Julien Macdonald | |
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Label | Julien Macdonald [1] |
Julien Macdonald OBE (born 19 March 1971) is a British fashion designer from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, who has appeared as judge on the television programme, Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model . [2] In 2001, he was named "British Fashion Designer of the Year", and on 15 March 2001, was appointed as chief designer at Givenchy (Alexander McQueen's successor). [3] [4] His atelier is at Old Burlington Street, London.
Julien Macdonald was born in Merthyr Tydfil, where he attended Cyfarthfa High School. When Julien finished High School he studied Art at The College Merthyr Tydfil, where he developed his design skills with lecturer Martyn Jones. He was taught knitting by his mother and soon became interested in design. [5]
Julien Macdonald was also interested in a career as a dancer, but, instead, studied textiles at the Faculty of Arts and Architecture, Brighton. [6] He then became a student at the Royal College of Art, where he gained a master's degree. [7]
Soon after graduation, Julien Macdonald was recruited by Karl Lagerfeld to work for Chanel, a role that was accompanied with creating knitwear for Alexander McQueen. [8]
In 2001, Julien Macdonald was appointed to the position of chief designer at the Paris Haute Couture house of Givenchy (as successor to Alexander McQueen); and, in 2001, he was named British Fashion Designer of the Year. [3] [4] He forms part of the media profile given to Welsh figures in the Cool Cymru movement.
He was selected by British Airways in 2001 to redesign their cabin crew's uniforms. [9]
In 2014, Julien Macdonald launched an eyewear range in collaboration with Vision Express. [10]
Julien Macdonald attracted much criticism for his extensive use of fur, including one incident in which he and Paris Hilton were flour-bombed. He stated in 2006 that fur provides the majority of his revenue and that his label would collapse were he not to use it. [11] In 2017, Julien MacDonald apologized for his previous use of fur, telling Reuters, "You do not need to kill animals to wear nice clothes." [12]
Macdonald's dresses have been worn by celebrities including Kylie Minogue, Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez. In 2009 MacDonald was the chief designer for the costumes of Pop group Girls Aloud during their Out of Control Tour.
Macdonald appeared as a judge on the British version of Project Runway , known as Project Catwalk , that was broadcast on Sky One. [13]
In February 2010, Macdonald was appointed as a new judge on Britain's Next Top Model , alongside new host and former supermodel, Elle Macpherson. [14]
In September 2013, MacDonald was revealed as one of the contestants on the dancing competition television show Strictly Come Dancing . [15] Janette Manrara is his professional partner and the designer explained in a 17 September interview: "she’s [Manrara] the one that literally keeps me on my toes ... after only two weeks of training, parts of me hurt that I didn't even know existed." [16] The couple were eliminated in the fourth week of the competition after losing to Countdown presenter Rachel Riley. [17]
In June 2006, MacDonald was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to fashion. [18]
In May 2016, MacDonald was awarded the GENLUX/BRITWEEK Designer of the Year Award. [19]
Karl Otto Lagerfeld was a German fashion designer, photographer, and creative director.
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Merthyr Tydfil is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about 23 miles (37 km) north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydfil, daughter of King Brychan of Brycheiniog, who according to legend was slain at Merthyr by pagans about 480 CE. Merthyr generally means "martyr" in modern Welsh, but here closer to the Latin martyrium: a place of worship built over a martyr's relics. Similar place names in south Wales are Merthyr Cynog, Merthyr Dyfan and Merthyr Mawr.
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London Fashion Week (LFW) is a clothing trade show that takes place in London, UK, twice a year, in June and September. Showcasing over 250 designers to a global audience of influential media and retailers, it is one of the 'Big Four' fashion weeks, along with New York, Milan, and Paris.
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Daphne Diana Joan Susanna Guinness is an English fashion designer, socialite, actress, film producer, and musician.
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Janette Manrara Škorjanec is a singer, Cuban-American television presenter, choreographer and professional dancer from Miami, Florida, US. Born to her Cuban parents, Luis and Maritza, Janette is the oldest of three. Originally a singer, learning from her Cuban family, she formally studied dance from the age of 19. Manrara is best known for her appearances on the US series So You Think You Can Dance and British dance reality television competition, Strictly Come Dancing. She is married to Slovenian dancer and co-star Aljaž Škorjanec. In June 2021, it was announced that Manrara would co host Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two with Rylan Clark and later Fleur East.
Jade Parfitt is a British model and presenter. She was born in Hammersmith, London, England but she and her family moved to Devonshire, Southern England when she was 14.
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. In 2022, it had an estimated population of 58,883, making it the smallest local authority in Wales by population. It is located in the historic county of Glamorgan and takes its name from the town with the same name. The county borough consists of the northern part of the Taff Valley and the smaller neighbouring Taff Bargoed Valley. It borders the counties of Rhondda Cynon Taf to the west, Caerphilly County Borough to the east, and Powys to the north.
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