The most iconic style designers of the last 100 years

Giorgio Armani

Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani and models following the presentation of the Armani manner prove in Milan, on September 23, 2018.
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  • Over the last 100 years, many fashion designers have greatly influenced how we wearing apparel.
  • Some pushed boundaries by creating a "new look," while others brought punk subcultures into the mainstream manner scene.
  • From Coco Chanel to Valentino, Virgil Abloh, and Rihanna, here are the almost iconic mode designers of the final century.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more than stories .

Some style designers will forever exist remembered for how they pushed boundaries and influenced how we all dress.

From Coco Chanel'south famous skirted suits to Alexander McQueen's out-of-the-box creations, these designers all stand out in history every bit masters of taste and creativity.

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

Here are 30 of the most iconic fashion designers of the last 100 years.

Coco Chanel is famous for creating timeless perfumes and popularizing the piffling blackness apparel and skirt suit ready.

French way designer Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel.
AP Photo

In the early on 1900s, Chanel's designs were considered sportier and more than freeing than other fashions of the fourth dimension, as they didn't crave a corset. Chanel is also known for iconic fragrances such as Chanel No. five.

Cristóbal Balenciaga was never formally trained just is regarded every bit one of the most influential fashion designers in history.

Designer Cristóbal Balenciaga and Harper'due south Boutique editor in chief, Carmel Snowfall, in 1952.
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Balenciaga specialized in evening wear and exquisite tailoring. Today, the make leans much more into "streetwear" trends and out-of-the-box ideas such equally the pop "shoes that look like socks" that rose to prominence in the last few years.

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

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

The extra, known at the time equally Givenchy'due south about influential muse, wore the French designer'southward creations in "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "Funny Face," and "Deception," amongst others. Givenchy'due south aesthetic was clean, classic, and unapologetically feminine.

Pierre Balmain was a well-known French way 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 Adapt" with a skirt.
Bettman/Getty Images

After a partnership with Christian Dior savage through, the designer struggled to gain the same recognition every bit designers like Chanel, Dior, or Balenciaga. However, he is all the same remembered as one of the great French manner designers in history.

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

Edith Caput, director of costume design for Paramount Pictures, is shown wearing her signature glasses.
Bettman/Getty Images

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

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

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

French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his models celebrate the unveiling of his 2d spring collection at the House of Dior in January 1960.
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After starting his own fashion firm, the designer created never-seen-earlier silhouettes and garments such as his legendary smoking conform 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, center-catching prints in his designs.

The Florentine manner designer Emilio Pucci surrounded past some of his models and working on one of his designs in Florence, Italy, 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 best known for his space-age inspired designs throughout the late 1960s.

Fashion designer Paco Rabanne on the 1966 flick prepare 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 film, "Barbarella."

"It is of import to remain impertinent, radical," Rabanne in one case told Faddy. "Creation must shock."

Italian designer Valentino Garavani, better known as Valentino, shot to fame subsequently Elizabeth Taylor spotted ane of his designs while shooting "Cleopatra" in Rome.

Designer Valentino in his Paris bazaar.
Jack Nisberg/CondƩ 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 red color, his 1967 "no colour" collection comprised of merely white, beige, and ivory clothing made him even more famous.

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

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

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

Westwood opened her commencement boutique at 430 Kings Road in London in 1971 and began filling the shop with her eccentric, punk-inspired designs.

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

Calvin Klein studied design in New York Metropolis earlier starting his label with Barry Schwartz, who ran the concern side of the company.

Bianca Jagger and Calvin Klein at Studio 54 in New York City, circa 1977.
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The duo'south suit and coat lines were successful, and before long Klein's sportswear became popular as well. Klein then ventured into denim, undergarments, and logo apparel that the brand is at present famous for — too as some provocative ads.

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

Ralph Lauren leads a group of models downwards a rail at a 1995 fashion testify.
Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

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

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

Betsey Johnson.
Evan Agostini/Getty Images

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

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

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

Armani'south "ability suits" have been worn by Richard Gere, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jodie Foster, and John Travolta. The designer as well provided most of the wardrobe for "Miami Vice." Armani has since expanded his fashion house to include eveningwear, ready-to-wear, and more than.

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

Style designer Donna Karan attends the Tribeca Daring Women Summit during the 2016 Tribeca Motion-picture show 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 Spanish shoe designer known for his high-end stiletto heels.

Shoe designer Manolo Blahnik signs shoes every bit he makes a personal appearance at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Manolo Blahnik has been beloved past style icons throughout history, from Twiggy to Sarah Jessica Parker'southward "Sexual activity and the Urban center" character Carrie Bradshaw. In 1977, Bianca Jagger famously wore a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes when she entered trip the light fantastic toe club Studio 54 on a white horse.

