Giles Deacon, a British designer, has been chosen as Ungaro’s new creative director – a move targeted at revitalising the French fashion house’s reputation.
Deacon’s appointment came less than a year after Lindsay Lohan baffled the fashion world when she became an artistic adviser of the fashion house.
Last September, Lohan made her debut collection, which included cheap-looking cuts, garish colour combinations, and heart-shaped nipple covers – branded by the label’s founder Emanuel Ungaro as “a disaster”.
In March, Lohan announced that she left the label during Paris Fashion Week, which was followed by her co-designer Estralla Archs in April.
But before the Lohan debacle, Ungaro had been through a number of designers after its founder retired in 2004 and its successor left.
The bosses of the fashion house and followers were saddened by the struggle of the once distinguished Ungaro.
Fortunately, the British designer, who has his own label called Giles, has a very positive chance to revive Ungaro’s reputation.
Since his first collection was shown in 2004, he impressed the industry with his distinctive style that combines quirky and grand couture-inspired cuts.
Deacon is a graduate of the school of art at Central St Martins and has worked with Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, and Tom Ford.
Ungaro is known for exotic patterns, colours and feminine frills, and according to Deacon, he likes “things that are very feminine, lots of colour, great prints, great quality, some unusual cuts”, and looks forward to make them for Ungaro.
Appointing a serious and experienced designer rather than a struggling celebrity is more appropriate for the house’s sophisticated heritage and the competitive market.
