Julien Macdonald Explained

Julien Macdonald
Honorific Suffix:OBE
Birth Date:1971 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Cyfarthfa, Wales
Label Name:Julien Macdonald[1]

Julien Macdonald OBE (born 19 March 1971) is a Welsh fashion designer 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.

Early life

Julien Macdonald was born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, 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]

Career

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. 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]

Fur useJulien 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]

Celebrity clients

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.

Media appearances

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]

Awards

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]

References

  1. Web site: Julien Macdonald.
  2. Web site: BINTM: Get Julien's Look. sky. BSkyB. 2 October 2012. 15 June 2012.
  3. News: Video exclusive: Julien Macdonald Bespoke. 2 October 2012. Telegraph. 9 July 2012. Belinda White.
  4. Web site: Today in History – March 15. Vogue. 2 October 2012. Bibby Sowray. 15 March 2010.
  5. Web site: We were delighted to welcome Julien McDonald back to the college during Merthyr's Enterprise week.. Merthyr Tydfil College. The Glamorgan Group. 2 October 2012. 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131007044153/http://www.merthyr.ac.uk/news28. 7 October 2013. dmy-all.
  6. Web site: From Art School to University. University of Brighton Faculty of Arts. University of Brighton. 6 October 2012. 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120612085348/http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/whats-on/student-shows/past-shows-and-events/celebrating-150-years-of-art-and-design. 12 June 2012. dmy-all.
  7. Web site: Julien MacDonald Fashion Designer. My Daily. AOL (UK) Limited. 6 October 2012. 2012.
  8. News: Julien MacDonald: Karl Lagerfeld Used To Hit Me With an Old Fashioned Black Fan. 6 October 2012. The Huffington Post. 11 March 2010. Julien MacDonald.
  9. News: Fashion fall-out over BA's new look . Jones, Sam . Gregory, Sally James . 6 April 2004 . . 17 June 2012.
  10. News: Ikon London Magazine coverage from the official press launch . Ikon London Magazine . 21 November 2014 . 8 March 2018.
  11. News: Julien Macdonald: Defender of the fur. 30 September 2012. The Independent. 19 February 2006. Julia Stuart.
  12. "Fashion doesn't need to kill animals: British designer MacDonald," Reuters, 19 September 2017
  13. Web site: Julien Macdonald on Project Catwalk, London and his Dali-inspired dress. Catwalk Queen. Aigua Media. 6 October 2012. 1 December 2008.
  14. Web site: Julien Macdonald joins Britain's Next Top Model. My Fashion Life. 30 September 2012. Emily O'Brien. 19 February 2010.
  15. Web site: In Pictures: Strictly Come Dancing's 2013 line-up. BBC. 2 September 2013. BBC. 2 September 2013.
  16. News: Behind the scenes at Strictly Come Dancing star Julien Macdonald's London Fashion Week show. 29 September 2013. Mirror. 17 September 2013. Dinah Turner.
  17. News: Strictly Come Dancing: Julien Macdonald eliminated after dance-off defeat by Rachel Riley. 21 October 2013. Wales Online. 20 October 2013. Paul Rowland.
  18. Web site: Julien Macdonald. BBC Wales Arts. BBC. 2 October 2012. 14 November 2008.
  19. Web site: Julien Macdonald. The Hollywood Reporter. 6 May 2016 .

External links

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Julien Macdonald".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.