Collette Dinnigan is one of Australia – and the World’s most famous fashion designers. Collette was born in South Africa and later moved to New Zealand where she attended Wellington Polytechnic and later graduated at Tauranga Girls College. After her studies she moved to Sydney and started working for the costume department at the ABC. In 1990 she created the Collette Dinnigan label and in 1992 she opened her own range. In 1995 she was the first Australian to launch a ready-to-wear collection in Paris.

The brand Collette Dinnigan is now known worldwide and Collette has designed clothes worn by celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Pink, Kate Hudson, Halle Berry and Angelina Jolie. She has a distinctive, glamorous style and is inspired by colours, prints, emotions, travelling and the weather. Dinnigan’s work is incredibly fresh and versatile, generally appearing as a sveltely confident look, underscored by an inventive mix of layers, colours and textures. However, she stresses the importance of her clients: “every woman who wears my clothes gives them a personality… no two women can wear the same dress and look exactly the same.” Over the years she received several awards such as the Designer of the Year Award in 1996, the Award for Excellence in 1998 and she was awarded for Australia’s 50 Most Beautiful Exports in 2001, 2002 and 2004.

Ms. Dinnigan attributes her dizzying success to an unwavering commitment to quality and detail. She explains “people want the essence of the designer. They want something different. That’s something I try to do—create something that will last.” A close examination of Dinnigan’s creations proves this point. Her stunning silk dresses, antique lace skirts, tweed jackets, cashmere suits and wool trousers are all made with a delicate couture sensibility.

Watch the video of Collette Dinnigan at Paris Fashion Week 2009 below.

Image by: Koonisutra

Tags: Collette, Collette Dinnigan, Designer of the Year, Dinnigan, famous, Fashion Designer, paris fashion week, ready-to-wear