Starling said:
First of all i never stated it was for "schoolwork".
Secondly; Yes, maybe a part of my project is to "Poll the fashion cognoscenti to identify signature garments for major fashion houses."
OK, that's cool. It's just that I've gotten so used to people popping into forums (particularly when they have very few posts to their credit) and basically asking to have their homework done for them that I presumed that's what you meant by "for a project". My apologies for misapprehending your intent.
Here are a few contributions to salve any open wounds I may have caused.
Vivienne Westwood - bondage straps; slashed clothing; "pirate" looks; asymmetrical cuts; and a lot of what has now become the punk look
Prada - bags and shoes. The clothes are well-respected, but their reputation rests largely on the bags and shoes. The nylon bags with the triangle logo are one of their bread-and-butter items.
Helmut Lang - Minimalist denim, cleverly treated or finished denim, clingy/stretchy t-shirts, bondage straps (redux)
Louis Vuitton - all about the bags, of course
Issey Miyake - probably the most instantly identifiable garments are the pleated items; intricate pleats, clever applications of pleats
Raf Simons - sharply tailored suiting; extremes of proportion (very skinny legs or very wide legs, etc.); sweatshirts and hoodies with patch appliques
Dior Homme - skinny-leg jeans; suiting with a very sleek 60's-modernist-inspired shape - narrow lapels and flat front narrow-leg trousers
Balenciaga - cigarette pants with a slightly-high, squarish waist (recently); bubble shapes (classic)
Walter van Beirendonck - strong ethnic influences from a variety of sources; anything with the "naked Walter" icon on
Ann Demeulemeester - flowing, moving forms; B&W photographic screen prints
Hermes - bags, yes, but also well-known on the Homme side for the ties
Chanel - Chanel No. 5, the pioneer in synthetic fragrances
Comme des Garcons - avant garde fragrances; seams-on-the-outside or reversible clothing
Imitation of Christ - modified thrift-shop clothing; reproductions of thrift-store clothing
Martin Margiela - Garments reconstructed or merged from other garments (t-shirts grafted from bits of 3 other t-shirts, a vest merged with a blazer, etc.)