Manolo Blahnik & Christian Louboutin

Manolo Blahnik was born on November 27, 1942 in the Canary Islands. He did not go to school for shoe design. He first worked at a boutique called feathers. He first designed mens saddle shoes when he started to work at Zapata. Ossie Clark asked him to design women's shoes for his collection and thats how he started getting into designing women's shoes. He worked with a shoe manufacturer to better his skills of shoe design. Manolo ended up buying Zapata which was his first shoe store. By the 1980's the Manolo Blahnik shoes distribution was limited to prestigious retailers only. His shoes ended up on top designer runway shows and they got more popular. It was not until they would constantly be talked about on the show Sex and the City that they became so well known that the demand for them exceeded its supply. Now his shoes are known everywhere.

Christian Louboutin was born on January 7, 1963 in France. He went to Academie Roederer for school. His first job in fashion was basically as a freelance designer. Christian first worked with Charles Jourdan. He worked with Roger Vivier and learned more about making shoes from him. He opened his very first store in the 90's after having experience making shoes. He decided to include his red sole in every shoe because of red nail polish. His shoes were known for being sexy and sheik. Christians heels were very successful and branched out into a handbag line in 2003. That handbag line has done great and now even has a mens shoe line. He is now known as one of the top designers on the planet.











Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin have similarities and differences. A similarity is that they both started with a good job in the fashion industry. A difference is that Christian had more knowledge in making shoes than Manolo because he went to school. Another similarity is that they both got to own their own shoe store. Another difference is that Christian branched out to a handbag line which are considered to be classic and elegant. They are both influenced by paris and have had huge success. These are some similarities and differences between these two designers.









Biography 

Gessner, Liz. "Blahnik, Manolo." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bazf/bazf00075.xml>.

Shawcross, Rebecca. "High Heels." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bazf/bazf00301.xml>.

"Christian Louboutin." Marketing Oct 17 2012: 20-. ProQuest. Web. 11 Mar. 2013 .


Morra, Bernadette. "Sole Seduction." Flare 2009: 119-20. ProQuest. Web. 11 Mar. 2013 .
Image Biography

Menkes, Suzy. "Manolo Blahnik: The Shoe Sculptor." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Feb. 2012. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/fashion/23iht-rmanolo23.html?_r=0                                                                                                                                   "Ruffles & Bells." Ruffles Bells. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://rufflesandbells.wordpress.com/tag/manolo-blahnik/>.
"Na Blog.cz." Blog.cz. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://abi.blog.cz/0909/manolo-blahnik>.
"Silhouettes." Christian Louboutin. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://blogs.artinfo.com/silhouettes/tag/christian-louboutin/>.
"Christian Louboutin, Master Shoemaker." The Oracle on Buying. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://patrizia-molechino.360fashion.net/2012/01/christian-louboutin-master-shoemaker.php>.
"V Neck." V Neck 120mm Rouge Lipstick Patent. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://us.christianlouboutin.com/us_en/shop/women/v-neck.html>.

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lifshitz was born on October 14, 1939 in the Bronx, New York. He did not attend college for fashion. His first job in the fashion industry was as a tie salesman at Brooks Brothers. Since he was a child he was really into fashion. His first line was a tie line under the name polo. Soon after big department stores like Bloomingdale's were selling his ties. He got really famous when he debuted his polo shirts. He has even designed clothing for big movies like the original "Great Gatsby". He now has different kinds of lines which are all successful. He now is considered to be a very good businessman as well as a designer.














Biography 

Gross, Michael. "Lauren, Ralph." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bazf/bazf00359.xml>.

Gibson, Pamela. "Hollywood Style." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bazf/bazf00308.xml>.
Image Biography
"Cow." Wear Cow. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2013. <http://www.wearecow.com/news>.
"The Trad." : A 1972 Christmas. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2013. <http://thetrad.blogspot.com/2010/12/1972-christmas-from-neiman-marcus.html>.
"21 Moments That Made Ralph Lauren." Esquirecom Article. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2013. <http://www.esquire.com/style/laurenmoments1107>.
"21 Moments That Made Ralph Lauren." Esquirecom Article. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2013. <http://www.esquire.com/style/laurenmoments1107>.

