Roland Mouret

Infobox Person


image_size = 150px
name = Roland Mouret
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birth_date = 1962
birth_place = Lourdes, France
death_date =
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other_names =
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occupation = Fashion designer

Roland Mouret (born 1962 in Lourdes, France [Armstrong, Lisa. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2344808,00.html "How a pop guru and a fashion darling will bring the catwalk into your home"] . "The Times" (September 6, 2006).] ) is a French fashion designer.

Training and early career

His fashion training consisted of three months in a Parisian fashion college in 1979.Mower, Sarah. "A New Curve". "Vogue" (October 2007).] When he left school to begin designing, he lacked skill in garment construction yet had "a native awareness of sensuality" that allowed him to create "irresistible" clothing. Sharai and André Meyers bought his line in 1998. After seven years and a move to New York, Mouret introduced his Galaxy dress in his Spring 2006 collection. Called the "dress of the season" by many, [ [http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/fashion/164908/roland-mouret-s-sell-out-dress.html "Roland Mouret's sell-out dress"] . Marieclaire.com (November 27, 2007). ("Dress of the season.")] [King, Emily. [http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/design_2005/ "Design 2005: From newspapers to dresses, the design highlights of the last year"] . "Frieze" magazine (January-February 2006). ("Most desired dress of the season".)] [Akbar, Arifa. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20051027/ai_n15809503 "Roland Mouret, designer of the 'Galaxy' dress, quits job"] . "The Independent" (October 27, 2005). ("'Must-have' dress of the season".)] [Freeman, Hadley. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1667779,00.html "How not to wear That Dress"] . "The Guardian" (December 15, 2005). ("Dress of the year", "That Dress".)] [Coulson, Claire. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=/fashion/2006/09/06/efmouret06.xml Roland Mouret goes into business with Spice Girls founder"] . "The Telegraph" (June 9, 2006). ("The most recogisable dress of the last decade".)] its ubiquity was such that "Vogue" magazine would later write that "for weeks you [couldn't] open a newspaper or magazine without seeing another young Hollywood A-lister wearing" it. Less than two months after the dress's runway debut, Mouret split with his backers in a move that shocked the fashion world. Mouret cited "managerial differences",Akbar, Arifa. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20051027/ai_n15809503 "Roland Mouret, designer of the 'Galaxy' dress, quits job"] . "The Independent" (October 27, 2005).] but neither he nor the Meyerses has ever elaborated on the cause of the break-up.

Hiatus and return to fashion

After Mouret left his label, he took a two-year hiatus. He found a new backer in Simon Fuller and planned a comeback under the name RM. (His previous backers had retained the rights to the Roland Mouret brand.) Before the bona fide launch of his new line, Mouret undertook small design engagements to pique public interest. He partnered with Bergdorf Goodman for a one-time-only consignment in which he personally signed each of the 36 dresses. He escorted Jacquetta Wheeler to the Met Costume Institute ball; she wore a long version of the Bergdorf dress. Mouret also designed a limited-edition dress line for the Gap.

The launch of RM was designed as a global interactive event. Its inaugural fashion show was held on July 4, 2007 in Paris and featured 21 "easy-chic", geometric dresses. The next day, the show was available on the internet, and consumers could pre-order the garments on a website. As Mouret explained to "Vogue", " [Women] see shows the day after they happen. Why should they have to wait?" The collection was an enormous success, with some pieces selling out within hours.

Victoria Beckham

Roland created a storm around his now legendary [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=/fashion/2007/11/27/nfashion127.xml moon dress] made famous by Victoria Beckham. Such is the popularity of the design that the first batch at Harvey Nichols in London sold out within days. In March 2008 it was announced that Roland would start working with Victoria Beckham on a limited edition capsule collection of little black dresses. [ [http://www.fashionfemme.co.uk/blog/2008/3/10/victoria-beckham-and-roland-mouret-lbd-heaven.html Victoria Beckham and Roland Mouret] ]

References

External links

*style.com|id=RMOURET
* [http://www.net-a-porter.com/pws/RM/theShow.html Roland Mouret's debut runway show as RM] at [http://www.net-a-porter.com net-a-porter.com]
* [http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/S2006RTW/complete/slideshow/RMOURET?event=show1381&designer=design_house85&trend=&iphoto=10 Photo of the Galaxy dress]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=/fashion/2007/07/04/efroland104.xml "Telegraph" on RM (07/2007)]
* [http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/2006/spring/main/newyork/features/rolandmouret/ "New York Magazine" (2006)]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=/fashion/2005/10/28/efmouret28.xml "Telegraph" interview (2005)]