Date: born 1971

Biography: Nicolas Ghesquière was born in 1971. After holding brief positions at a variety of companies including Jean Paul Gaultier from 1990-1992, Ghesquière surprised the fashion industry in 1997 when he was selected as the lead designer for the historic house of Balenciaga. He was only 25 years old at the time. Immediately acclaimed, Ghesquière is widely credited with rejuvenating the house, which had been on a decline since the1970s. He received numerous honors for his work at Balenciaga, including the CFDA international designer award. Known for his engagement with the heritage of the house, Ghesquière said of time he spent in the Balenciaga archive, "I realized all over again the genius of Balenciaga. Even though they were designed 50, 60, or 70 years ago, they looked so fresh and modern."After retiring from Balenciaga in 2012, Ghesquière was named creative director of women’s collections at Louis Vuitton on November 4, 2013.