World’s Most Iconic and Influential Fashion Designers Ever

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In the world of fashion there are designers and ICONIC fashion designers.

Haunted by an obsessive passion for fashion, styling, and design, iconic fashion designers live forever through legacies that enchant and inspire generations.

This article presents 30 of the most influential fashion designers who reshaped how we understand and appreciate the world of fashion styles.




1. Coco Chanel

France
(1883-1971)

Coco Chanel Fashion Designer
Coco Chanel

Born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel on August 19, 1883, in Saumur, France, ‘Coco’ was an exquisite French fashion designer and founder of the well-known CHANEL brand.

At age 12, after her mother’s death, her father put Chanel in an orphanage, and she was raised by nuns who taught her how to sew — a skill that would lead to her life’s work.

According to an article in The Atlantic, Chanel sang in clubs in Vichy and Moulins, where she was nicknamed ‘Coco’ – the shortened version of cocotte, the French word for ‘kept woman.’

In the early 1900s, thanks to Chanel’s stylish but straightforward clothing designs – instead of painful corsets and complex petticoats – women started to regain their freedom of movement.

“Luxury must be comfortable; otherwise, it’s not luxury.”

Chanel’s practical design and stylistic simplicity, adored by celebrities of those times, conferred the designer with an aura that continues to imbue modern fashion designers’ craft.

Chanel Modes store by the fashion designer Coco Chanel
Chanel Modes by Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel is the only fashion designer named on the Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century.

The best fashion designer on this list is Coco Chanel, whose unique style is immortalized in pop culture through iconic creations such as the “little black dress” (also known as LBD) …

Little Black Dress (LBD) by Fashion Designer Coco Chanel
Little Black Dress by Coco Chanel

and “Chanel no. 5 Perfume.”

Chanel No. 5 By Fashion Designer Coco Chanel
Chanel No. 5 Perfume by Coco Chanel

The designer is also behind the Chanel women’s suit look, consisting of a slim skirt and collarless tweed jacket worn by Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, and Audrey Hepburn.

The Chanel Suit by Fashion Designer Coco Chanel
The Chanel Suit by Coco Chanel




2. Christian Dior

France
(1905-1957)

Christian Dior Fashion Designer
Christian Dior

Born on January 21, 1905, in Granville, a seaside town in northern France, Christian Dior experienced the Great Depression, World Wars 1 & 2, and witnessed his sister being sent to a concentration camp.

Enrolled at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques in 1925 to study political science and find work as a diplomat, Dior’s passion for architecture, art, and style eventually prevailed.

Dior’s fashion prowess became even more evident when he realized he had changed the fashion industry in the post-war ruins of France.

Dior’s 1947 ‘New Look,’ consisting of voluminous A-line calf-length skirts and fitted bodice waists, contrasted with the war brutality and reminded people of calmer, more relaxed times.

The Bar Suit by Fashion Designer Christian Dior
The Bar Suit from Christian Dior’s New Look collection in 1947.

After World War II, the ‘New Look’ revolutionized women’s dress and reestablished Paris as the center of the fashion world.

From that point on, the fashion designer used the runway to champion the idea of female empowerment, and his A-line, zigzag-line, Y-line, and H-line silhouettes continue to influence the fashion industry.

Christian Dior Silhouettes
Christian Dior’s Most Iconic Silhouettes

With a focus on femininity and high-end womenswear, Dior is recognized as one of the most influential fashion designers in women’s couture and evening wear.

Arguably the most successful fashion designer globally, Dior’s designs have been worn by film stars and royalty alike.

Fashion Designer Christian Dior Iconic Moments
Christian Dior Iconic Moments

Founded by one of the most iconic fashion designers ever, Dior, the company continues to operate at the forefront of the fashion industry.




3. Karl Lagerfeld

Germany
(1933-2019)

Karl Lagerfeld Fashion Designer
Karl Lagerfeld

Born on September 10, 1933, in Hamburg, Germany, Karl Lagerfeld was one of the world’s most acclaimed fashion designers, hailed by Vogue as “an unparalleled interpreter of the mood of the moment.”

As a teenager, Lagerfeld worked at Balmain for four years before moving to Jean Patou, where he became artistic director at 21.

Recognized as one of history’s most influential fashion designers, Lagerfeld created fashion collections for top designer brands such as Fendi, Chloe, Tommy Hilfiger, and his house, Karl Lagerfeld.

Fashion Designer Karl Lagerfeld Career
Karl Lagerfeld Career Timeline

Above all, Karl Lagerfeld is credited with elevating Chanel to global prominence thanks to his solid creative vision, bold designs, and constant reinvention.

Fashion Designer Karl Lagerfeld Most Iconic Designs For Chanel
Karl Lagerfeld’s Most Iconic Designs for Chanel

After the iconic fashion designer passed away in Paris on February 19, 2019, Caroline Rush, the British Fashion Council Chief Executive, said:

“Lagerfeld’s unrivaled contribution to the fashion industry changed the way women dress and perceive fashion. He inspired generations of young designers and will continue to do so.”




