▎❝ The fantastic Féraud & where to find him. ❞

It is not everyday that a fashion designer sticks with me long after I’ve first discovered their brand. In the many years since I’ve been interested in fashion, only a few designers still manage to stand out to me as truly unique and one of them is French designer and artist, Louis Féraud, who first shared his fashion with the world in 1950. To me, he is France’s answer to Gianni Versace though he would never reach the same fame.

Underrated and underappreciated in the fashion world, Louis Féraud remains one of the most influential and personally trendsetting designers that I’ve had the pleasure of finding. Nothing he’s designed feels stale or redundant even when it’s abiding by trends or borrowing inspiration from another designer. His brand feels very personal to me because he envisioned clothing that fits my personal taste in the same way that Gianni Versace did and Donatella continues to do. In short, Féraud is one of my style spirit animals! How rare it is to pick up clothing from a brand and feel that it’s so completely and utterly original that it’s like it was crafted just for you. That is how I feel about much of Féraud’s clothing. He was such a visionary for his time and even now, his clothing is stylish and relevant even though it’s considered vintage.

It’s worth noting that Féraud’s original fashion house disappeared in the late 90’s after his death but was bought and revived into a more modern fashion brand that still operates. For the purpose of this post, I will primarily be discussing Féraud himself as a designer and the clothes he specifically made as I’m more familiar with his vintage fashion than the new brand’s line but maybe I’ll check it out at a later date!

Cannes Couture

Born on February 13th, 1921 in Arles, France, Louis Féraud was the son of a baker and later served as a veteran during World War II where he participated in the liberation of France in 1944. Before embracing art permanently as a painter, he worked as a journalist and a ski instructor. His love of painting women and the fashion taste from the women in his life inspired him to become a designer and open his own boutique in the 1950’s.

Louis launched his first couture line in Cannes, France, in 1960 in a lineup that included separate shows by powerhouses; Dior, Givenchy and Lanvin. Louis is quoted as having said of the show that he “invited 1,000 people to the first show and only about 3 came.” One of those attendees was another designer who would not only become a close friend of Féraud but become world renowned himself, Oleg Cassini. Louis would credit Cassini—known for dressing Jackie Kennedy—with helping spread the word about his brand and embracing him in the fashion world as a designer.

By 1955 he had founded his own couture house in Paris along with the most renowned French designers such as Dior and Chanel. Immediately after the launch of his fashion house, Féraud dressed Parisian high society and designed Brigitte Bardot’s wardrobe for many of her movies. After working with Brigitte, Feraud gained a following among other Hollywood starlets, Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor, and Kim Novak. 1958 was the year that he presented his first haute couture collection in Paris and in 1970, he began work on a ready to wear collection for ladies.

In 1978, Louis Féraud won the Golden Thimble Award for his Spring/Summer 1978 Haute Couture Collection and he’d go on to win it again in 1984. In 1981, he crafted his own fragrance, Fantasque, and partnered with Avon Cosmetics to sell in in 1982. Fantasque was Féraud’s first designer perfume and it proved so successful that he followed up with two more; Vivage in 1984 and Cote d’Azur in 1988.

Féraud continued to gain recognition and was elected Prince de l’Art de Vivre in 1991. In 1995, he was decorated Officier de la Légion d’honneur, by the French President and in 1996, his daughter, Kiki, launched her first Haute Couture collection with Féraud. Sadly, by the later part of the 90’s, Féraud was battling Alzheimer’s. In September 1999, the Dutch company, Secon, bought Féraud’s label and by December 1999, Louis Féraud had lost his fight with Alzheimer’s and died leaving behind a fashion legacy that still stands the test of time.

Design style

Féraud’s style was characterized by a harmonious blend of classic tailoring and vibrant, expressive colors, which set his creations apart from his contemporaries. His collections often featured bold prints and luxurious fabrics, emphasizing a sense of movement and femininity that resonated deeply with fashionable women of the era. He took risks at a time when women were starving for something interesting to wear and it paid off. His looks were fresh and fun while still remaining chic having something for everyone!

