The most iconic way designers of the last 100 years

Giorgio Armani

Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani and models post-obit the presentation of the Armani fashion testify in Milan, on September 23, 2018.
ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images
  • Over the concluding 100 years, many fashion designers take greatly influenced how we dress.
  • Some pushed boundaries past creating a "new look," while others brought punk subcultures into the mainstream fashion scene.
  • From Coco Chanel to Valentino, Virgil Abloh, and Rihanna, here are the near iconic fashion designers of the concluding century.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories .

Some fashion designers volition forever be remembered for how they pushed boundaries and influenced how we all clothes.

From Coco Chanel'southward famous skirted suits to Alexander McQueen'due south out-of-the-box creations, these designers all stand out in history equally masters of gustatory modality and creativity.

New York Manner Week will be held this month with social distancing and other precautions in place, with shows happening remotely and streaming digitally.

Here are thirty of the virtually iconic fashion designers of the concluding 100 years.

Coco Chanel is famous for creating timeless perfumes and popularizing the little black dress and skirt accommodate set.

French fashion designer Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel.
AP Photo

In the early 1900s, Chanel's designs were considered sportier and more than freeing than other fashions of the time, as they didn't require a corset. Chanel is besides known for iconic fragrances such as Chanel No. 5.

Cristóbal Balenciaga was never formally trained but is regarded as 1 of the most influential mode designers in history.

Designer Cristóbal Balenciaga and Harper'south Bazaar editor in chief, Carmel Snow, in 1952.
Walter Sanders/The LIFE Flick Drove/Getty Images

Balenciaga specialized in evening wear and exquisite tailoring. Today, the brand leans much more into "streetwear" trends and out-of-the-box ideas such as the popular "shoes that expect like socks" that rose to prominence in the concluding few years.

Hubert de Givenchy is remembered every bit the favorite designer of Audrey Hepburn.

Audrey Hepburn with Hubert de Givenchy in his workshop in Paris.
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis/Getty Images

The actress, known at the time every bit Givenchy'southward most influential muse, wore the French designer'south creations in "Breakfast at Tiffany'southward," "Funny Face," and "Charade," among others. Givenchy's aesthetic was clean, archetype, and unapologetically feminine.

Pierre Balmain was a well-known French fashion designer who launched Revlon's first perfume and regularly dressed Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

Parisian designer Pierre Balmain is here with a model wearing his "Midnight Bathing Suit" with a skirt.
Bettman/Getty Images

Subsequently a partnership with Christian Dior fell through, the designer struggled to gain the same recognition as designers like Chanel, Dior, or Balenciaga. Nevertheless, he is notwithstanding remembered as one of the corking French fashion designers in history.

Edith Head was an American costume designer who won a record 8 Academy Awards for Best Costume Design throughout her career.

Edith Head, manager of costume blueprint for Paramount Pictures, is shown wearing her signature glasses.
Bettman/Getty Images

She has dressed everyone from Grace Kelly and Cary Grant to Elizabeth Taylor and Marlene Dietrich.

Her ain personal style — namely her eccentric glasses and a short haircut — take made her a recognizable pop culture icon, and some believe she inspired the Edna Mode character in "The Incredibles."

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

French manner designer Yves Saint Laurent and his models celebrate the unveiling of his second bound collection at the Firm of Dior in January 1960.
Express/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Afterward starting his ain manner firm, the designer created never-seen-before silhouettes and garments such as his legendary smoking suit in 1966, the reefer jacket in 1962, the sheer blouse in 1966, and the jumpsuit in 1968.

Emilio Pucci was well known for using bright, heart-catching prints in his designs.

The Florentine fashion designer Emilio Pucci surrounded by some of his models and working on i of his designs in Florence, Italian republic, in 1959.
David Lees/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall, Gina Lollobrigida, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis were all photographed wearing Pucci's signature eccentric fashions, according to The New York Times.

Paco Rabanne was all-time known for his space-age inspired designs throughout the late 1960s.

Fashion designer Paco Rabanne on the 1966 film set of "Casino Royale."
Doreen Spooner/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

His metal "link dress" made him famous, and Jane Fonda even modeled the designer's futuristic-inspired costumes in her picture show, "Barbarella."

"It is of import to remain impertinent, radical," Rabanne once told Faddy. "Cosmos must shock."

Italian designer Valentino Garavani, meliorate known equally Valentino, shot to fame after Elizabeth Taylor spotted one of his designs while shooting "Cleopatra" in Rome.

Designer Valentino in his Paris bazaar.
Jack Nisberg/Condé Nast/Getty Images

Taylor wore the white gown to the premiere of "Spartacus," and from there Valentino's star was born. Though Valentino was known for using his signature blood-red colour, his 1967 "no color" drove comprised of just white, beige, and ivory wear made him even more famous.

In contrast with the more colorful, psychedelic fashions of the time, Valentino'south collection stood out every bit refreshing and new.