4. Alexander McQueen

United Kingdom
(1969-2010)

Alexander McQueen Fashion Designer
Alexander McQueen

Lee Alexander McQueen was a British fashion designer born on March 17, 1969, into a working-class family in London’s Lewisham district.

From an early age, Alexander McQueen was bullied for his sexual preferences and open homosexuality.

At 16, he dropped out of school to work in Savile Row, a street in London’s Mayfair district famous for stores offering made-to-order men’s suits for brands like Anderson and Shephard, Barmans & Nathans, and Gieves and Hawkes.

Fashion Designer Alexander McQueen Career
Alexander McQueen Career Timeline

However, McQueen’s collaboration with designers Angels and Bermans on theatrical costumes granted the British fashion designer a ‘dramatic signature style’ of clothing.

McQueen then left London, a top fashion capital of the world, for Milan, another key fashion city, where he worked as a design assistant to Italian fashion designer Romeo Gigli.

Upon returning to London, McQueen enrolled at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art & Design and received his M.A. in fashion design in 1992.

Fashion Designer Alexander McQueen MA graduate collection 1992
Alexander McQueen MA Graduate Collection 1992

McQueen’s degree collection, inspired by Jack the Ripper, was famously bought by Isabella Blow, a famous eccentric and London stylist.

Only four years out of design school, McQueen was named Chief Designer of Louis Vuitton-owned Givenchy, a French Haute fashion house.

Fashion Designer Alexander McQueen 1997 Couture Collection for Givenchy
Alexander McQueen’s 1997 Couture Collection for Givenchy.

“You’ve got to know the rules to break them. That’s what I am here for, to demolish the rules but keep the tradition.”

Fashion Designer Alexander McQueen Iconic Designs
Alexander McQueen’s Iconic Designs

Unfortunately, Alexander McQueen took his own life in 2010, shortly after the passing of his mother, shocking the fashion world and beyond.

Yet, Alexander McQueen’s unique style and extravagant, iconic creations continue to enchant generations of fashion designers and connoisseurs.

5. Hubert de Givenchy

France
(1927-2018)

Hubert de Givenchy Fashion Designer
Hubert de Givenchy

Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy was born on February 21, 1927, in the city of Beauvais in northern France, in an aristocratic family.

Hubert de Givenchy studied art at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and, at the age of 17, began an apprenticeship with designer Jacques Fath.

After his Fath experience, Givenchy worked for famous French couture houses like Lucien Lelong, Robert Piguet, and Elsa Schiaparelli.

The French fashion designer eventually opened his own couture house in 1952 and received several awards for his chic and feminine clothes for women.

Fashion Designer Hubert de Givenchy Fashion House in 1952
Hubert de Givenchy Fashion House 1952

In 1953, Givenchy met Spanish designer Cristobal Balenciaga, whom he greatly admired, and together introduced a new silhouette called ‘the sack,’ a loose form without a waistline.

Fashion Designer Hubert de Givenchy The Sack Silhouette
Hubert de Givenchy’s The Sack Silhouette

Featuring separates such as long skirts and tailored tops that included the ‘Bettina blouse’ named after model Bettina Graziani, elegant evening gowns, feminine hats, and tailored suits, Givenchy’s name became synonymous with Parisian chic.

One of Givenchy’s most ardent supporters was the famous British actress and fashion icon Audrey Hepburn.

Fashion Designer Audrey Hepburn Wearing Givenchy
Audrey Hepburn Wearing Givenchy

Hepburn loved Givenchy’s clean, classic, and unapologetically feminine aesthetics and wore many of the fashion designer’s creations in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s,’ ‘Funny Face,’ and ‘Charade.’




6. Yves Saint Laurent

France
(1936-2008)

Yves Saint Laurent Fashion Designer
Yves Saint Laurent

Born Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent on August 1, 1936, in Oran, French Algeria, Yves Saint-Laurent is celebrated as one of the greatest fashion designers of the 20th century.

Yves Saint Laurent moved to Paris as a teenager and began working for Christian Dior.

Fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent Career at Dior
Yves Saint Laurent Career at Dior (thevou.com)

Considered the most influential European fashion designer of the modern era, the French designer’s authentic and seductive style has gained immense popularity among true fashion lovers.

Credited with spurring the rise of haute couture from its 1960s ashes and rendering ready-to-wear reputable, Yves Saint Laurent’s unique style and aesthetics made women feel confident, comfortable, and elegant.

The designer’s ‘Le Smoking’ tuxedo suit had a masculine cut, was redesigned into a beautiful collection for women, and immediately embraced as ‘women’s power dressing.’

Fashion Designer Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking Suits
Yves Saint Laurent “Le Smoking” Suits

Yves Saint Laurent’s influential work pioneered androgynous fashion and shaped the fashion industry as we know it.

