Fashion career profile
Christian Lacroix
Christian Lacroix is a French fashion and costume designer whose theatrical use of color, historical reference and ornament helped define Paris couture in the 1980s. Born in Arles in 1951, he studied art history with ambitions of becoming a museum curator, then entered fashion through work at Hermès and other design studios. He joined Jean Patou in 1981 and led its couture work, receiving the Dé d’Or in 1986. In 1987 he founded his own couture house, whose first collections established a distinctive, historically informed style. From 2002 to 2005 he served as artistic director of Pucci, bringing a more graphic approach to the Italian house. He has also designed extensively for theatre, opera, ballet and film; after ending his couture activity in 2009, scenography and costume design became central to his work. The profile separates house leadership from his continuing work as a costume and visual artist.
- Role
- French Fashion and Costume Designer; founder, Christian Lacroix
- Nationality
- French
- Age
- 75
- Career appointments
- 2
- Fashion houses
- 2
- Education: Art history studies; planned to become a museum curatorThe V&A describes his art-history studies and the shift into fashion. · Victoria and Albert Museum
- Jean Patou: Couture designer and artistic lead (1981–1987)Patou’s history credits Lacroix with renewing the house’s couture and notes his 1986 Dé d’Or. · Patou; V&A
- Pucci: Artistic Director (2002–2005)The V&A records his three-year creative leadership at the Italian house. · Victoria and Albert Museum
- 1981 — Joins Jean PatouHe takes creative responsibility for the house’s couture work.
- 1986 — Wins the Dé d’Or de la CoutureThe award recognizes his work at Patou.
- 1987 — Founds his own couture houseThe first collections establish his theatrical, historically inflected style.
- 2002 — Begins creative leadership at PucciHe serves as Artistic Director through 2005.
- 2009 — Ends couture activityCostume design, scenography and industrial design become increasingly central to his work.
- 2002–2005 — Artistic Director — PucciHistorical appointment · Victoria and Albert Museum
- 1981–1987 — Couture Designer and Artistic Lead — PatouHistorical appointment · Patou; Victoria and Albert Museum