Christian Lacroix was born in 1951 Arles, France.

Christian Lacroix is one of the most influential and colourful couturiers in the world, who is known as the “man with the magic paintbrush” because of his ability to mix astounding colours together. He likes to use very bright colour combinations. His palette includes such colours as Magenta, Bright Pinks, Orange, Yellow, Reds, Blues and Greens, all sometimes in one outfit.

His designs are easily recognizable because of their colourful nature. In this he was influenced by the sun of his native Province.

His silhouette is mainly used by trapezium and pyramid shapes, and thus the ultimate garment turns out to be long, loose and breezy.

The look is predominately layered.

He uses a lot of flowers to accentuate necklines, or hats, he uses ruffles, frills, and laces. He feels that embroidery is an integral part of couture, and he uses it lavishly. His embroidered patterns often imitate historic Spanish costume. He often incorporates gems into his embroideries, which are mostly made by renowned embroiderer francois Lesage.

Furthermore he likes to use wool, mohair knit, leather, tweed, cottons, velvets, tartans, tapestry, crepe, satins, lame and printed fabrics. He accompanies his designs, with such accessories as chunky jewellery, felt and leopard skin hats, patchwork capes, hoods, embroidered berets, fringed or striped scarves, studded or fringed belts, embroidered gloves, long necklaces, orange or gold boots, bejewelled crosses either hanging or incorporated into the embroidery design.

His bright palette and extravagant use of colour and fabric, have changed the otherwise rather darker, duller fashion trends of the time. He provided a cheery alternative to the sedate somber elegant creations of other couturiers. Christian Lacroix showed that he too can be high-tech, getting his inspiration from computer-generated geometrics for prints in the Spring 2001 collection. He even created the client look list pixel by pixel, literally, using a computer.