Fonseca-Wollheim, Corinna da (8 March 2013). "A Senate of Prostitutes? Now That's Opera!". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 6 February 2023. Lanvin is one of the oldest designer brands in France. Founded in 1889, it started out small and focussed only on hats. Created by Jeanne Lanvin at the age of 22, she soon entered the world of womenswear, home decor, and lingerie. As the third oldest French fashion house still in operation, today it works alongside some of the most influential designers in modern fashion history. With names ranging from the late Alber Elbaz to Claude Montana in its long list of creative directors, it remains an important element of the rich history of French fashion houses.

While most will think of luxury designers as haute couture or ready-to-wear, Derek Rose defies them all with its high-end loungewear and pajamas. The intimate apparel designer was founded in 1926, focusing on making the wearer feel relaxed and comfortable. In 1987, it received the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement and expanded its stores worldwide. Even 100 years later, its luxurious fabrics and effortless designs are intended for those who want to enjoy their free time. Tom Ford, the man once destined to be an actor, is now a world-renowned fashion designer name. After working as the creative director for esteemed fashion houses such as Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci, Ford set up his own eponymous brand in 2005. Since then, his luxury fashion label has garnered a reputation for being one of the most suave and sophisticated designer brands for men. Tom Ford clothes are known for their impeccable tailoring, high-quality fabrics, and sleek outerwear that seamlessly blend formality and sexuality. The brand’s wide-brimmed retro sunglasses have also become a staple of its aesthetic. Arguably, Tom Ford is one of today’s most successful fashion designers, having won the award for Best International Designer in the year 2000, and now a household name. Karl Lagerfeld’s contribution to the Fendi brand is perhaps best exemplified by his lightning-fast creation of the iconic “FF” Zucca logo. In just three seconds, Lagerfeld managed to infuse Fendi’s nearly century-old identity with a fresh and youthful energy. Of course, Lagerfeld’s lasting legacy at Fendi extends far beyond a simple logo redesign. From 1965 until his death in 2019, he served as the brand’s creative director, constantly pushing the boundaries of what the luxury label could achieve. While Kim Jones is now at the helm of Fendi, the brand’s bold and dramatic use of furs and leather remains a hallmark of the designer’s vision. Fendi stands alongside other legendary designer brands as a testament to Lagerfeld’s indelible influence on the fashion world.

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In addition to operas, Cavalli wrote settings of the Magnificat in the grand Venetian polychoral style, settings of the Marian antiphons, other sacred music in a more conservative manner – notably a Requiem Mass in eight parts ( SSAATTBB), probably intended for his own funeral – and some instrumental music. [2] Sacred works [ edit ] Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel reimagined traditionally masculine garments for feminine shapes, and her elegant evening dresses and gowns promoted comfort and grace in women’s wear that had been dominated in the previous century by layers of fabric. French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent introduced innovative and highly coveted dress designs in the 1960s while at the same time challenging sexist stereotypes about which members of society could wear tuxedos. Works by unconventional British designer John Galliano — featured in houses like Givenchy and Dior — redefined limits that dressmakers faced in terms of material, construction and vision during the late 20th century. Cavalli introduced melodious arias into his music and popular types into his libretti. His operas have a remarkably strong sense of dramatic effect as well as a great musical facility, and a grotesque humour which was characteristic of Italian opera down to the death of Alessandro Scarlatti. Cavalli's operas provide the only example of a continuous musical development of a single composer in a single genre from the early to the late 17th century in Venice — only a few operas by others (e.g., Monteverdi and Antonio Cesti) survive. The development is particularly interesting to scholars because opera was still quite a new medium when Cavalli began working, and had matured into a popular public spectacle by the end of his career.

