Calvin Klein was born in the Bronx, New York, on 19 November 1942. He attended the High School of Industrial Arts and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, where he studied fashion design. Klein's first line was discovered by a buyer from Bonwit Teller, who was so impressed by the collection of finely tailored coats in fresh colors that he sent Klein to meet with Mildred Custin, then president of Bonwit Teller. Custin placed a large order with Klein, giving a jumpstart to the newly formed Calvin Klein Limited. Klein's designs, even in the excessive 1980s, continued to evoke a minimalist aesthetic, with a relatively restrained use of embellishment and color. The core of the collection was, as always, made up of timeless pieces in good fabrics. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CDFA) recognized Klein when he won designer of the year awards in 1982 and 1983 for his women's collection. Klein won a CFDA award in 1986 for both his men's and women's collections, the first time a designer had won both awards in the same year.Fenston, Gretchen. "Klein, Calvin." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. Haberman, Nicole. Midwest Marketing Blog. 2013. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. In the 1990s Calvin Klein's worldwide expansion into Asia, Europe, and the Middle East markets brought his name international consumer recognition. The decade also saw Klein revamp the jeans/sport division of the company, creating the cK collection, made to appeal to a younger, hipper customer. Klein had been farsighted enough to realize the importance of archiving his work, so a constant recall of his roots was readily available. The cK line, largely inspired by these vintage collection pieces, was recognized by the CFDA with an award in 1993.The name Calvin Klein represents so many different things—controversial advertising campaigns, the leading name in the designer-jeans phenomenon, stylish boyish underwear for women, and brilliant and ruthless business practices. So much of what Klein designed has become fundamentally what Americans wear that his clothing can rightly be called an American uniform. Fenston, Gretchen. "Klein, Calvin." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. Villesin, Laura. Miista Fashion Blog. Web. 2012. Calvin Klein has been successful as a designer for many years because of his minimalist and classic styles. He shies away from major trends and sticks to the basics which will last for many more years to come.

Ralph Lauren's fascination with style began in early childhood. In 1968 Lauren left Beau Brummel, taking the name Polo with him, and went into business with the suit maker Norman Hilton. Lauren began expanding, first into a full range of clothing and furnishings for men, and then, in 1971, into women's fashions. Even in those early days, he displayed characteristics that defined his career: an innate understanding of branding (he embroidered his polo player logo on the cuffs of his first women's shirts, creating one of the most singular brand identities in the history of marketing. In the late 1980s Lauren and his creative services department unveiled the extensive renovation and preservation project that is the Rhinelander Mansion, long one of New York's architectural treasures, and now the backdrop to Lauren's ultimate Polo retail store. It has forever redefined fashion retailing. Gross, Michael. "Lauren, Ralph." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. .

Gross, Michael. "Lauren, Ralph." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. . At age sixty-five Lauren, one of the greatest businessmen-designers in fashion history, remained driven and unsatisfied, still struggling to prove himself. Today, Lauren's fashions are still sold in the biggest retailers in the country. Gross, Michael. "Lauren, Ralph." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. .

Sigurjónsdóttir, Æsa. "Iceland." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. .

"Advertisement: Ralph Lauren (Ralph Lauren)." Vogue Aug 01 1995: 82-. The Vogue Archive. Web. 11 Feb. 2013 .

"Advertisement: Ralph Lauren (Ralph Lauren)." Vogue Sep 01 1998: 37,37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. The Vogue Archive. Web. 11 Feb. 2013 . As you can see, Ralph Lauren is known for his classic and eternal styles.

Born Lee McQueen in the East End of London in 1969, Alexander McQueen was the youngest of six children to a taxi driver and a social history teacher. He left school at the age of sixteen and started an apprenticeship with the Savile Row tailors Anderson and Sheppard. From there McQueen moved to the tailors Gieves and Hawkes, the theatrical costumers Bermans and Nathans, the designer Koji Tatsuno in London, and (at age twenty) to Romeo Gigli in Milan. Returning to London in 1990, he sought employment teaching pattern-cutting at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design; instead, despite his lack of formal fashion training, he was offered a place in the fashion design course as a graduate student Evans, Caroline. "McQueen, Alexander." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 4 Feb. 2013. .

Hilton, Perez. New Alexander McQueen Book Release! 4 Sep. 2012 Web. 4 Feb. 2013 http://i.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/alexander-mcqueen-photo-book__oPt.jpg As Alexander McQueen he immediately started his own label, first showing in autumn-winter 1993. His early collections, such as Nihilism (spring-summer 1994) and Highland Rape (autumn-winter 1995) relied on shock tactics rather than wearability, a strategy that helped him establish a strong identity. With their harsh styling, the designs in these collections explored variations on the themes of abuse and victimization. They frequently featured slashed, stabbed, and torn cloth, as well as McQueen's brutally sharp style of tailoring. He introduced extraordinary narrative and aesthetic content to his runway shows. Styling, showmanship, and dramatic presentation became as important as the design of the clothes; models walked on water, were drenched in "golden showers" on an ink-flooded catwalk, or were surrounded by rings of flame. "McQueen, Alexander." The Berg Fashion Library. The Berg Fashion Library, 2005. Web. 4 Feb. 2013. .

Lee, Sonja. British Fashion, Alexander McQueen. 5 May 2010. Web.

Lee, Sonja. British Fashion, Alexander McQueen. 5 May 2010. Web.

Lee, Sonja. British Fashion, Alexander McQueen. 5 May 2010. Web. I really enjoy Alexander McQueen's fashion creations because they were extremely well tailored and unique. Each piece was hand crafted and took a great amount of time to design. In addition, McQueen can be credited for the first designer to use skulls in his fashion pieces. His runway shows were always extravagant and dramatic! Sadly, he committed suicide in 2010.