Christian Dior’s New Look
1947 – the year that Christian Dior brought us the feminine cinched waist, full skirt and rounded shoulders… in short, the New Look. Loved then as a backlash to WWII austerity, loved still in Raf Simons’ poetic re-invention for 2012.
Gabrielle Coco Chanel’s Little Black Dress
Chanel invented the look and Audrey Hepburn made it a certified must-have. Who could forget the moment that she graced the opening of Breakfast at Tiffany’s coiffed and eternally elegant in that Givenchy Little Black Dress?
Mary Quant’s Micro Mini
Fun, flirtatious and liberated, the skirt shot to electric heights in the Sixties to become the ubiquitous style staple.
Yves Saint Laurent’s Le Smoking
“I like le smoking because that was the moment when Yves empowered women,” said Peirre Bergé of YSL’s tuxedo. Two years after its controversial debut, Nan Kempner entered a Manhatten restaurant in said suit only to be denied access by the maître d’ for wearing trousers. Said trousers were dropped and the New York socialite confidently took to her table in Le Smoking dinner jacket. Empowered or what?
Diane von Furstenburg’s Wrap Dress
The wrap a.k.a the wonder dress is as relevant now as the day it was invented in 1964. As Diane von Furstenburg said of her creation, “it’s simply one-stop dressing… It works around the clock, travels across the world, and fits all women’s priorities.” On Cocosa now with exclusive discounts… as if we needed an excuse.
Tom Ford’s Velvet Suit
Tom Ford took the Yves Saint Laurent’s power suit and updated it with slim lines and a luxurious velvet finish fit for the Nineties women.
Dolce and Gabanna’s Corset Dress
Thanks to the deft hands of a very talented pair of Italians, Chanel’s chic LBD was transformed into a Sicilian goddess dress. As fashion’s gaze returns to the exaggerated hourglass shape, this silhouette and its ladylike sister act, the peplum, take to the spotlight for 2012.