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Guy Laroche () (16 July 1921 – 17 February 1989) was a French fashion designer and founder of the eponymous company.
IMDB biography page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laroche, Guy 1921 births 1989 deaths Fashion accessory brands French fashion designers French brands High fashion brands Luxury brands People from La Rochelle
Guy Laroche () (16 July 1921 – 17 February 1989) was a French fashion designer and founder of the eponymous company.
Biography
Laroche was born in La Rochelle, and began his career in millinery. From 1949, Laroche worked forJean Dessès
Jean Dessès (6 August 1904 – 2 August 1970) was a world leading fashion designer in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. His designs reflected the influences of his travels, specializing in creating draped evening gowns in chiffon and mousseline, b ...
, eventually becoming his assistant. In 1955, he visited the U.S. to investigate new ready-to-wear
Ready-to-wear (or ''prêt-à-porter''; abbreviated RTW; "off-the-rack" or "off-the-peg" in casual use) is the term for ready-made garments, sold in finished condition in standardized sizes, as distinct from made-to-measure or bespoke clothing ...
manufacturing methods. In 1956 or 1957, he founded a high-fashion atelier at 37 Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, Paris.
His first collection was favorably received, and within it he reintroduced vibrant colors such as pink, orange, coral, topaz, and turquoise. His clothes also featured plunging neck and back lines. Traditional elegant color combinations remained a staple in his designs as well.
Known as being humble and gracious—as opposed to the haughty nature of most Parisian designers—he designed haute-couture, but practical clothing for women. For the American market, he was one of the first to create separates. As an example, a jacket to a three-piece woolen suit of black and several shades of blue is shown in the adjacent image. Along with the excellent workmanship throughout the garment, the exact matching of the pattern on the front, back, sleeves, and pockets marks the high quality, haute-couture, of the distinctive garment, although it was designed for practical use. The rest of the suit is solid black, with a skirt of the same material, and a silk blouse.
In 1961, he moved to larger quarters in a townhouse at 29 avenue Montaigne
Avenue Montaigne () is a street in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France.
Origin of the name
Avenue Montaigne was originally called the Allée des Veuves (widows' alley) because women in mourning gathered there, but the street has changed mu ...
, Paris, opened a boutique
A boutique () is a small shop that deals in fashionable clothing or accessories. The word is French for "shop", which derives ultimately from the Ancient Greek ἀποθήκη (''apothēkē'') "storehouse".
The term ''boutique'' and also ''d ...
there, and introduced his first ready-to-wear collection.
In 1966, Laroche introduced '' Fidji'', his first women's fragrance, designed men's ready-to-wear, and opened the Guy Laroche Monsieur boutique. He created other fragrances, such as:
* 1972 ''Drakkar''
* 1977 ''J'ai Osé''
* 1982 ''Drakkar Noir
Drakkar Noir is a men's fragrance by Guy Laroche created by perfumer Pierre Wargnye. The fragrance was introduced in 1982 and is manufactured under license by the L'Oréal Group. It is a successor scent to the brand's 1972 fragrance Drakkar, laun ...
''
* 1986 ''Clandestine''
* 1993 ''Horizon''
* 1999 ''Drakkar Dynamik''
Laroche died in Paris on 17 February 1989, at the age of 67.
Actress and film producer Hilary Swank
Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974) is an American actress and film producer. She first became known in 1992 for her role on the television series '' Camp Wilder'' and made her film debut with a minor role in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (1992 ...
won the Academy Award for Best Actress
The Academy Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role in a film released that year. ...
in 2005 wearing a Guy Laroche dress, at the time designed by Herve Leger Leroux.
Navy blue Guy Laroche dress of Hilary Swank
In November 2007, Franco-Swedish designer Marcel Marongiu took over as Artistic Director of Guy Laroche. Marcel Marongiu completed his third successful runway show with the AU/WI 2009 Collection.
References
* Anne Rapin (March 1996). "Interview with Fashion Designer Michel Klein", ''Label France'' magazine, No. 23, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FranceExternal links
*IMDB biography page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laroche, Guy 1921 births 1989 deaths Fashion accessory brands French fashion designers French brands High fashion brands Luxury brands People from La Rochelle