Cardin's empire

Born in Italy in 1922, Pierre Cardin later moved to France to study architecture. He subsequently worked with Elsa Schiaparelli and eventually became the head of Christian Dior's tailleure atelier in 1947. He was offered a position over at Balenciaga, but denied, because he could. Cardin was the first to brilliant designer to expand haute couture to Japan's markets. From there, he built his empire up with housewares, American Motors, and even restaurants and food products.

His clothes- space age, geometric based patterns - remain new classics. His general rule of thumb seemed to be experimental, not practical. Criticism rained over his collections often, for "ignoring the female body form." I disagree. My love for the creator of the bubble dress and king of the avant-garde 60's is everlasting!