Constantly in touch with the latest fashion trends, Yves Saint Laurent championed diversity in fashion as the first fashion designer to put women of color on the runway.

More recently, YSL appointed Blackpink’s Rose as the brand’s global ambassador, showcasing that the brand’s all-inclusive roots and values still stand firm.




7. Pierre Cardin

France
(1922-2020)

Pierre Cardin Fashion Designer
Pierre Cardin

Born Pietro Costante Cardin on July 2, 1922, in San Biagio di Callalta, Italy, Pierre Cardin was an Italian-born naturalized French fashion designer praised for his 20th-century futuristic style.

At 17, Cardin went to Vichy, France, to train as a tailor in a men’s clothing shop, and after World War II, joined the Parisian fashion house of Paquin, where he helped design costumes for Jean Cocteau’s film ‘Beauty and the Beast.’

Pierre Cardin also worked at the couture house of Christian Dior and, in 1950, opened his shop that quickly granted the fashion designer a reputation as an expert men’s suitmaker.

Fashion Designer Pierre Cardin Early Career 1950s & 1960s
Pierre Cardin Early Career 1950s fashion & 1960s fashion looks.

But what made the Italian-French fashion designer reach global popularity and recognition was his 1960s fashion creations.

Cardin’s love for geometric shapes and motifs translated into an androgynous style, often experimental rather than practical.

Appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1991 and United Nations FAO Goodwill Ambassador in 2009, the Italian-born Frenchman rose to fame in the age of the space race.

Fashion Designer Pierre Cardin Iconic Designs
Pierre Cardin’s Iconic Designs

Cardin’s creations embodied inventiveness and modishness, particularly the ‘bubble dress’ with a touch of SCI-FI avant-garde design.

The fashion designer’s stark, short tunics, vinyl, helmets, and avant-gardist goggles developed the ‘Space Age’ look.

Cardin is also famous for licensing his name on various products (such as sunglasses), which became familiar to renowned fashion designers.

8. Dame Vivienne Westwood

United Kingdom
(1941-2022)

Vivienne Westwood Fashion Designer
Vivienne Westwood

Born Vivienne Isabel Swire in Tintwistle, Cheshire, England, on April 8, 1941, the British fashion designer is considered one of the world’s most eccentric fashion designers to date.

Vivienne Westwood rose to fame in the late 1970s with unique creations that helped shape London’s punk-rock fashion.

Fashion Designer Vivienne Westwood Early Career In The 1970s
Vivienne Westwood 1970s Punk

Westwood and Malcolm McLaren (the manager of the punk band the Sex Pistols) SEX, a punk fashion clothing store in King’s Road, and a meeting place for members of the London punk scene.

“I was messianic about punk, seeing if one could put a spoke in the system somehow.”

Their Punk style creations inspired many celebrities and icons of those times, such as Viv Albertine, who wrote in her memoir: “Vivienne and Malcolm use clothes to shock, irritate, provoke reactions, and inspire change.”

In recent years, Westwood used fashion to voice several political causes, such as women’s empowerment, nuclear disarmament, climate change, and civil rights.

Fashion Designer Vivienne Westwood Iconic Designs
Vivienne Westwood Iconic Designs.

In 1992, the British designer was awarded an OBE, which she collected from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace wearing nothing but sheer tights with a reinforced bikini top under her skirt.

The British designer advanced from OBE to DBE in the 2006 New Year’s Honours List ‘for services to fashion’ and has twice earned the British Designer of the Year award.




9. Elsa Schiaparelli

Italy
(1890-1973)

Elsa Schiaparelli Fashion Designer
Elsa Schiaparelli

Born 10 September 1890 at Palazzo Corsini, Rome, Italy, Elsa Schiaparelli was a fashion designer from an Italian aristocratic family of great cultural background, erudition, and accomplishments.

Considered Coco Chanel’s greatest rival, Schiaparelli (Schiap for friends) launched her fashion Maison, the House of Schiaparelli, in Paris in 1927 and managed it until the ’50s.

Influenced by couturier Paul Poiret – renowned for jettisoning corseted and over-long dresses for the modern, elegant, and sophisticated woman – Schiaparelli was regarded as one of the most prominent European fashion designers between the two World Wars.

Early Schiaparelli’s collections depict unique themes, such as the human body and insects in bright colors, such as the now-renown ‘Schiaparelli shocking pink.’

Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli Schiaparelli Shocking Pink
Elsa Schiaparelli Schiaparelli Shocking Pink

The Italian designer’s collaborations with Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau resulted in some of the most unconventional and eccentric fashion creations ever.

Schiaparelli’s famous designs, created in ‘trompe l’oeil’ (deceive the eye), an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create 3-dimensional optical illusions, are unmatched celebrations of wearable surrealism.

Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli Trompe L'oeil
Elsa Schiaparelli Trompe L’oeil Designs

With clients such as heiress Daisy Fellowes and actress Mae West, Schiaparelli’s unique pieces enchanted and shocked, such as the divided skirt, a forerunner of shorts worn by Lili de Alvarez at Wimbledon in 1931.




10. Ralph Lauren

United States
(Born in 1939)

Ralph Lauren Fashion Designer
Ralph Lauren

Born Ralph Lifshitz in the Bronx, New York City, on October 14, 1939, Ralph Lauren is an American clothing designer best known for his sportswear line Polo Ralph Lauren, the centerpiece of his fashion empire.

At 16, Ralph changed his last name to Lauren and attended Baruch College in Manhattan, where he studied business for two years.

After a brief stint in the Army, Lauren took on a sales job at Brooks Brothers, where the idea of developing its brand, Polo, and the first product – a line of neckties – started to materialize.

Fashion Designer Ralph Lauren Early Career at Brooks Brothers
Ralph Lauren Early Career Working on Neckties

Ralph’s distinctive fashion sense is often credited with drawing inspiration from screen icons like Fred Astaire and Cary Grant’s preppy wear and vintage looks.

Nowadays, few logos in the fashion industry are as recognizable as the polo player emblem.

Fashion Designer Ralph Lauren Iconic Moments
Ralph Lauren Iconic Moments

Conjuring a blend of English aristocrat and sporty-tailored looks for the American crowd, Ralph’s Polo line became the quintessential ‘Preppy Look’ during the 1980s and 2000s fashion decades.

From a small 1967 office in the Empire State Building to a $7 billion fortune, Polo is now an international business empire that includes fragrances, home furnishings, luxury clothing, and dining based on the aspirational aesthetic of upper-crust life.




11. Oscar de la Renta

Dominican Republic
(1932-2014)

Oscar de la Renta Fashion Designer
Oscar de la Renta

Born in the Dominican Republic on July 22, 1932, Oscar de la Renta dressed, arguably, every important woman – from Hilary Clinton to Sarah Jessica Parker – throughout his six decades as a fashion designer.

At 18, Oscar de la Renta left the Caribbean to study painting at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid.

Still, he fell in love with dress-making after landing an apprenticeship with Spain’s most renowned couturier, Cristobal Balenciaga.

In 1961, Oscar de la Renta was hired by the House of Lanvin-Castillo, one of the most influential Parisian fashion houses known for elegant clothes, slender lines, long flowing skirts in rich fabrics, and elaborate embroideries.

Two years later, the Dominican fashion designer moved to New York to join Elizabeth Arden, an American fashion house, in preparation for his signature ready-to-wear label, launched in 1965.

Fashion Designer Oscar de la Renta Early Career
Oscar de la Renta Early Career

In 1967, De la Renta married Francoise de Langlade, the editor-in-chief of French Vogue, who introduced influential members of society, the rich and famous, to his fashion shows.

With delicate silk prints, ruffles, soft silhouettes, and vibrant palettes, Oscar’s creations soon became synonymous with casual luxury.

As one of the world’s leading fashion designers, famous for women’s evening wear and suits in distinct lines combining modern with feminine, Oscar’s unique tone of red became known as ‘de la Renta red.’

Fashion Designers Oscar de la Renta Iconic Designs
Oscar de la Renta Iconic Designs

With flattering and feminine pieces worn by successful women worldwide and adored by royals and several presidential first ladies, Oscar de la Renta became one of the most sought-after names in haute couture.

Respected by his contemporaries, de la Renta served as president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America from 1973 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988.




12. Jean Paul Gaultier

France
(Born in 1952)

Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Designer
Jean Paul Gaultier

Born in 1952 in Val-de-Marne, France, Jean-Paul Gaultier thrives as one of the best French fashion designers ever.

Spending his childhood with his maternal grandmother, Jean-Paul Gaultier developed a taste for fashion at a young age.

Inspired by corsets he found fascinating as a child, Gaultier even made a bra for a stuffed bear – a childhood artifact featured in a fashion exhibition dedicated to his work.

Gaultier joined Pierre Cardin’s house at 18 but moved to Jean Patou the following year.

Gaultier was deeply influenced by the work of Yves Saint Laurent, as visible in the fashion designer’s first collection launched in 1976.

Fashion Designer Jean Paul Gaultier First Collection 1976
Jean Paul Gaultier First Collection 1976

With the help of Francis Menuge – his life partner – the stylist established the ‘Jean-Paul Gaultier brand in 1982.

In 2003, Gaultier was appointed as the head designer at Hermes, where he worked until 2011 to create some of the most original designs ever seen.

Fashion Designer Jean Paul Gaultier at Hermes
Jean Paul Gaultier at Hermes

In 2012, Coca-Cola appointed Gaultier as its new creative director and tasked the iconic fashion designer with bringing his unique style to the brand’s bottles and cans.

