Cardin, Pierre [key], 1922–2020, French fashion designer, b. Italy. He spent most of his early years working in Paris for such firms as Schiaparelli and Dior and designed the costumes for Jean Cocteau's film Beauty and the Beast (1946) before he opened his own house in 1950. At first known for expensive clothing, he designed his first ready-to-wear line in 1959. His clothing was dramatic, bold, and often irregular in cut, and he was noted for his early astronaut suits, metal body jewelry, and futuristic look. He was a pioneer in global licensing, and his label appeared on products as diverse as wines, bicycles, ballpoint pens, sunglasses, and toiletries, ultimately devaluing his brand. Cardin continued to design into his nineties.
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