collections online or in the stores in awe of the beauty and simplicity that each designers encompasses.

My first thought when I think of Ferragamo is his beautiful shoes that are made exquisitely, when I was little I used to always go into my moms closet and try on her Ferragamo pumps. I attribute this to one of my first memories of falling in love with fashion, I could not wait to grow up and be able to have a pair of these shoes for myself.

I don’t even know where to start when it comes to Lanvin I love the sophistication that every piece has. Lanvin is known for being elegant and classy, something that I feel is sometimes lost in fashion today. My goal in life is to one day own something from Lanvin, on my tight budget that seems very far away from now but the second I can afford something I will be buying a beautiful Lanvin felt hat.

Michael Kors hands down has the best perfume I have ever used; I have been using Michael by Michael Kors for I don’t know how many years. I also love his shoes and handbags, I have been fortunate enough to be able to afford his shoes and handbags and love each and every one of them. His shoes are comfortable and his handbags are beautiful, his handbags are reasonable priced, it allows me to be able to carry a well-made attractive bag without breaking the bank.

Marc Jacobs is my favorite designer I love his clothes and his bags, his all around style is exactly up my alley.  When I put on my Marc Jacobs jacket and my black chain purse I automatically feel beautiful and stylish. His designs are edgy and forward thinking, but they still stay classy and timeless.

Prada Straw pumps sit in my closet in their beautiful box waiting for spring to come around again. These shoes are so beautiful that I only let myself wear them a couple times a season, if I could I would frame them and hang them on my wall. For this reason I have picked Prada as one of my designers, just one pair of shoes has made me fall madly in love with Prada.

All of these designers make me smile when I think of their beauty and elegance. I appreciate the works of these designers and cant wait to learn more about each one of them in this project. If any project was made for me, it would be this one.

Muiccia Prada

1949- Present

Miuccia Prada didn’t start off as a fashion designer, she has a PhD in Political Science, and she also performed as a mime. In 1978 she took over Prada that her grandfather founded in 1913, she didn’t want to take over the business and was a bit reluctant to tackle all of the company’s tasks. In 1985 she designed a line of black unlabeled nylon bags that became extremely popular; a few years later she launched her ready to wear line in 1989. In 1992 she created a less expensive line called Miu Miu; her own personal wardrobe inspired this collection. Miuccia new she made it as a designer when she won a Council of Fashion Designers of America International Award in 1993. Miuccia accredits much of her success to her husband and business partner Patrizio Bertelli, Miuccia has said, “if I hadn’t met him, I probably would have given up or at least not been able to do what I have done.” She also has said that she always brings a reality check to fashion, “I love fashion, but I think it should stay in its place, not rule your life. It’s a very nice part of your life, but I think it should be fun” (Vogue).



(Stylesight)

     Miuccia Prada influences many designers, her shapes and colors appear everywhere we look in retail. Prada did a bowling bag for spring and now everywhere you look you see it, and for winter they did a doctor bag and that is the biggest hit this fall with many designers. She also has incorporated a lot of fur and we see that all over jackets and accessories this fall. One thing that people notice is that Prada bags are very heavy and as Ms. Isaacsohn stated is that we all don’t have chauffer’s to carry around our handbags; but still women want the big oversized structured bags that Prada is famous for. People still love Miuccia first designs with the nylon bags, and store clerks still see women coming in everyday asking to purchase one.

          Miuccia will always be known for making nylon incredibly fashionable and sexy, those nylon black bags are still seen being worn today, it is a lasting trend that she has succeeded in. I own a pair of Prada shoes and i love them dearly, they are made out of straw so not verry apporpriate for fall and winter, but when spring and summer come around they are the first pair of shoes I put on!

     

                                                                       Works Cited
Kaplan, Thomas. "It's Not Just Something in the Air; That's Miuccia Prada's Influence." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. <http://nytimes.com>.
"Miuccia Prada- Images." Stylesight: Home. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. <http://stylesight.com>.
Rock, Michael. Prada. Milan: Progetto Prada Arte, 2009. Print.

Michael Kors

1959-Present

          Michael Kors was born in 1959 and raised in Long Island. Michael Kors worked as a model when he was little, he was in toilet paper and Lucky Charms campaigns. His real name was Bill, but when his mother remarried she told him he was going to get a new last name so he could aslo pick a new first name; he chose Michael. His mother also let him design her wedding dress. Kors has said, "I practically hyperventilated every month when Vogue arrived, and I loved shopping" (Biography.com) He moved to New York City to go to the Fasion Institute of Technology in 1970, but he dropped out after only two semesters. In 1978 Kors started working at the French boutique Lothar's, here he designed his first fashion collection. This collection was a great success so Michael started his own line, it launched in May of 1981.

(Stylesight)

          Michael Kors is easy to spot out due to the simplicity and elegance that you see in his clothing, models, celebrities and everyday people rave about how his clothing is very wearable. His designs are understated and simple but tailored extremely well. Some key words people have used to describe his designs would be: timeless, basic, simple, sexy, classy, clean with a kick. Kors has been known to want to take his clients on a journey, he doesn't believe in shocking them with something they would never wear, to him its a gradual progression. I own many pieces from Michael Kors, i have a few of his purses and many pairs of his shoes, which i love because they are always so comfortable. Since i was younger i have always worn his perfume Michael by Michael Kors, it is the best smelling perfume i think that is on the market. I feel that Michael Kors will be around for a very long time because everything he makes is timeless and classy.

(Stylesight)

Works Cited

Michael Kors. Designer Marathon. DVD.

"Michael Kors." Famous Biographies & TV Shows - Biography.com. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. <http://biography.com>.

"Michael Kors- Images." Stylesight: Home. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. <http://stylesight.com>.

Salvatore Ferragamo

 

1898-1960

          Salvatore Ferragamo was born in 1898 in Italy; he made his first pair of shoes when he was nine for his sisters to wear at their confirmation. He studied shoe making in Naples, after that he immigrated to Boston where one of his brothers worked in a cowboy boot factory. Ferragamo moved to Santa Barbara then Hollywood, in Hollywood Ferragamo became successful, at first he opened a store to repair shoes and made to measure shoes. His shoes became so popular that he began designing shoes for the movies. He was frustrated that his shoes hurt women and went to the University of Southern California to study anatomy. He spent thirteen years in the U.S., he moved back to Italy in 1927 and set up shop in Florence. He opened up a shop concentrating on his designs and creating patents, his operation expanded to 700 people that produced 350 pairs of hand made shoes a day. Ferragamo has always been known as a visionary, his designs range from outlandish to classically elegant.

(Stylesight)

          Salvatore Ferragamo's designs are very sexy and feminine; you don't ever see him make a shoe that is clunky or bulky. Ferragamo was known as the shoemaker of dreams, and his Grandson James Ferragamo has taken over the company, but still has kept the same look and feel of Ferragamo, but has added a bit of modernism to everything to stay with the times. The company is prideful on the fact that Salvatore is the first to make the wedge shoe, so you see a lot of wedges with a new twist in their line.

(Stylesight)

Works Cited

Salvatore Ferragamo. Designer Marathon. DVD.

Salvatore Ferragamo: Evolving Legend 1928-2008. Milano: Skira, 2008. Print.

"Salvatore Ferragamo- Images." Stylesight: Home. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. <http://stylesight.com>.