Fashion Designer Jean Paul Gaultier at Coca Cola
Jean Paul Gaultier for Coca Cola

Jean-Paul Gaultier’s unique creations – see Madonna’s infamous conical bras for the 1990 Blond Ambition tour – exudes a sensual, irreverent style that challenges the stereotypical idea of femininity.

To date, the French designer’s influential design and style have reshaped traditional gender roles by emphasizing androgyny and freedom of sexual expression.




13. Miuccia Prada

Italy
(Born in 1949)

Miuccia Prada Fashion Designer
Miuccia Prada

Born Maria Bianchi Prada on May 10, 1949, in Milan, Italy, Miuccia Prada is an Italian fashion designer and the head designer of the Prada fashion house.

With a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Milan, Miuccia Prada was a member of the Italian Communist Party and had no business experience when she took over her family’s luggage business in 1978.

However, the Italian designer shifted towards the fashion world in 1985 with a series of black nylon handbags and backpacks with understated labels, in stark contrast to the logo-heavy styles that dominated.

Fashion Designer Miuccia Prada Iconic Nylon Bag Collection
Miuccia Prada Iconic Nylon Bag Collection

Four years later, Miuccia Prada – with no formal fashion training – launched ready-to-wear women’s clothes called ‘uniforms for the slightly disenfranchised.’

Fashion Designer Miuccia Prada 1989 Collection
Miuccia Prada FW 1989 Collection

Eventually, the Italian fashion designer turned Prada into a billion-dollar fashion giant that continues mesmerizing with pared-down designs, innovative fabrics, and unique patterns.




14. Donatella Versace

Italy
(Born in 1955)

Donatella Versace Fashion Designer
Donatella Versace

Donatella Versace is an Italian fashion designer born on May 2, 1955, in Reggio Calabria, Italy, and the younger sister of the late designer Gianni Versace.

Donatella and Gianni learned about fashion design from their mother, who had a dressmaking business.

Donatella became the artistic director of Versace Group in 1997, the year her brother Gianni Versace – the founder of Versace – was assassinated.

Fashion Designer Donatella Versace with her brother Gianni Versace
Donatella Versace With Her Brother Gianni Versace

Initially, Donatella added some rock ‘n’ roll spirit and celebrity vibe to Versace’s image through her friendships with Madonna and Elizabeth Hurley.

Then, the famous Italian fashion designer revitalized the label by using celebrities to walk the runway and designing iconic pieces, such as Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Jungle Dress,’ worn at the 2000 Grammy Awards, a turning point for her career.

Jennifer Lopez's "Jungle Dress" by Fashion Designer Donatella Versace
Jennifer Lopez’s”Jungle Dress’ by Donatella Versace

Donatella Versace elegantly merged the fashion industry with the pop culture sphere thanks to devoted supermodels and celebrities who wore her designs.

Fashion Designer Donatella Versace Iconic Designs
Fashion Designer Donatella Versace’s Iconic Designs

The Italian fashion designer elevates Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Naomi Campbell to supermodels.




15. Stella McCartney

United Kingdom
(Born in 1971)

Stella McCartney Fashion Designer
Stella McCartney

Born on September 13, 1971, in London, England, Stella Nina McCartney is the second of three children born to ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and his late wife, Linda.

Despite her father’s celebrity profile, Stella McCartney had a remarkably normal childhood: a country lifestyle at a farm in Sussex, raising farm animals and growing vegetables.

“I was brought up with the understanding that we are all (people, animals, plants) together, on this planet.”

In 1995, Stella McCartney invited supermodels (and friends) Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss to model her graduation collection from London’s Central St. Martins College of Art & Design.

Fashion Designer Stella McCartney Graduation Collection In 1995 With supermodels Naomi Campbell & Kate Moss
Stella McCartney’s Graduation Collection In 1995 With supermodels Naomi Campbell & Kate Moss

Two years later, Stella became the head designer at Chloe’s fashion house, and McCartney proved herself worthy of the appointment by creating sensual, subtly sexy creations for eco-conscious women.

Fashion Designer Stella McCartney For Cloe
Stella McCartney for Cloe

Stella McCartney’s creations attracted celebrities like Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kate Moss, triggering Gucci to support the British designer’s line.

A vegetarian by choice, Stella McCartney’s label was founded with sustainability and cruelty-free at its core, using only faux fur and leather.

Fashion Designer Stella McCartney Sustainable Fashion
Stella McCartney’s Sustainable Fashion Shows.

McCartney designed Meghan Markle’s stunning white halter-neck reception dress for her wedding to Prince Harry and received the VH1/Vogue Designer of the Year Award in 2000.

Meghan Markle Wedding Dress Designed By Fashion Designer Stella McCartney
Meghan Markle Wedding Dress Designed By Stella McCartney (thevou.com)

Moreover, the British designer created the athleticwear clothing line for Great Britain’s Olympic team in 2012.

