Olivier Theyskens facts for kids

Olivier Theyskens is a famous fashion designer from Belgium. He was born on January 4, 1977. He has worked for many big fashion companies like Rochas, Nina Ricci, and Theory.

Early Life

Olivier Theyskens was born in Brussels, Belgium. His father was a chemical engineer, and his mother was a homemaker. In 1994, he started studying fashion design at a school called École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels de la Cambre. But he left school in 1997 to create his own fashion brand.

Fashion Career

Starting His Own Brand

Theyskens showed some of his designs from a collection called “Gloomy Trips” at a show in Belgium. A fashion stylist named Arianne Phillips saw pictures of his work. She chose one of his black satin coatdresses for the singer Madonna to wear. Madonna wore it to the 1998 Academy Awards. A famous fashion writer, André Leon Talley, even said it was one of his favorite Oscar dresses ever.

Theyskens showed his first full collection in Paris in 1998. His designs were inspired by 18th-century French styles. His spring 1999 collection was even featured on Vogue’s list of "25 Most Unforgettable Runway Shows of the ‘90s." By the year 2000, Vogue magazine said that Theyskens was one of the most important creative people in fashion. That same year, he won the Venus de la Mode award. His collection in Fall 2001 was called "one of the strongest, most brilliant collections of the season" by Vogue. His own fashion line continued until 2002.

Working at Rochas

In 2002, Theyskens became the creative director for Rochas, a well-known fashion house. He showed his first collection for Rochas in 2003. He created a new, elegant French-inspired style for the brand. In 2003, Theyskens also designed costumes for an opera called I due Foscari at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie. In 2005, he received the Star Award from the Fashion Group International.

In 2006, the company that owned Rochas decided to stop its fashion business. They said they didn't have the right resources to continue making ready-to-wear clothes. In the same year, Theyskens received the International Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Leading Nina Ricci

In November 2006, Theyskens became the artistic director at Nina Ricci. Here, he focused on creating younger, more casual clothes. His collections for Nina Ricci were very popular and received great reviews. He left Nina Ricci in the fall of 2009.

Designing for Theory

In 2010, the CEO of Theory, Andrew Rosen, asked Theyskens to design a special collection for the brand. Theyskens was then named the artistic director of Theory in October 2010. He left Theory in June 2014 to work on other design projects. His last collection for Theory was for pre-spring 2015.

His Own Brand Returns

In 2016, Olivier Theyskens launched his own fashion brand again. This was the first time in over ten years that he designed under his own name. He funded the brand himself.

Artistic Director at Azzaro

In 2020, Theyskens was named the artistic director of Azzaro. In this role, he is in charge of the brand’s special couture collections, ready-to-wear lines, and accessories for both women and men.

Recognition and Famous Wearers

In 2010, a book called “The Other Side of the Picture” was released. It looked back at Theyskens’ work and was a result of a 10-year project with photographer Julien Claessens.

Many famous people have worn Olivier Theyskens' designs. These include Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Reese Witherspoon, Emma Watson, Diane Kruger, Greta Gerwig, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Aniston, Mylene Farmer, Bella Hadid, and Kirsten Dunst.