Claude Montana
About
the designers
The late Helse Dolsey once called Claude Montana the "Leader of Paris fashion," but that could be said of many Paris designers. Another name for him has been "King of Shoulder Pads" which is a more apt title, looking to the size of the shoulders of many of his designs. He has spent a good deal of his career designing men's clothes for women.
Fashion Designer Claude Montana was born in 1949 in Paris to a German mother and Catalanian (Spanish) father. At an early age, he traveled to London (1971) and began his career by designing papier-mâché jewellery covered with rhinestones. He returned to Paris in 1970 and started working for a French leather company called McDouglas in 1972, where he learned the basic skills of pattern cutting/grading.
The Look
Claude Montana is known for his refined, figure-hugging designs, in lightweight materials or heavy leather. He was an avid colourist and favoured blue, red, metallic, and neutral tones, in luxurious materials such as cashmere, leather and silk. During the 90's, his style gradually changed and became more simple and sophisticated. His collections announced a whole new set of styles with exquisite drapery, fluidity, movement and minimal construction. He used a much more feminine look. Gone were the bulky masculine overcoats, and in came furs of white fox, or coloured mink capes, and he began to make liberal use of fabrics such as velvet, crepe, mousseline, and leather.