Fashion Designer Stella McCartney For Great Britain's Olympic Team In 2012
Stella McCartney’s attire for Great Britain’s Olympic Team in 2012




16. Virgil Abloh

United States
(1980-2021)

Virgil Abloh Fashion Designer
Virgil Abloh

Virgil Abloh was born to Ghanaian immigrant parents on September 30, 1980, in Rockford, Illinois.

Virgil’s mother was a seamstress, and the father managed a paint company.

While attending the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) for his Master of Architecture classes, Abloh met architect Rem Koolhaas (who had worked on runway collections for Prada), who sparked his interest in fashion.

Abloh began designing T-shirts and writing about fashion and design on ‘The Brilliance’ blog while working for Chicago Street Fashion.

Eventually, he gained an internship at Fendi in 2009 alongside the famous American rapper Kanye West, a move that ushered him into the world of international fashion, music, and celebrities.

Fashion Designer Virgil Abloh & Kanye West
Virgil Abloh & Kanye West

The two began an artistic collaboration that would conclude with Abloh’s founding of the trendy streetwear brand Off-White in 2013.

Fashion Designer Virgil Abloh Off-White Runway Moments
Virgil Abloh Off-White Runway Moments

In 2018, LV, a French fashion giant, appointed Virgil Abloh as the artistic director of the brand’s menswear collection.

The first African-American artistic director at a French luxury fashion house, Abloh was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018.

Fashion Designer Virgil Abloh Iconic LV Designs
Virgil Abloh Iconic LV Designs

Abloh’s design aesthetic bridged streetwear and luxury clothing and was described as transformative by The New York Times.

According to The Wall Street Journal, he reached global fame, which was unusual for a designer.

According to the BBC, Abloh became an inspirational figure to many black fashion designers.




17. Marc Jacobs

United States
(Born in 1963)

Marc Jacobs Fashion Designer
Marc Jacobs

Born on April 9, 1963, in New York City, Marc Jacobs’ life was turned upside-down at the age of 7 when their father died, while the mother embarked on several failed marriages.

Alienated from their mother after a period of heavy drug and alcohol use that resulted in rehab facilities, Jacobs moved in with the paternal grandmother on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Well-traveled and educated, with a deep love of aesthetically beautiful things, Jacobs’s grandmother allowed the designer to enjoy a permissive adolescence full of self-exploration.

“She was emotionally stable and very encouraging to me. She never told me it was wrong to be gay or right to be straight. She never said, you can’t be a fashion designer or you’re a boy and can’t have long hair.”

Marc Jacobs – an American fashion designer – began his fashion journey at the Parsons School of Design, followed by a paid position at Perry Ellis.

Fashion Designer Marc Jacobs For Perry Ellis 1993
Marc Jacobs For Perry Ellis 1993

In 1987, Jacobs became the youngest designer to win the Council of Fashion Designers of America Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent.

Working as creative director for Louis Vuitton from 1997 to 2014 while running his own labels, Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs, in parallel, the American designer was hailed as a fashion powerhouse and beacon of inspiration.

Fashion Designer Marc Jacobs For LV
Marc Jacobs’ Iconic Designs for Louis Vuitton

Worn by Cara Delevingne, Dakota Fanning, Deena Abdulaziz, Kate Moss, and Lady Gaga, Jacob’s creations continue to transform the fashion world as we know it.




18. Tom Ford

United States
(Born in 1961)

Tom Ford Fashion Designer
Tom Ford

Born Thomas Carlyle Ford on August 27, 1961, in Austin, Texas, Tom Ford is an American fashion designer and filmmaker.

While studying interior architecture at Parsons’ New School for Design in New York City, Ford realized he was attracted to men.

Ford began frequenting gay clubs, and the glamorous disco vibe of those experiences would play a significant influence on his later fashion designs.

In 1988, Ford moved to Perry Ellis, where he knew Marc Jacobs, the company’s designer, and Robert McDonald, the company’s president.

At the beginning of the 90s, Gucci hired Ford as the brand’s chief women’s ready-to-wear designer, and Ford relocated to Milan with his longtime partner, fashion journalist Richard Buckley.

Fashion Designer Tom Ford Iconic Designs For Gucci In The 1990s
Tom Ford’s Iconic Designs for Gucci in the 1990s

Gucci’s appointment as an American fashion designer paid off as Ford revamped the brand’s image, advertising, and design.

As Gucci’s creative director, Ford delivered a successive series of mostly 1970s-inspired, critically acclaimed fashion collections for women and men and handbags, shoes, accessories, and two new Gucci scents: Envy and Rush.

He also aesthetically transformed Gucci’s image from what American Vogue called a ‘logo-laden’ look to one that transmitted a sophisticated sex appeal.

In addition, Ford had good instincts when it came to publicity.

In 1995, he hired the French stylist Carine Roitfeld and her frequent collaborator, photographer Mario Testino, to create a new, modern image for Gucci’s advertising campaigns.

