Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Scene from "House of Cardin"

5 Times Pierre Cardin Influenced High Fashion

From Moschino to Balmain, the futuristic designer had a major influence on some of fashions biggest names. 

French fashion designer Pierre Cardin was a true visionary. The designer's geometric, angular silhouettes shaped the 1960s and paved the way for a Space Age-fueled boom of futuristic fashion that has since become synonymous with the decade. Along with masters like Andre Courrèges and Paco Rabanne, Cardin revolutionized the ready-to-wear industry through a uniquely modern exploration of the female form.

In the early 1970s, Cardin visited the NASA headquarters and became increasingly inspired by the world of space exploration and travel. Cardin would later go on to design several iterations of space suits for NASA, showing both his love for futurism and undeniable knack for tailoring. During the same time, Cardin began to extensively license his name for cigarettes, homeware, and furniture. This unique business model ultimately led the brand to be valued at over $10 million in 1990.

In December 2020, it was announced that the French-Italian designer passed away at the age of 98. Not only leaving behind his eponymous label, Cardin would also forever embed his legacy into the fashion lexicon. Whether it be pagoda shoulders at Balmain or angular stripes at Moschino, Cardin's impact on modern fashion is paramount. On what would have been the designer's 99th birthday, L'OFFICIEL remembers five times fashion's greats referenced the iconic designer.

Balmain




Pierre Cardin, 1979.



Balmain Spring/Summer 2020

For Balmain's Spring/Summer 2020 collection, Creative Director Olivier Rousteing presented a series of angular shouldered ensembles that harkened back to the tailoring mastery of Cardin. Dubbed pagoda shoulders, the silhouette was inspired by the triangular corners of Chinese architecture. The pagoda shoulder is often seen more widely in menswear than womenswear-corroborated by the fact that Cardin often modeled his over-the-top creations throughout the '70s.

Valentino




Pierre Cardin Haute Couture, circa 1980s.



Valentino Spring/Summer 2020 Haute Couture

Cardin's experimental silhouettes took on softer forms, too. This ruffle-edged dress from a vintage Haute Couture collection accentuated the model's body with its undulating additions. Thirty years later, a similar look appeared in Pierpaolo Piccioli's Valentino Spring/Summer 2020 Haute Couture collection.

Issey Miyake




Pierre Cardin Fall/Winter 1969.



Issey Miyake Spring/Summer 1995

Along with a distinctly futuristic aesthetic, Caridn often toyed with sculptural silhouettes, like the above cylindrical ensemble from the designer's Fall/Winter 1969 collection. Playing with materials like PVC and structural techniques, the French designer drifted away from the elegant, refined styles of the 1950s.

For Issey Miyake's Spring/Summer 1995 collection, the Japanese designer made a direct reference to the French label's sculptural silhouettes. Like Cardin, the Japanese label toyed with exaggerated silhouettes while also adding a sense of texture and depth with pleats and fabrication.

Moschino




Pierre Cardin Fall/Winter 1968.



Moschino Fall/Winter 2018

Jeremey Scott has always been one to embrace various references, pop culture icons, and campy silhouettes during his tenure at Moschino. For the brand's Fall/Winter 2018 collection, Scott featured a variety of striped separates and futuristic silhouettes that harkened back to the forward-thinkingn vision of Cardin.

Through various colorways and angular silhouettes, Moschino embraced the futurism that has since become synonymous with Cardin. And with models' legs and face painted in various pastel shades, the collection was a clear ode to the '60s.

Comme des Garçons




Pierre Cardin, 1969.



Commes des Garçons Spring/Summer 2017

Rei Kawakubo has always been one to push the boundaries of fashion. For Commes des Garçons' Spring/Summer 2017 collection, the Japanese designer displayed a series of flat silhouettes that morphed abstract the body.

Though the designer may not have overtly referenced Cardin, the visual similarities between the two are evident. Pushing the boundaries of the female body, both designers showcased various circular silhouettes throughout their careers that aim to morph and reshape the body.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×