Christian Lacroix

In 1986, Lacroix launched his own couture label with the bouffant, or “pouf,” a fantastical puffy skirt that soon became milestone in fashion history for its inventiveness. A year later he expanded into ready-to-wear, and then diversified into menswear in 2004. It's the vivid and unique color sense of Lacroix that knocks you sideways. It is said that the sun he used to see in his native Provence influenced him to use his trademark bright hues so often.