Tom Ford led Gucci from 1994 to 2004, before starting his own label.

Tom Ford attends GQ Celebrates Milan Men'due south Style Week on December 14, 2016, in Milan, Italia.
Victor Boyko/Getty Images

Ford overhauled Gucci'southward minimalist image, making the make more vibrant, retro-inspired, and sexy. During his tenure at the fashion house, sales shot from $230 million to $3 billion.

Ford created a buzz for his own brand when he posed in Tom Ford underwear between Scarlett Johansson and Keira Knightley on a 2006 Vanity Off-white cover.

Michael Kors is famous for his eponymous fashion brand and for appearing on the striking reality serial "Projection Rails" alongside Heidi Klum.

Michael Kors walks the runway at a Michael Kors mode evidence.
JP Yim/Getty Images

Kors was interested in manner 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-finish men's and women's way lines, too every bit his accessories.

Kors as well notably designed the dress worn by Michelle Obama in her get-go official portrait.

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

Marc Jacobs.
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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 nevertheless known as an extremely talented "boy wonder" of the fashion earth.

"For some reason, Marc'due south show is always the almost important place to be seen, the 1 identify where you know all the people who matter will be," Deena Abdulaziz, a member of the Saudi royal family unit, told the New York Times.

Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace'due south life has been highly talked nearly and chronicled since his assassination in 1997.

Style designers Gianni Versace and Donatella Versace on the track after a Versace fashion prove in March 1996 in New York Metropolis.
Catherine McGann/Getty Images

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

Versace brought the fashion industry 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" status.

Alexander McQueen was known every bit a rule-breaker before his death 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 non but pushing but completely breaking the boundaries of what was expected in fashion at the time, McQueen created a name for himself at Givenchy and then later with his own manner house.

McQueen wasn't shy about his lower-class background and proved to be a different kind of high-fashion designer. One 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 suspension them. That's what I am here for, to annihilate the rules simply to keep the tradition," designer Alexander McQueen famously said of his subversive designs. McQueen died by suicide at the age of 40 later both his longtime friend Isabella Blow and his mother passed away.

Azzedine Alaia was known for his body-hugging designs beloved by stars over the last 30 years.

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

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

Alaia was known for being outspoken. He criticized fashion legends such every bit 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 18, 2017, it was appear Alaia had passed away.

Karl Lagerfeld is credited with elevating Chanel to global prominence as well as existence a strong creative vision backside Tommy Hilfiger and Fendi.

Karl Lagerfeld on the runway during the Chanel Paris Manner Calendar week show on July 3, 2012, in Paris, France.
Michel Dufour/WireImage

Lagerfeld is recognized every bit one 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 appear that the iconic designer had passed away in Paris.

In a memorial tribute, British Fashion Council Primary Executive Caroline Rush said, "His unrivaled contribution to the manner industry changed the way women dress and perceive mode. He inspired generations of young designers and will go along to practice and then."

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

Diane von Furstenberg.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

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

"I had a very down-to-globe product, my wrap dress, which was really a uniform. It was merely a unproblematic little cotton wool-jersey dress that everybody loved and everybody wore," von Furstenberg told New York Mag in 1988. "That ane dress sold about 3 or four million. I would see 20, thirty dresses walking downwards ane cake. All sorts of different women. It felt very good. Young and quondam, and fat and thin, and poor and rich."

Christian Siriano studied under Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood before auditioning for — and winning — the fourth season of "Projection Rails."

Christian Siriano.
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After winning the testify, Siriano started his own line in 2008. Past 2010, the label had earned $1.ii million in revenue. By 2015, that figure had raised to $5 million.

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

Stella McCartney may exist a quondam Beatle's girl, but she has paved her own manner with her eponymous style line.

Stella McCartney.
Steven Lovekin/Getty Images

In 1997, McCartney was hired to revitalize the ChloƩ make. 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. Later achieving success at ChloƩ, McCartney received funding from Gucci to start her ain line.

McCartney shot to prominence in the bridal fashion sphere and designed Meghan Markle's stunning white halter-cervix reception wearing apparel for her wedding to Prince Harry. A vegetarian, McCartney's label is committed to sustainability, is cruelty-gratis, and uses only false fur and faux leather.

Virgil Abloh completely changed the confront of the fashion industry when he took over as artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear.

Virgil Abloh.
Edward Berthelot/GC Images

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

A friend and collaborator of Kanye West, Abloh famously told Due west Magazine, "We were a generation that was interested in fashion and weren't supposed to be there. We saw this as our gamble to participate and make electric current civilisation. In a lot of means, it felt similar nosotros were bringing more excitement than the manufacture was."

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