Nicolas Ghesquiere named in Time 100

[Faith Akiyama]

A well-deserved mention

From Time's list of 100 most influential people of the year:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1187199,00.html

Nicolas Ghesquiere

Meet Fashion's Double Threat
By KATE BETTShttp://javascript<b></b>:void(0)

Posted Tuesday, Apr. 25, 2006
He's often called a designer's designer and compared to Yves Saint Laurent in his ability to feel and shape fashion. As the creative director for the iconic house of Balenciaga, French-born Nicolas Ghesquiere, 35, has spent the past nine years shaping his own fashion vision as well as that of the greater global fashion business. His ability to wow the front-row crowd with a heady blend of street style and historical reverence is unparalleled. His signature silhouette of skinny pants and blouson jacket, a vestige of Ghesquiere's obsession with the '80s (think Bow Wow Wow), is a virtual staple in fashion's contemporary market. His is that rarest combination of talents: untethered creativity plus commercial savvy.


The son of a golf-course manager in the small town of Loudon, France, he liked to sketch images from his mother's glossy magazines. By age 15, Ghesquiere had obtained an internship at agnes b. in Paris and at 21 was working for Jean Paul Gaultier. But his big break came in 1996 when the owners of the then unfashionable house of Balenciaga hired him to design a line of uniforms for a Japanese licensing partner. He was quickly promoted, and by 2000 his clothes were coveted by the likes of Chloe Sevigny, Nicole Kidman and the Olsen twins. It seems the label was a particularly good fit for the soft-spoken Ghesquiere. Just like Cristobal Balenciaga, he has a relentless sense of innovation. He knows what you're going to want to wear before you do.

(This will be in the May 8th issue of the magazine)

 

[nqth]

He's often called a designer's designer and compared to Yves Saint Laurent in his ability to feel and shape fashion.

Is that true?

 

[*sayan]

nqth

thnx for the article

 

[masquerade]

meh, i think hes a bit overated

thanks for posting though

 

[LoveMyBoots]

My veneration really lies with Rochas' Olivier Theyskens, rather than Ghesqueire. Good for him, though.

 

[Baizilla]

Considering the huge amount of attention the current Balenciaga season generates.. It's actually not a huge surprise. Great for him

 

[Deleted member 7575]

I actually agree with much of what was said. I study fashion history and and am contemplating doing my thesis on Nicholas Ghesquire. I'm pretty sure he is going to go down as one of the most important designers of the decade.

 

[JJohnson]

Wow I love him! He deserves it! BTW Does he go out with James Kail...... (the makeup artist) I know James wears his clothing and even cut off his hair...haha they look alike now!

 

[nqth]

^^ I think he is already one, esp. now when Balenciaga is doing very well financially.

In the same rank there is Tyra Banks. I don't know that she is that "big":-)


EDIT: Oh I have noticed the writer said "French-born":-P

 

[The Leviathan]

that's so rad. thanks for posting. i would have never though to look in that right wing propaganda magazine.

 

[birdofparadise]

I admire the way he's been seaming to deal with the commercial pressures the suits have been putting on him, those are very modern concerns. At the same time, dealing with those pressures has softened the edge that I thought was important at the house. It's not gone backward but its certainly enjoying standing still.

 

[Scott]

Is that true?

I don't think anybody's actually compared him to YSL. I think that's merely a journalist's attempt at making Nicolas seem more important than he is. He is an important talent but to prematurely compare him to YSL is a bit far fetched,if you will. If Nicolas has the kind of longevity and constant influence that he had then I will agree. But so far Nicolas is just another hyped,status favourite with highgloss backing.

 

[nqth]

Thanks Scott:-)

Also the opinion about NG being innovative. Well, as far as I remember, he has been remaking Balenciaga's archives for two collections in a row now. So the credit might have to go to the master himself imo.

 

[Whitelinen]

I agree that he is a bit over-rated, sometimes it just feels that everyone likes him because people like la Moss & the other 'icons' wear him.

But he isn't a bad designer at all. He's done excellent job at Balenciaga. I'd love to see somebody else in Time's 100 Most Influental People list, but he's not a bad choice. And not surprising.

 

[pucci_mama]

Well he's the only designer out there who atm. does what he does.

He mixes the feminine with the masucline, straight lines, a bit minimalism, and ad's in a bit of rock&roll influence.

It seems like all designers do is doing 'pretty', that is so boring.

I really love NG one of my favourite designers and I feel the hype is well deserved...

He ceraintly fills out a gap.

 

[JJohnson]

Are there any other designers named in the top 100?

 

[Diorling]

Ralph Lauren is, but not for Art & something else, he's in there for business...

I was at my parents and was rummaging through the mail and found it, I hate Time they organize sooo crazily. Anyways, I think Nicolas deserved it, also he looked really cute in his pic with one of his F/W 06 runway looks. Anyways...noone else notable was in it...(notable to us that is)

 

[JJohnson]

Ralph Lauren is, but not for Art & something else, he's in there for business...

I was at my parents and was rummaging through the mail and found it, I hate Time they organize sooo crazily. Anyways, I think Nicolas deserved it, also he looked really cute in his pic with one of his F/W 06 runway looks. Anyways...noone else notable was in it...(notable to us that is)

Thats very interesing that out of all the designers they would pick him....i would have guessed like Tommy Hilfiger or something...but I love Nicholas so thats GREAT! I cant wait to see it. Im gettin it just to see him haha

 

[ilaughead]

So, does Ghesqueire actually design the clothes, or what? Websites always refer to him "going back to the archives", so is he just refering to them in his collections for Balenciaga, or is he actually recreating the clothing?

 

[Deleted member 7575]

So, does Ghesqueire actually design the clothes, or what? Websites always refer to him "going back to the archives", so is he just refering to them in his collections for Balenciaga, or is he actually recreating the clothing?

He's only had access to the archives for a few seasons. He's referencing them but no more than what Galliano does for Dior or what Lagerfeld does for Chanel.