Walker, Thomas (2001). "Cavalli [Caletti, Caletto, Bruni, Caletti-Bruni, Caletto Bruni], (Pietro) [Pier] Francesco". Grove Music Online. Revised by Irene Alm. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.05207. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription or UK public library membership required) As a symbol of British punk and rebellion, Vivienne Westwood remains one of the most iconic top designer brands in modern fashion history. Launching a store in London called SEX, she paved the way for the punk subculture to enter the mainstream. Her pieces include ripped T-shirts, plaid, and sky-high platform heels – which supermodel Naomi Campbell famously wore (and fell) on the runway in 1993. A proud rebel of the industry, her pieces remain political and symbolic statements against conformists and defined an era of defiance against the norm. With entire museum exhibitions dedicated to examining fashion designers and their creations, we’re finally recognizing that costuming is art. Fashion is a powerful means of self-expression, and sophisticated vintage evening dresses and gowns by our favorite couturier play no small role in making us feel wonderful but, perhaps more importantly, making us feel like ourselves. Balenciaga is a designer brand that originated in the Basque Country of Spain before relocating to France due to the Spanish Civil War. Known for their sleek and linear lines, Balenciaga’s designs went against the popular hourglass shape popularized by Christian Dior during the post-war era. The fashion house made waves in the 1950s with their revolutionary approach to women’s fashion and trademark styles such as the collar that deviated from the collar bone and the “bracelet sleeves.” In 2001, Balenciaga was acquired by French company Kering, which also owns other top designer brands including Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, and Alexander McQueen. With continued impressive growth, Balenciaga remains a strong contender in the world of designer fashion.Cavalli was born at Crema, then an inland province of the Venetian Republic. He became a singer (boy soprano) at St Mark's Basilica in Venice in 1616, where he had the opportunity to work under the tutorship of Claudio Monteverdi. He became second organist in 1639, first organist in 1665, and in 1668 maestro di cappella. He took the name "Cavalli" from his patron, Venetian nobleman Federico Cavalli. Though he wrote prolifically for the church, he is chiefly remembered for his operas. He began to write for the stage in 1639 ( Le nozze di Teti e di Peleo) soon after the first public opera house opened in Venice, the Teatro San Cassiano. He established so great a reputation that he was summoned to Paris from 1660 (when he revived his opera Xerse) until 1662, producing his Ercole amante. He died in Venice at the age of 73. Selfridge-Field, Eleanor, Venetian Instrumental Music, from Gabrieli to Vivaldi. New York: Dover Publications, 1994. ISBN 0-486-28151-5 Louis Vuitton is one of the most iconic designer brands in the world today, but it wasn’t always that way. As a teenager in 1837, Louis Vuitton arrived in Paris and began his career as a trunk maker. After many years of honing his craft and building his reputation, he set up his own brand, which became known for its high-quality trunks and impeccable craftsmanship. The famous “LV” monogram was created in response to the flood of fake Louis Vuitton trunks in the market. As the 20th century rolled around, the brand expanded into leather bags, which brought even greater cultural cachet to the brand. In 1997, the brand began producing clothing under Marc Jacobs, and later on, Kim Jones introduced streetwear elements that culminated in the LV x Supreme collaboration in FW17. The recent appointment of Virgil Ablohas head of menswear was a bold move for the brand, but sadly, he passed away in November 2021. Cavalli's music was revived in the twentieth century. The Glyndebourne production of La Calisto is an example. [7] More recently, Hipermestra was performed at Glyndebourne in 2017. [8]

Today’s designers target an increasingly broad audience with their boundary-crossing work, and their tendency to play off of each other’s ideas means that every walk down the runway is also a walk through an entire history of fashion design and dress craftsmanship. Ross, Alex, " Unsung: Rediscovering the Operas of Francesco Cavalli." The New Yorker, 25 May 2009, pp.84–85. In the early 1970s Cavalli unveiled his first namesake collection in Paris and the Sala Bianca of Palazzo Pitti in Florence. He then opened his inaugural boutique in France’s Saint-Tropez in 1972. While the designer’s printed denim offerings were deemed unsophisticated by the day’s couturiers — they looked down upon the material — Cavalli’s form-fitting, sensual cuts, innovative patchwork and obvious dedication to impeccable craftsmanship found admirers in the likes of Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot. Musiche sacre concernenti messa, e salmi concertati con istromenti, imni, antifone et sonate (Venecia, 1656). The discography is extensive and Cavalli has featured in BBC Radio 3's Composer of the Week series. [2] See also [ edit ]For those who enjoy two-wheeled motor vehicles, you would be well aware of Belfast and its influence on motorcycle fashion. Founded in 1924 by Eli Belovitch and Harry Grosberg in Staffordshire. As the first company to use wax cotton, it paved the way for waterproof apparel. In the decades since, it has remained true to its heritage, crafting men’s and women’s outerwear and pieces designed for adventures and those on the go. Cavalli wrote forty-one operas, twenty-seven of which are extant, being preserved in the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana (Library of St Mark) in Venice. Copies of some of the operas also exist in other locations. In addition, two last operas ( Coriolano and Masenzio), which are clearly attributed to him, are lost, as well as twelve other operas that have been attributed to him, though the music is lost and attribution impossible to prove. It was never staged and was replaced by another opera of the same name by Giovanni Antonio Boretti. Eliogabalo was first performed in 1999, in Crema, Italy. [5] [6]