Vivienne Westwood became a prominent designer during the punk rock fashion scene of tardily 1970s London.

Vivienne Westwood backstage prior to her Autumn/Winter 1991 collection.
John van Hasselt/Corbis/Getty Images

Westwood opened her beginning boutique at 430 Kings Route in London in 1971 and began filling the store with her eccentric, punk-inspired designs.

Westwood notably dressed the members of British punk rock band the Sex Pistols afterwards partnering with the band'southward manager, Malcolm McLaren. Westwood remained a prominent designer throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Calvin Klein studied blueprint in New York Urban center before starting his label with Barry Schwartz, who ran the business concern side of the company.

Bianca Jagger and Calvin Klein at Studio 54 in New York City, circa 1977.
Images Printing/IMAGES/Getty Images

The duo'due south conform and coat lines were successful, and soon Klein's sportswear became popular as well. Klein then ventured into denim, undergarments, and logo apparel that the brand is now famous for — as well as some provocative ads.

After starting out at Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren shot to fame with his own Polo Ralph Lauren way line.

Ralph Lauren leads a group of models downward a runway at a 1995 fashion show.
Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

Quintessentially American, Ralph Lauren's brand focused on an upper-class lifestyle and came to exist synonymous with "preppy" fashion throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

Betsey Johnson showtime rose to prominence in the 1960s due to her more destructive, out-of-the-box designs. However, in the 1970s, her brand really took off.

Betsey Johnson.
Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Johnson's designs featured vivid colors, fun patterns and textures, and a punk-glam artful.

Giorgio Armani is an Italian designer all-time known for his sleek men's and women's suits.

Italian style designer Giorgio Armani and models following the presentation of the Armani fashion show in Milan, on September 23, 2018.
ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images

Armani's "ability suits" accept been worn by Richard Gere, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jodie Foster, and John Travolta. The designer besides provided most of the wardrobe for "Miami Vice." Armani has since expanded his fashion firm to include eveningwear, fix-to-wear, and more than.

Donna Karan brought upper-course, New York way into stores across America with her DKNY fashion line.

Fashion designer Donna Karan attends the Tribeca Daring Women Peak during the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

In 2004, Karan received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Manolo Blahnik is a famous Castilian shoe designer known for his high-end stiletto heels.

Shoe designer Manolo Blahnik signs shoes as he makes a personal appearance at Bergdorf Goodman in New York Urban center.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Manolo Blahnik has been dearest by mode icons throughout history, from Twiggy to Sarah Jessica Parker's "Sex and the Metropolis" grapheme Carrie Bradshaw. In 1977, Bianca Jagger famously wore a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes when she entered dance club Studio 54 on a white horse.

Tom Ford led Gucci from 1994 to 2004, earlier starting his own characterization.

Tom Ford attends GQ Celebrates Milan Men'due south Way Calendar week on December 14, 2016, in Milan, Italy.
Victor Boyko/Getty Images

Ford overhauled Gucci'southward minimalist image, making the brand more than vibrant, retro-inspired, and sexy. During his tenure at the way house, sales shot from $230 million to $iii billion.

Ford created a buzz for his ain make when he posed in Tom Ford underwear between Scarlett Johansson and Keira Knightley on a 2006 Vanity Fair encompass.

Michael Kors is famous for his eponymous mode brand and for appearing on the hit reality series "Project Runway" alongside Heidi Klum.

Michael Kors walks the runway at a Michael Kors fashion testify.
JP Yim/Getty Images

Kors was interested in fashion from an early age, even recalling that he "hyperventilated" when the latest edition of Vogue arrived each month. Kors has received high praise for his high-end men'south and women'southward fashion lines, as well as his accessories.

Kors also notably designed the clothes worn by Michelle Obama in her first official portrait.

Marc Jacobs has held high positions at Perry Ellis and Louis Vuitton, just his own brand has also achieved astronomical success.

Marc Jacobs.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Despite a series of personal obstacles throughout his life, including estrangement from much of his family and a period of heavy drug and alcohol use that resulted in his checking into a rehab facility, Marc Jacobs is even so known as an extremely talented "boy wonder" of the fashion earth.

"For some reason, Marc's show is always the nearly important place to be seen, the one place where you lot know all the people who matter volition exist," Deena Abdulaziz, a member of the Saudi imperial family, told the New York Times.

Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace's life has been highly talked about and chronicled since his assassination in 1997.

Fashion designers Gianni Versace and Donatella Versace on the runway afterwards a Versace fashion show in March 1996 in New York Metropolis.
Catherine McGann/Getty Images

The designer was known for his designs oozing with sex appeal, and his sister, Donatella, has since channeled the same vision through her leadership at her late brother's style house.

Versace brought the style manufacture into the pop civilization sphere through his loyal collection of superstars and models who both worked for him and wore his designs. Versace has been credited with elevating Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Naomi Campbell to "supermodel" condition.

