The most iconic fashion designers of the concluding 100 years

Giorgio Armani

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

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

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

New York Fashion 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 nearly iconic fashion designers of the terminal 100 years.

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

French mode designer Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel.
AP Photo

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

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

Designer Cristóbal Balenciaga and Harper's Bazaar editor in chief, Carmel Snow, in 1952.
Walter Sanders/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

Balenciaga specialized in evening wear and exquisite tailoring. Today, the make leans much more into "streetwear" trends and out-of-the-box ideas such as the pop "shoes that look similar socks" that rose to prominence in the last few years.

Hubert de Givenchy is remembered equally 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 fourth dimension equally Givenchy's most influential muse, wore the French designer's creations in "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "Funny Face," and "Deception," among others. Givenchy's aesthetic was clean, classic, and unapologetically feminine.

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

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

Afterwards a partnership with Christian Dior brutal through, the designer struggled to proceeds the same recognition equally designers like Chanel, Dior, or Balenciaga. However, he is nonetheless remembered as ane of the nifty French fashion designers in history.

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

Edith Caput, director 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 own personal style — namely her eccentric spectacles and a short haircut — have fabricated her a recognizable popular civilisation 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 fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his models gloat the unveiling of his second leap drove at the Business firm of Dior in January 1960.
Express/Annal Photos/Getty Images

After starting his own fashion house, the designer created never-seen-before silhouettes and garments such every bit 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 brilliant, eye-catching prints in his designs.

The Florentine mode designer Emilio Pucci surrounded past some of his models and working on i 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'southward signature eccentric fashions, according to The New York Times.

Paco Rabanne was best known for his space-historic period inspired designs throughout the belatedly 1960s.

Manner 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 film, "Barbarella."

"It is important to remain impertinent, radical," Rabanne one time told Vogue. "Creation must shock."

Italian designer Valentino Garavani, better known as Valentino, shot to fame after Elizabeth Taylor spotted 1 of his designs while shooting "Cleopatra" in Rome.

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

Taylor wore the white gown to the premiere of "Spartacus," and from there Valentino'south star was built-in. Though Valentino was known for using his signature carmine color, his 1967 "no color" collection comprised of but white, beige, and ivory clothing made him fifty-fifty more than famous.

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

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

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

Westwood opened her start bazaar at 430 Kings Road in London in 1971 and began filling the store with her eccentric, punk-inspired designs.

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

Calvin Klein studied design in New York Metropolis before starting his characterization with Barry Schwartz, who ran the business side of the company.

Bianca Jagger and Calvin Klein at Studio 54 in New York City, circa 1977.
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The duo'southward suit and glaze lines were successful, and soon Klein'southward sportswear became popular likewise. Klein then ventured into denim, undergarments, and logo apparel that the make is now famous for — too as some provocative ads.

Later on 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 downwardly a runway at a 1995 manner testify.
Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

Quintessentially American, Ralph Lauren'due south 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 destructive, out-of-the-box designs. Even so, in the 1970s, her brand really took off.

Betsey Johnson.
Evan Agostini/Getty Images

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

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

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

Armani's "power suits" take 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 house to include eveningwear, ready-to-clothing, and more.

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

Way designer Donna Karan attends the Tribeca Daring Women Pinnacle during the 2016 Tribeca Flick 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 Urban center.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Manolo Blahnik has been beloved past fashion icons throughout history, from Twiggy to Sarah Jessica Parker'south "Sexual activity and the Metropolis" character Carrie Bradshaw. In 1977, Bianca Jagger famously wore a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes when she entered dance order 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 Fashion Calendar week on December 14, 2016, in Milan, Italian republic.
Victor Boyko/Getty Images

Ford overhauled Gucci'south minimalist image, making the brand more vibrant, retro-inspired, and sexy. During his tenure at the fashion business firm, sales shot from $230 meg to $iii 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 hit reality series "Projection Runway" alongside Heidi Klum.

