With the Met Gala coming up in May, now is the perfect time to look at some of the best, and upcoming, designers from the last 50 years. 

Alexander McQueen  

Known for his imaginative designs, Alexander McQueen is one of the most prominent designers from the early 2000s. His unique styles explore themes of romanticism, sexuality, death, and folklore. McQueen showcased his first collection at London Fashion Week in 1993 and then went on to win his first British Designer of the Year award in 1996. He has gone on to become one of the most influential designers of all time.  

Maria Grazia Chiuri  

Following stints at Valentino and Fendi, Maria Grazia Chiuri is currently the creative director for Dior, the first woman to hold this position since the inception of the brand in 1946. Her designs are overtly feminist using quotes from feminist figures such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Her most iconic design is the Fendi Baguette Bag.  

Chemena Kamali   

Chemena Kamali is the newly appointed creative director for Chloé and has stunned millions with her debut collection at Paris Fashion Week. Originally, Chemena was the design director for Chloé under Clare Wright Geller. Chemena left in 2016 to join Saint Laurent before moving back to Chloé as the creative director in 2023. Her debut collection has taken Chloé back to its original roots, mixing classics with 70s bohemian and modern pieces. Chemena’s work has placed the brand high at Paris Fashion Week in 2024.   

Vivienne Westwood  

Vivienne Westwood has been an iconic fashion house since the early 1970s, with Vivienne being responsible for bringing modern punk and classic tartan prints to the forefront of the fashion industry from the 1970s onwards, mixing her designs with political messages to showcase national sentiment at the time. Her designs frequently took inspiration from historical periods and mixed them with modern styles, cuts, and tailoring, including Marie Antoinette-style face paint worn by Kate Moss in 1995.  

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