In recent years men’s fashion has become increasingly popular, and a heightened awareness means that many men are known to be selective when it comes to choosing which clothes to buy, and from which designers to choose from. With many men’s designers tending to have signature looks, this is only helping men to become more distinguished in terms of fashion sense. Of all the designers that exist, which are the biggest of all menswear designers?
We couldn’t go on without a nod (or an Ode) to probably the biggest men’s fashion designers of them all – Mr Giorgio Armani. The Armani brand is considered widely as fashion royalty, and has fast become a household name, synonymous with men’s fashion. Armani’s signature lines and fragrances have stood the test of time, yet the Armani brand is as popular now in contemporary circles as it has ever been.
Another stalwart of men’s fashion is Ralph Lauren. His US-based label started out in the early 1970’s and was originally a luxury brand selling sportswear and apparel for Polo and Yatching. Even today, having diversified somewhat into formal and premium casual wear, Ralph Lauren is one of the world’s largest names in men’s fashion, operating in over 180 countries.
Notable British designers have also dominated the landscape of the fashion world – for decades. Among the most prominent of those are Sir Paul Smith, knighted for his lifelong services to fashion in 2000, who is known for his classic-cut suits with a modern colours and textures. Sir Paul expanded the Paul Smith empire to include formal menswear and casual lines and in recent years even added fragrances to the brands name. Another British menswear design powerhouse, although a slightly left-field choice, is Vivienne Westwood. Having helped to define the punk era by styling the Sex Pistols, Westwood used chains, safety pins and ripped clothes amongst her designs, adding to her signature look. Her designs are popular with many notable contemporary musicians known for their alternative styles, such as Iggy Pop, Gwen Stefani and Karen O.
Other notable names in men’s fashion include designers Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Donatella Versace, the niece of the late Gianni Versace, who founded the Versace label. All are recognised throughout the fashion world and can be considered alongside other peers of note, such as the late Alexander McQueen, Jeff Banks, Jasper Conran, Heidi Slimane and Jill Sander.