Gucci's Advertising Campaigns By Fashion Designer Tom Ford
Gucci’s Advertising Campaigns by Tom Ford

The Gucci style – the clothes, the models, the hair, and the makeup – served as a source to which the industry looked for creative inspiration.

Ford also courted the interest of such Hollywood actresses as Goldie Hawn, Rita Wilson, Gillian Anderson, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Lisa Eisner, a prominent wealthy Los Angeles socialite.

By 1999, the house of Gucci, which had been almost insolvent when Ford joined, was valued at more than $4 billion.

When Gucci acquired the house of Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) in 1999, Ford was also named Creative Director of that label.

Fashion Designer Tom Ford's Iconic Designs For YSL
Tom Ford’s Iconic Designs for YSL

When Ford left in 2004, Gucci Group was valued at $10 billion, and four fashion designers were hired to deal with Ford’s work alone.

The American fashion designer launched his eponymous luxury brand in 2005 and won the Best International Designer in 2000 as one of the most famous contemporary stylists in high fashion, high-end accessories, and clothing.

Fashion Designer Tom Ford Iconic Designs
Tom Ford’s Iconic Fashion Designs

A self-declared perfectionist and workaholic, Tom Ford stated:

“If I am awake, I am working. Maybe that is why I was able to run both Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent as creative director while preparing my own brand.”




19. Raf Simons

Belgium
(Born in 1968)

Raf Simons Fashion Designer
Raf Simons

Born on January 12, 1968, in Neerpelt, Belgium, Raf Simons is a Belgian fashion designer who served as Jil Sander’s creative director, Christian Dior’s artistic director, Chief Creative Officer of Calvin Klein, and the co-creative director of Prada.

Inspired by the Belgian couturiers Antwerp Six, Raf took an internship at the studio of Walter Van Beirendonck (one of the Six).

With the encouragement of Linda Loppa, head of the fashion department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, he produced his first collection of menswear in 1995, thus bringing the Raf Simons label into being.

Fashion Designer Raf Simons late 1990s and 2000s Fashion Collections
Raf Simons’s late 1990s Fashion Styles and 2000s Fashion Collections

His look, which fused outsider youth apparel with traditional business attire, gained an immediate following.

In 2005, the German brand Jil Sander approached the Belgian designer to replace Sander as creative director.

Despite never designing womenswear, Raf’s collection for Jil Sander in the label’s minimalist aesthetic combined with his subtle elegance had excellent reviews.

Fashion Designer Raf Simons For Jil Sander
Raf Simons For Jil Sander 2005-2012

In 2012, the designer replaced John Galliano as the artistic director of Christian Dior.

His first collection for the French house earned great praise for staying true to the romantic aesthetic of the brand while imparting a modern sensibility.

Fashion Designer Raf Simons Couture Collections For Dior
Raf Simons Couture Collections For Dior

In 2016, the Belgian fashion designer moved to Calvin Klein and announced the Kardashian family as the new faces of Calvin Klein Underwear and Calvin Klein Jeans.

In 2020, he joined forces with Miuccia Prada as Prada’s co-creative designer, a position he holds to the current day.

20. Olivier Rousteing

France
(Born in 1985)

Olivier Rousteing Fashion Designer
Olivier Rousteing

Born September 13, 1985, in Bordeaux, France, Olivier Rousteing is a French fashion designer and the creative director of Balmain since 2011.

Adopted at the age of 1, Olivier Rousteing went on to study at Ecole Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode in Paris.

Graduating in 2003, he began his career as a designer at Roberto Cavalli, climbing the ranks to become head of the brand’s womenswear division.

Balmain hired Rousteing in 2009 as the women’s ready-to-wear division to work with the house’s then-creative director, Christophe Decarnin.

At 24, in 2011, Olivier Rousteing was appointed Balmain’s creative director, the youngest fashion designer to hold such a powerful position in Paris since Yves Saint Laurent.

Fashion Designer Olivier Rousteing Iconic Collections For Balmain
Olivier Rousteing Iconic Collections for Balmain

Born into an internet-savvy generation, Rousteing pioneered Instagram marketing with his ‘Balmain Army’ of influencers dressed in the brand’s signature military style.

The designer’s supporters include famous influencers such as Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and Kim Kardashian West, and computer-generated models like Margot, Shudu, and Zhi.

Creative, with excellent social media skills and a strong voice for diversity in the fashion industry, the French fashion designer has mastered catering and engaging the digital generation of fashion-savvy.




Conclusion

As part of the new generation, there are many more fantastic fashion designers worth mentioning in this article, such as Christian Louboutin, Vera Wang, Emanuel Ungaro, Kate Spade, and Michael Kors.

Let’s not forget Donna Karan, Victoria Beckham, Zac Posen, Christian Audigier, Christian Lacroix, Christian Siriano, and Tory Burch, key fashion designers responsible for the looks we wear today.