Alexander McQueen was known as a rule-breaker before his expiry in 2010.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Alexander McQueen at the "Anglomania" Met Gala in May 2006.
Evan Agostini/Getty Images Entertainment

In the late '90s and early 2000s, McQueen was the designer to watch. Known for not only pushing but completely breaking the boundaries of what was expected in mode at the time, McQueen created a name for himself at Givenchy and so later with his own way business firm.

McQueen wasn't shy about his lower-class background and proved to be a different kind of high-mode designer. Ane of his fashion shows notably featured a model who was an amputee. She walked the track on carved wooden legs.

"You've got to know the rules to break them. That's what I am here for, to demolish the rules but to go on the tradition," designer Alexander McQueen famously said of his subversive designs. McQueen died by suicide at the age of twoscore after both his longtime friend Isabella Blow and his female parent passed away.

Azzedine Alaia was known for his torso-hugging designs dear by stars over the final 30 years.

Kourtney Kardashian and Azzedine Alaia nourish Paris Fashion Week on October 2, 2016 in Paris, France.
Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images

Later working as an apprentice for the Thierry Mugler, Christian Dior, and Guy Laroche, Alaia started his own fashion line in the early 1980s. His designs were notably figure-hugging, accentuating the bosom, and cinching the waist. The New York Times called him a "sculptor of the female form."

Alaia was known for beingness outspoken. He criticized fashion legends such as Vogue'due south Anna Wintour for her style and designer Karl Lagerfeld, who he said had "never touched a pair of pair of scissors."

On November eighteen, 2017, information technology was announced Alaia had passed away.

Karl Lagerfeld is credited with elevating Chanel to global prominence too as being a strong creative vision behind Tommy Hilfiger and Fendi.

Karl Lagerfeld on the runway during the Chanel Paris Style Week show on July three, 2012, in Paris, France.
Michel Dufour/WireImage

Lagerfeld is recognized as ane of the most influential fashion designers in history. Throughout his life, Lagerfeld created smart, sexy, and in-the-moment designs for Chanel, Fendi, Chloe, and more.

On February 19, 2019, it was announced that the iconic designer had passed away in Paris.

In a memorial tribute, British Fashion Council Principal Executive Caroline Blitz said, "His unrivaled contribution to the way manufacture changed the mode women dress and perceive fashion. He inspired generations of immature designers and will continue to practice so."

Diane von Furstenberg invented the wrap dress in 1972 and is known for her fashion label, DVF.

Diane von Furstenberg.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Diane von Furstenberg is known for being an ambitious designer who started a phenomenon, once reportedly crafting more than 15,000 wrap dresses a week.

"I had a very downward-to-globe production, my wrap clothes, which was really a uniform. It was just a simple little cotton-jersey dress that everybody loved and everybody wore," von Furstenberg told New York Mag in 1988. "That one dress sold about three or four million. I would come across 20, 30 dresses walking downwards i block. All sorts of dissimilar women. It felt very skilful. Young and old, and fat and thin, and poor and rich."

Christian Siriano studied under Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood before auditioning for — and winning — the 4th season of "Project Runway."

Christian Siriano.
Miller Mobley/Bravo/NBCU Photo Depository financial institution via Getty Images

After winning the show, Siriano started his own line in 2008. By 2010, the label had earned $1.2 million in revenue. By 2015, that figure had raised to $5 1000000.

Known for his artistic eveningwear frequently featured on the red rug, Siriano has designed for Billy Porter, Whoopi Goldberg, Janelle Monae, and more.

Stella McCartney may exist a former Beatle's daughter, but she has paved her ain way with her eponymous fashion line.

Stella McCartney.
Steven Lovekin/Getty Images

In 1997, McCartney was hired to revitalize the Chloé brand. The British designer created feminine, subtly sexy designs with a romantic spin that attracted a number of celebrity clients, including Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kate Moss. After achieving success at Chloé, McCartney received funding from Gucci to start her own line.

McCartney shot to prominence in the conjugal fashion sphere and designed Meghan Markle'due south stunning white halter-neck reception dress for her wedding to Prince Harry. A vegetarian, McCartney's label is committed to sustainability, is cruelty-costless, and uses only faux fur and faux leather.

Virgil Abloh completely inverse the face of the fashion industry when he took over every bit creative manager of Louis Vuitton'south menswear.

Virgil Abloh.
Edward Berthelot/GC Images

Before bringing luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton into a more modern, streetwear-inspired space, Abloh started his own fashion brand, Off-White.

A friend and collaborator of Kanye West, Abloh famously told Due west Magazine, "We were a generation that was interested in style and weren't supposed to be there. We saw this as our chance to participate and make current culture. In a lot of ways, it felt similar we were bringing more excitement than the industry was."

Deal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Keep reading