André Courrèges

André Courrèges, born in 1923, French fashion designer, credited with inventing the miniskirt in 1964. His “space-age” designs—square-shaped short skirts worn with calf-high white boots—were copied worldwide in the 1960s. He also introduced trousers for women for daytime and evening wear. Other Courrèges innovations include the designer logo (the initials AC) and raised, visible seams.

Born in Pau, France, Courrèges studied to be a civil engineer but after a short time went to Paris to work in a small fashion house. He worked for Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga from 1950 to 1961 before founding his own label in 1961 to bring the Balenciaga look to a younger, hipper generation. He produced both couture (made-to-order) and ready-to-wear lines of well-tailored designs, often in pastel shades, until his retirement