Haute Couture Master Christian Lacroix Teams Up With International Brand Desigual

Christian Lacroix known for his outrageous fashion ensembles, outfits straight out of the woodworks of his imaginative mind, is taking on the mainstream market after taking on small design projects after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009. Lacroix known for his haute couture, fairy tale wedding dresses and fantastical runway shows has joined forces with widely popular global brand Desigual for Fall 2011.

Fashionista has the first look at the new collection by French master designer Lacroix. The colors are less muted than the usual Desigual spectrum, however, pieces are heavily intricate and piece together well. The collection is said to debut in stores in the U.K., Germany and Spain on July 11. No word on the collection being available in U.S. stores.

In Memory of...

From what I understand the recession is suppose to be over. Maybe I'm wrong but I thought things were starting to turn around. But obviously this isn't the case.

After 22 years of their haute couture making runway headlines, the fashion house of Christian Lacroix is set to be closed.

A Paris bankruptcy court has approved a plan to close Christian Lacroix's design house. As a result 100 memebers of the staff will be let go.

Christian Lacroix is a legendary fashion designer for many red carpet celebrities including Uma Thurman. His designs are glamorous, expensive-looking, and unapologetically dramatic. With his background in costume design, his designs are always over the top, he adopts alot of old fashion techniques into his new designs including the corset and the crinoline.

His designs will surely be missed but they will also be celebrated being some of fashions most memorable pieces.

- Erin Jones

Lacroix Files for Bankruptcy

One of the biggest Parisian fashion houses filed for bankruptcy this week--Christian Lacroix. Famous for its outlandish and opulent designs, the twenty year-old line's financial difficulties shocked both the fashion and finance industry. In a letter to his 125 person staff, designer Lacroix states:

"I don't know what tomorrow will be made of, if indeed there is a tomorrow, but I will do everything to ensure we remain a couture house 200 percent, and to safeguard a know how without which the lungs and heart of this house would not exist."

Back in 2005, LVMH bought out the luxury giant in hopes to build on its fashion empire. However, sales for Lacroix have not met expectations and this week the company decided to declare the line insolvent.

Hopefully, Lacroix can keep his promise to his employees. It's nice to know that among many of the luxury designers who are so quick to fall into the branding trap, he has remained somewhat of a purist and true to his passion for fabulous couture and ready-to-wear.