Hugo Boss

Hugo Ferdinand Boss was born on July 8, 1885 in Metzingen, Germany. He founded his own company in Germany. He would only design work clothes at first. Then  he started making clothing for troops and officers. He supported the Nazis so he was the one designing their uniforms. He died in 1948. The Marzotto group is the one that expanded his name into different clothing lines once they bought part of it. He is dead but his name is now known all over the place.
























Biography 

Hecht, Thomas. "Hugo Boss." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bazf/bazf00313.xml>. 

Vangkilde, Kasper. "Snapshot: Creating a Collection in a Big Company." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, Sept. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bewdf/BEWDF-v8/EDch8026.xml>. 


Image Biography

"Men's Perfumes." Beautybag. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. <http://www.beautybag.gr/proizvodi_2.asp?naziv=HUGO%20BOSS&pol=m&vrsta_proizvoda=perfume>.

"Better Than Nylund." : Heil Hugo: Boss as a Famed Clothier and Flawed Human. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2013. <http://betterthannylund.blogspot.com/2010/12/heil-hugo-boss-as-famed-clothier-and.html>. 
"The Cutting Edge." The Cutting Edge News. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2013. <http://www.thecuttingedgenews.com/index.php?article=52777>.
"Better Than Nylund." : Heil Hugo: Boss as a Famed Clothier and Flawed Human. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2013. <http://betterthannylund.blogspot.com/2010/12/heil-hugo-boss-as-famed-clothier-and.html>.

Valentino

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was born on may 11, 1932 in Voghera, Italy. He attended Ecole des Beaux-Arts and Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. His first job in fashion was was with Jean Desses and he would help her with her sketching ideas. He won the Neiman Marcus award for his no colour collection. Then when he showed off his Valentino white collection, it became instantly known for the V logo he had designed. He opened ready to wear stores little by little and they sold really good. After 45 years of doing what he loves he retired. Now the Valentino brand is still widely recognized and successful.














Biography

Steele, Valerie. "Italian Fashion." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bazf/bazf00323.xml>. 

Calefato, Patrizia. "Fashion Intertexts." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2004. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/CLOTHBOD/chapter-CLOTHBOD0016.xml>. 

Donn, Allegra. "Valentino's Day." The Times: 42. Mar 04 2006. ProQuest Central. Web. 25 Feb. 2013 . 


Image Bibliography 

"Valentino Garavani Is Made Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France." Vogue English. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://en.vogue.fr/fashion/fashion-news/articles/valentino-garavani-is-made-commander-of-the-order-of-arts-and-letters-in-france/16211>. 

"Contemporary Beauty & Italian Fashion." - IT130_FA2010. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://www.personal.psu.edu/mda5138/blogs/it130_fa2010/2010/12/contemporary-beauty-italian-fashion.html>.

"This Is the Dress Julia Roberts Wore When She Won... - Classic, Actually." This Is the Dress Julia Roberts Wore When She Won... - Classic, Actually. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://classic-actually.tumblr.com/post/24110029479/this-is-the-dress-julia-roberts-wore-when-she-won>.

"Snag a Fierce, Red Valentino Dress!" Examiner.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://www.examiner.com/article/snag-a-fierce-red-valentino-dress>.

Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli was born November, 15 1940 in Florence, Italy. He went to Florence Academy of the Art. His first job in the fashion industry was as a textile printer. He was recognized due to his prints. He figured out how to print on leather and people were very amused by it. He experimented with jeans and made the sand blasted jean which did good when he debuted it. He also worked on making stretch jeans. He liked working on jeans as well not just on gowns. Now his brand is still as successful as it was before.











Biography 

Hecht, Thomas. "Dance Costume." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bazf/bazf00157.xml>.

Vernon, Polly. "Observer Magazine: COVER STORY: KING OF BLING: For Sheer show- Stopping, Paparazzi-Pleasing, Extravagantly Sleazy Style, there's Only One Designer to Go to. Polly Vernon Slips Past the Velvet Rope to Meet Roberto Cavalli in His Milan Apartment and Hears about His Celebrity Friends, His Star Sign and how He Became the Fashion World's Guru of Glitz." The Observer: 16. Aug 17 2003. ProQuest Central. Web. 18 Feb. 2013 .

