Courrèges, André

(1923- )

   Best know for futuristic fashion, Courrèges brought flat white boots, metallic accents, and geometric cuts to the runway during the early 1960s. Born in France, he studied under Balenciaga and created his own look in 1961 by combining the 1960s youth influence with Paris couture, particularly in regard to world acceptance of the miniskirt. It was in 1961 that Courrèges and Coqueline Barrière (c. 1935- ), who would later become his wife, approached fashion with a focus on the future and barely a glance to the past. Courrèges, who was a former civil engineer, projected a look in his salon of a "high-tech lab"; he and Barrière went on to create fashion history when, in 1965, they unveiled to the world a collection inspired by the space age that was spare on decoration and all about the cut, with sleek helmet hats and white go-go boots grounding the designs from top to bottom. In 1969, they again created history with their ribbed knitwear that became the springboard for leggings, a perfect compliment to the mini. Courrèges sold his business in 1985 and immersed himself in painting and sculpture.

   See also Haute Couture.