Bad news for the world of fashion. The designer Claude Montana died this Friday, February 23, at the age of 76. As the man’s loved ones explained to the AFP agency, he spent his last hours at the Bretonneau hospital in Paris. Although in recent years his influence in the world of fashion had diminished, the mark he leaves behind is undeniable.
Montana, born in Paris (France) in 1947, had Spanish roots. His father was born in our country, and in fact his last name was Montamat. His mother was German. The designer triumphed in the 1980s with a very personal style, something that led him to found his own brand in 1979. In fact, if something always characterized him, it was his shoulder pads.
Although shoulder pads were created by Elsa Schiaparelli, it was Montana who took them a step further, blurring the barriers imposed between men’s and women’s fashion. As it could not be otherwise, her designs revolutionized fashion in the 1980s. In addition, she dressed true icons, such as Cher or Charlotte Rampling.
“He’s using the round shoulder silhouette to emphasize a fit that’s closer to the body and skims, not hugs, the waist and hips. Or so he hopes,” the New York Times wrote in an article about his way of designing the fashion of the 80s. However, and despite the fact that his professional career was going from strength to strength, the designer’s personal life began to decline.
This also took its toll on his own brand. Claude was married to the American model Wallis Franken, despite her open homosexuality. In fact, many claimed that the designer was truly in love with the mannequin, which is why he was devastated when she committed suicide in 1996. “Many are those who point to her problems with drugs and alcohol for this personal and professional decline,” Some media pointed out how his personal and professional life was fading.
Now his departure leaves a deep void in the world of fashion and all those he influenced. “Claude Montana’s work embodied exceptional craftsmanship. His daring creations influenced an entire generation of designers,” Bruno Pavlovsky, president of the French Fashion Federation, said of Claude Montana. Without a doubt, a march that will be most felt in the industry.