This article on 20 iconic fashion designers is not definitive.

It will expand to include the fashion designers mentioned above, according to your proposals and votes, so feel free to contribute with your opinions on the best fashion designers.

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After years of managing hundreds of fashion brands from London's office of a global retailer, Mandy has ventured into freelancing. Connected with several fashion retailers and media platforms in the US, Australia, and the UK, Mandy uses her expertise to consult for emerging fashion brands create top-notch content as an editorial strategist for several online publications.

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18 COMMENTS

  1. Great article, pretty much confirming my idea of who the best fashion designers were, and my ranking idea as well! Here is my top of the most influential fashion designers of ALL time:

    Coco Chanel.
    Christian Dior.
    Pierre Cardin.
    Ralph Lauren.
    Yves Saint Laurent.
    Vivienne Westwood.
    Giorgio Armani.
    Donna Karan.

  2. Great top 20 best fashion designers of all time but I think you should complete it with some ICONIC Fashion Designers that somehow you’ve missed:

    1. Cristóbal Balenciaga – Spanish fashion designer (you’ve mentioned him twice in your article but don’t have him as a fashion designer of his own)

    2. Pierre Balmain – French fashion designer (you’ve added Olivier Rousteing as a top fashion designer but not the father of the fashion house he works for?)

    3. Paco Rabanne – Spanish fashion designer

    4. Giorgio Armani – Italian fashion designer (mentioned in a previous comment as well)

    5. Calvin Klein – American fashion designer (again, mentioned in relation to many ICONIC fashion designers in this article, but not having a profile of his own)

    6. Donna Karan – American fashion designer

    7. Diane von Furstenberg – Belgian fashion designer

    8. Betsey Johnson – American fashion designer

    9. Stella McCartney – British Fashion designer

    10. Vera Wang – American fashion designer

    11. Michael Kors – American fashion designer

    12. Tommy Hilfiger – American fashion designer

    13. Gianni Versace – Italian fashion designer (you talk about Donatella but not about her brother, that had an equally important contribution to the brand’s formation and success?)

    14. Carolina Herrera – Venezuelan fashion designer

    15. Salvatore Ferragamo – Italian fashion designer

    16. Christian Louboutin – French fashion designer

    17. Jimmy Choo – Malaysian Fashion designer

    18. Emilio Pucci – Italian fashion designer

    19. Kate Spade – American fashion designer

    20. Christian Lacroix – French fashion designer

    21. Jeanne Lanvin – French fashion designer

    • What about more modern fashion designers like Rick Owens, Damir Doma, Maurizio Amadei, and Yohji Yamamoto? Are they too young to be considered ICONIC fashion designers or what?

  3. Love all of these iconic fashion designers but in my opinion, French fashion designers are the best. I like Shchiaparelli’s work too, but she’s half-French anyway.

    • Shchiaparelli was full Italian but I agree with you, French fashion designers are a million times better than Italian fashion designers. That’s why there’s haute couture, that’s why Paris is the capital of fashion, that’s why and why and why.

  4. Are there any Canadian fashion designers that can be considered amongst the greatest fashion designers of all time? If yes, who?

  5. Wow! So informative! Had no idea Oscar de la Renta is Domenican! I always thought he was just another haute couture French designer! To me, Elsa Schiaparelli stood out the most, particularly her innovative ‘Trompe L’oeil’ designs, so inspiring and unique. I’d love to see your take on some influential American designers like Calvin Richard Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Kate Spade, and Michael Kors in your next update. Thank you for your amazing work!

  6. I kind of disagree with some people here but I think the best fashion designer ever is not Dior but Chanel

  7. The fact that Cristóbal Balenciaga isn’t on this list is just crazy. The man was considered the best designer even by C.Dior and Coco Chanel who used to refer to him as “the master of us all”, he also trained Givenchy … I feel like this list is about popularity rather than talent.

  8. Donatella should not be there if her brother isn’t…neither should Ralph. Calvin and Ralph are more image and brand makers than designers and Calvin doesn’t really have a piece of clothing he’s associated with except maybe Jeans and lots of boring neutral tones.. Marc Jacobs is America’s most interesting and influential designer since Halston. Balenciaga, Margiela, Comme, Yohji, Galliano, Alaia all missing from the top ten. It’s impossible to rank them. Phoebe Philo trumps Stella any day of the week. Don’t forget pioneers like Worth and a Charles James
    Bonkers list. Kate Spade?

  9. What a curious list…
    Stella McCartney will take her place in this century.
    Dior is sobbing in his grave. Not over his ranking, but concerning the very glaring omission of YVES SAINT-LAURENT!
    Stella McCartney will take her place as a designer in THIS century. Herein, our author has given away her youthful age.

  10. very interesting article, you mentioned the Antwerp 6 but you didn’t consider Martin Margiela? That’s a huge oversight imho. And where are the Japanese designers?

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