Notably, Féraud had an innate ability to marry traditional haute couture techniques with a modern sensibility, allowing him to create pieces that exuded both sophistication and wearability. He was particularly famous for his elegant evening gowns and tailored suits, which often included exquisite detailing, such as intricate embroidery and unique embellishments. The designer was also an early adopter of the prêt-à-porter concept, recognizing the need for accessible luxury, which allowed him to reach a broader audience without compromising the quality and artistry that were hallmarks of his brand—this idea was the blueprint of many later brands such as Michael Kors.

Féraud’s work was a celebration of femininity, epitomizing a sense of romance and sophistication that appealed to women seeking to express their individuality through fashion. He often drew inspiration from art and culture, integrating elements from various movements into his designs, making his collections not just wearable art but also a reflection of the vibrant zeitgeist of the time. Everything from abstract art to pop art was made into textiles for his clothes. He is one of the earliest designers of “dopamine dressing”. As a result, Louis Féraud remains an influential figure in the fashion industry, known for his ability to create timeless pieces that continue to inspire designers, art lovers, and fashion enthusiasts alike.

Vintage lover

Among his fellow French designers, Louis Féraud stands out like a rainbow on a cloudy day. In the neutral world of mundane, yet elegant Parisian fashion, Féraud was a breath of fresh air with his vibrant colors and prints that many major French fashion houses shied away from. Chanel, Lagerfeld, Givenchy, Dior, kept their style chic, demure, and in the box while Féraud focused on patterns, color blocks, prints, and abstracts that were more typical of his background as an artist rather than a designer. He seamlessly blurred the line between art and fashion in such a unique way that I personally don’t think it’s been done quite as well since. If there were one designer who single handedly summed up the fashion trends of the 1980’s in one label, I would argue that it is Féraud—print loving, shoulder padding, Féraud!

Louis made color block cool, he sewed both stripes and polka dots together, he hand painted his fabric, and he turned pop art into a skirt. This man was an icon and he was a genius. Had his last name not been such a give away, one might’ve easily confused Louis for an Italian designer. Known for a louder, more maximalist approach to fashion, the Italians used many of the same elements as Féraud and yet they still remain distinctive. I’ve often compared him to Gianni Versace though there’s never any evidence of them crossing paths or inspiring each other’s work. In my mind, they were the best of friends, though. Their minds were so similar when it came to their collections and I think that a friendship between them would’ve been one of the most iconic in the fashion world had they teamed up.

Famous faces known for wearing Féraud include; Joan Collins, Ingrid Bergman, Kim Novak, Brigitte Bardot, Grace Kelly, Priscilla Presley, and Kendall Jenner, who wore a custom dress inspired by Féraud’s Fall/Winter 1997 collection—one of the last collections he would design in his life time. I have never been a minimalist—obviously—and now that trend’s dying out and there’s a resurgence of vintage fashion, I am hopeful to see more people wearing Féraud’s designs out on the street again. Life is meant to be lived in color and no one does that better than Louis.

Speaking from personal experience as a collector, his pieces are very affordable and easier to acquire than many other vintage brands. The average estimated price for Féraud’s clothing is anywhere from $35.00 to $120.00 depending on the rarity of the piece and it’s condition—this is based on my current shopping notes but always remember that this can be subject to change. My point is that his work is very well priced considering it’s quality, style, and design. If you want to look good for less, Féraud is a designer you need to shop but remember that it’s vintage sizing so check the measurements to make sure your garment will work before you purchase. Féraud’s preloved clothing can be found anywhere vintage clothing is sold but I typically rely on the Easy E’s (Ebay and Etsy) which is where I got all of the clothing pictured here.

Loving Louis

As mentioned, Louis Féraud remains one of my favorite designers to not only wear but to collect. His pieces make me happy and sharing his story with all of you has been a pleasure. Even now, he is over looked and under appreciated in the world of fashion that owes him much. His brilliance lives on in his clothing all the years after his death and he continues to inspire me with his designs that were well ahead of his time. A visionary and an artist above all else, thank you for your service to fashion, Mr. Féraud.

I do encourage anyone who loves art and fashion to at the very least google Féraud’s designs even if you’re not interested in wearing them yourself. For those interested in acquiring his coveted pieces, I wish you happy hunting and best of luck! You never know—you might end up bidding against a super fan like me! I know this was shorter but I hope it was a good designer spotlight none the less! Stay imaginative!