Michael Kors walks the rails at a Michael Kors way bear witness.
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 loftier praise for his high-cease men'south and women'due south fashion lines, too as his accessories.

Kors besides notably designed the apparel worn by Michelle Obama in her first official portrait.

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

Marc Jacobs.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Despite a serial 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 every bit an extremely talented "boy wonder" of the way globe.

"For some reason, Marc'south testify is e'er the most of import place to be seen, the one place where yous know all the people who matter will be," Deena Abdulaziz, a member of the Saudi royal family, told the New York Times.

Italian way designer Gianni Versace's life has been highly talked most and chronicled since his bump-off in 1997.

Fashion designers Gianni Versace and Donatella Versace on the rails afterwards a Versace mode evidence in March 1996 in New York City.
Catherine McGann/Getty Images

The designer was known for his designs oozing with sex entreatment, and his sis, Donatella, has since channeled the same vision through her leadership at her late blood brother's manner firm.

Versace brought the fashion industry into the popular culture 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 as a dominion-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 not only pushing but completely breaking the boundaries of what was expected in way at the time, McQueen created a name for himself at Givenchy and and so later with his own mode house.

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

"Y'all've got to know the rules to break them. That'southward what I am hither for, to demolish the rules only to keep the tradition," designer Alexander McQueen famously said of his subversive designs. McQueen died by suicide at the age of 40 later on both his longtime friend Isabella Blow and his mother passed abroad.

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

Kourtney Kardashian and Azzedine Alaia attend Paris Fashion Week on October two, 2016 in Paris, French republic.
Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images

After working as an apprentice for the Thierry Mugler, Christian Dior, and Guy Laroche, Alaia started his own manner line in the early on 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 existence outspoken. He criticized fashion legends such as Faddy's Anna Wintour for her style and designer Karl Lagerfeld, who he said had "never touched a pair of scissors."

On Nov 18, 2017, it was announced Alaia had passed abroad.

Karl Lagerfeld is credited with elevating Chanel to global prominence as well every bit being a strong artistic vision behind Tommy Hilfiger and Fendi.

Karl Lagerfeld on the rails during the Chanel Paris Fashion Week show on July iii, 2012, in Paris, French republic.
Michel Dufour/WireImage

Lagerfeld is recognized as 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 announced that the iconic designer had passed away in Paris.

In a memorial tribute, British Fashion Council Main Executive Caroline Rush said, "His unrivaled contribution to the mode manufacture changed the way women dress and perceive style. He inspired generations of young designers and will go on to do and then."

Diane von Furstenberg invented the wrap apparel 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 than xv,000 wrap dresses a week.

"I had a very down-to-earth product, my wrap wearing apparel, which was really a uniform. It was only a simple little cotton-bailiwick of jersey wearing apparel that everybody loved and everybody wore," von Furstenberg told New York Mag in 1988. "That ane dress sold about three or four million. I would come across 20, xxx dresses walking down one block. All sorts of different women. It felt very good. 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 fourth season of "Project Runway."

Christian Siriano.
Miller Mobley/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

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

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

Stella McCartney may be a old Beatle'south daughter, but she has paved her ain way with her eponymous style 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. Later on achieving success at Chloé, McCartney received funding from Gucci to commencement her own line.

McCartney shot to prominence in the conjugal fashion sphere and designed Meghan Markle's stunning white halter-cervix reception dress for her wedding to Prince Harry. A vegetarian, McCartney'south label is committed to sustainability, is cruelty-complimentary, and uses but simulated fur and false leather.

Virgil Abloh completely changed the face up of the mode manufacture when he took over as creative director of Louis Vuitton'due south menswear.

Virgil Abloh.
Edward Berthelot/GC Images

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

A friend and collaborator of Kanye W, Abloh famously told Due west Mag, "Nosotros were a generation that was interested in fashion and weren't supposed to be there. We saw this equally our chance to participate and make electric current civilisation. In a lot of ways, it felt like we were bringing more excitement than the industry was."

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