Nationality Swedish Occupation Fashion designer | Name Lars Nilsson Role Fashion designer | |
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Born 1966 Stockholm, Sweden Education Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne Awards Vanity Fair Best Dressed 2001, Guldknappen 2006, Graphis Gold Award (Best Advertisement Campaign) 2011 Labels Christian Lacroix, Nina Ricci, Bill Blass, Mr. Nils | ||
The Iris Collection, designed by fashion designer Lars Nilsson
Lars Nilsson (born 1966 in Stockholm, Sweden) is a fashion designer and fully integrated member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America who has worked with several major fashion houses, including Christian Lacroix, Balmain,Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren, Bill Blass, Nina Ricci and his own menswear line, Mr. Nils.
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Career
Lars Nilsson graduated from both Virginska Skolan in Sweden and Paris’ Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture.
Following fashion school Nilsson held an apprenticeship at the tailoring atelier of Chanel haute couture before joining the fashion house Christian Lacroix. He spent nine years there as both Lacroix's personal assistant and as the senior haute couture designer. He worked directly with Lacroix on a number of books and the production of theatrical pieces.
From 1997 to 1999 Nilsson worked with John Galliano at Christian Dior Couture as Collection Coordinator of both the haute couture studio and the fur collections. Afterwards, Nilsson moved to New York to become the Design Director for the Polo Ralph Lauren women’s wear collection. From 2000 to 2003 he was Creative Director for Bill Blass Collection, designing both womenswear and menswear, and became head designer following Bill Blass's death in 2002. Anna Wintour wore one of his dresses to the Vogue Fashion Awards in October 2001, and he was named Designer of the Year 2001 by New York magazine as well as being elected to the International Best-Dressed List by Eleanor Lambert and Vanity Fair.
In 2003 Nilsson returned to Paris, joining Nina Ricci as their Creative Director of fashion, and perfume and cosmetics. He revitalized Nina Ricci to tap into a clientele of "uptown girls" and "the new generation of socialites“ who included Renée Zellweger and Kate Beckinsale. In 2004 he designed the brand's first ever resort collection and was able to raise attention for the brand through several international runway shows, trunkshows and soirées. He also worked on innovative collaborations, such as with the famous corsetier Mr Pearl.
In 2006 Nilsson was presented with the highest Swedish Fashion Award, the Guldknappen (Swedish for Golden Button).
Nilsson was appointed Creative Director of Gianfranco Ferré following the founder's sudden death on September 25, 2007. However, he left after less than six months.
Between 2007 and 2008 he worked on establishing his own furniture and textiles collection.
In September 2009 Nilsson started his menswear label Mr. Nils. He showed his first collection as a special guest of Pitti Uomo in Florence, Italy In 2011, his branding efforts were recognised when he was awarded the Graphis Gold Award for Best Advertisement Campaign.