Guy Laroche

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Guy Laroche (French pronunciation: [ɡi laʁɔʃ]) (16 July 1921 – 17 February 1989^[1]) was a French fashion designer and founder of the eponymous company.

Laroche was born in La Rochelle to a Tunisian Jewish family, and began his career in millinery. From 1949, Laroche worked for Jean Dessès, eventually becoming his assistant. In 1955, he visited the U.S. to investigate new ready-to-wear manufacturing methods. In 1956 or 1957, he founded a high-fashion atelier at 37 Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, Paris.

His first collection was favorably received, and within it he reintroduced vibrant colors such as pink, orange, coral, topaz, and turquoise. His clothes also featured plunging neck and back lines. Traditional elegant color combinations remained a staple in his designs as well. He cited Christian Dior, Cristobal Balenciaga, Jacques Fath and Pierre Balmain as his main influences.^[2]

Known as being humble and gracious—as opposed to the aloof nature of most Parisian designers—he designed haute-couture, but practical clothing for women. For the American market, he was one of the first to create separates.

In 1961, he moved to larger quarters in a townhouse at 29 Avenue Montaigne, Paris, opened a boutique there, and introduced his first ready-to-wear collection. In 1966, Laroche launched men's ready-to-wear, and opened the Guy Laroche Monsieur boutique.

Laroche died of intestinal cancer in Paris on 17 February 1989, at the age of 67.^[2]

Actress and film producer Hilary Swank wore the Navy blue Guy Laroche dress when she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2005.

In November 2007, Franco-Swedish designer Marcel Marongiu took over as artistic director of Guy Laroche.^[3]

In 1966, Laroche introduced Fidji, his first women's fragrance. He created other fragrances, such as:

• 1972 Drakkar
• 1977 J'ai Osé
• 1982 Drakkar Noir
• 1986 Clandestine
• 1993 Horizon
• 1999 Drakkar Dynamik

• Anne Rapin (March 1996). "Interview with Fashion Designer Michel Klein", Label France magazine, No. 23, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France

• Guy Laroche at FMD
• IMDB biography page