It's almost impossible for one person to say who the most influential fashion designers in history are, especially when you consider how many centuries that people have been designing fashions in every country in the world. There are a few design gurus from the last century, however, who stand out among the design movements of Europe and the Americas. These include some famous names like Prada, Armani and Dolce & Gabbana—all of whom are discussed in further detail below.
Giorgio Armani
The legend known simply as Armani is often referred to as the "King of Lifestyle." Just as Ralph Lauren has mastered the design of "lifestyle" clothing in America, Giorgio Armani has become the most famous lifestyle designer from Italy. His collections have been hugely successful around the world because of the high-quality tailoring and minimum, fluid designs that took formal jackets and other traditional wear to a new level of comfort and style.
Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana also hail from Italy, the Mecca of fashion design. This powerful fashion design house continues to evolve and expand the horizons of its blissfully feminine artistic influence. You can find the affordably priced designs of their second label, D&G, on street corners around the world. Dolce & Gabbana's high-end collections can also be found on red carpets and finer affairs in the most modern cities. The Dolce & Gabbana aesthetic is known for feminine curves, tight tailoring and exuberant patterns, including animal prints and florals mixed with corsets, rhinestones and other embellishments.
Miuccia Prada
Prada has become a household name decades after Miuccia's entrance into the fashion world. She is unusual in the design world, having earned a PhD in Political Science and founded a fashion powerhouse in an industry dominated by male designers. Miuccia Prada has been able to influence fashion for decades and remains relevant today because she changes her aesthetic often and never lets her company's latest collections become stale or cyclical. Although the aesthetic of the collections is always changing, Prada is known for a few things: intricate and highly structured shoes, odd color choices and skirts including the dirndl and the A-line. Every season her designs have a new focus, though, with elements such as this season's focus on lace, changing the face of Prada.
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