Christian Lacroix is a French fashion designer who was born in Arles, France. He founded the house that bears his name. Born and raised in Arles, and displaying an early talent for art, Lacroix originally studied art history, with designs on a career as a museum curator. His entrance into fashion would come with a job as an assistant at Hermès, starting in 1978. From there, LaCroix collaborated with the Tokyo Imperial Court on costumes, and eventually found his way to Jean Patou in 1981. With his feet firmly in the fashion world, LaCroix left in 1986 to launch his own house. His colorful and elaborate designs, often featuring mulitple patterns, elaborate ruffles, poufs and pleats, Lacroix's designs for many are the epitome of the over-the-top fashions of the 1980s. Lacroix's first fragrance, C'est La Vie, was introduced in 1990. He partnered with Avon in 2007 and released fragrances for women and men. As of 2014, his latest fragrance is C`est la Fete Patchouli for women. It was released in 2008.