Christian Lacroix: haute couture's 'Messiah' heads for the wilderness

A French court has ruled that Christian Lacroix close his Paris salon after racking up hefty losses. Its demise is the strongest indicator yet of the crisis that haute couture is in.

All fairy tales have to end, and Christian Lacroix's was no exception, says The Guardian. A French court has ruled that the celebrated creator of the puffball skirt must close his Paris salon after racking up hefty losses. The once-mighty label, now owned by an American duty-free chain, has been reduced to a licensing shell for perfumes and accessories. From rue du Faubourg Saint-Honor to Luton Airport in a few bold strokes. Pouf!

So long to a wonderful designer, says The Independent. Lacroix, 58 once tipped to be the name to rival Yves Saint Laurent gave French fashion its most original moments. "Too original perhaps. A Lacroix dress often made its wearer look a few bananas short of a fruitbowl." A native of Arles in Provence, Lacroix had "undoubted genius", agrees The Times. "What he created was arresting, often ravishing, but also out of its time. He should have been designing for the court of Louis XVI." The demise of his house is perhaps the strongest indicator yet of the crisis that haute couture now finds itself in (see below). No wonder the French culture minister, Frdric Mitterrand, calls it a "cultural disaster".

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