Mears, Patricia. "Orientalism." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bazf/bazf00437.xml>.

Teunissen, José. Gibbs, Michael. "The Netherlands." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, Sept. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bewdf/BEWDF-v8/EDch8039.xml>.

Image Biography

Edito Simons. N.p., 2 Feb. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://www.editosimons.ca/artist.php?lang=en&name=58>.
"Get Roberto Cavalli Dress as Seen on Beyonce |." Lwcloset. N.p., 27 Sept. 2012. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. <http://www.lwcloset.com/?p=5912>.
"New Hot Sneakers N Shoes." : Roberto Cavalli Men's Clothing. N.p., 28 May 2011. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. <http://hotsneakersshoes.blogspot.com/2011/05/roberto-cavalli-men-clothing.html>.

"R

Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs was born on April 9, 1963 in New York city. He went to Parsons school of design. His first job in fashion was at a clothing boutique called Charivari and he worked as a stock boy there. At his graduation he won the Perry Ellis Gold thimble award as well as design student of the year. He is the youngest designer that has won the Council of Fashion Designers of America Perry Ellis award for new fashion talent. He started designing womens wear for Perry Ellis which got him another CFDA award but this time for womens wear designer of the year. Then he created a grunge look collection but Perry Ellis company did not like it. He then left to start the Marc Jacobs label and it became successful. He then became the creative director of Louis Vuitton. He made their first ready to wear line which was successful with that and his own label as well.














Bibliography

O'Neill, Alistair. "Vuitton, Louis." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 5 Feb. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bazf/bazf00624.xml>.

Meisel, Steven. "Fashion: Vogue View: Paris Match: How has New York's Dauphin of Grungy, Understated Cool Become the Roi Soleil of in-Yourface Parisian Luxury? Sally Singer Talks to Marc Jacobs about Growing Up, Going French, and Living La Vida Logo." Vogue Feb 01 2000: 240,240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247. The Vogue Archive. Web. 5 Feb. 2013 .

Image Bibliography 

Webley, Kayla. "Marc Jacobs." Time. Time, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2013. <http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2110513_2110512_2110681,00.html>. 
"The Day That Grunge Became Glam." On This Day In Fashion RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2013. <http://onthisdayinfashion.com/?p=7759>.
"The New Face for Dior: Marc Jacobs." Nazmiyal Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2013. <http://nazmiyalantiquerugs.com/blog/2011/08/fashion-news-christian-dior-marc-jacobs/>.

Tom Ford

Thomas Carlyle Ford was born on August 27, 1961 in Austin, Texas. He attended Parsons school of design but only studied fashion during is final year. His first real job in fashion was with Cathy Hardwick as an assistant designer. He became famous for being the creative director of Gucci and he basically reinvented the label with his style in designing. His suits were chosen for Daniel Craig for the Quantum of solace movie. Then he opened up a production company and directed his very first movie called a single man which debuted in 2009 at Venice film festival. The movie did have big actors like Colin firth and Julianne Moore and it ended up being a good movie. He now has his own label which  includes accessories as well and  is widely recognized and has made a name for himself in the fashion industry.

Bibliography

Carrara, Gillion. "Gucci." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bazf/bazf00280.xml>. 

Golbin, Pamela. "Saint Laurent, Yves." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bazf/bazf00495.xml>.

O'Neill, Alistair. "Ford, Tom." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com/view/bazf/bazf00254.xml>.

Image Bibliography

"The Talks: Interview with Tom Ford." Hypebeast. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. <http://hypebeast.com/2011/7/the-talks-interview-with-tom-ford>. 
"The Reign of Ford." Gucci Glamour. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. <http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/02/0205_gucci/source/2.htm>.
"Golden Year by Tom Ford (series)." Taistoi Sois Beau. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. <http://www.taistoisoisbeau.com/blog/2012/09/04/golden-year-tom-ford-series-16/>.
"Tom Ford Suits for Men." Stylisheve.com – Fashion Trends & Interior Design Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. <http://www.stylisheve.com/tom-ford-suits-for-men/>.
Www.posh24.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2013. <http://www.posh24.com/style_spotlight/emma_stone_goes_bold_in_tom_ford>.