Claude Montana: The Lost Legend -  

Claude Montana is not given enough credit in fashion history. This collection is gorgeous and all of his work was amazing and so wearable!

That collection is timeless, you can tell he was a trendsetter, the cut is perfect, tailoring is on point, I'm not that positive with the idea of a comeback, he is in a better position as a legend rather than trying hard to fit into current fashion shenanigans.

The genius of Claude Montana. The agony of Claude Montana. His style and aesthetic, so immediately recognizable. Imagine, one lone mannequin in a window at Bendel’s 5th Ave flagship seen from across the street, cloaked in a red leather coat, awash in red light, the cut so exact, the line so sharp...it could only be Montana. No need to read the name on the glass. It was so obvious. He was a genius.

I'm always interested in the work of designers that have been "forgotten" by the fashion cognoscenti. Designers and houses like Todd Oldham, Geoffrey Beene, Halston, Callot Sœurs and Boué Sœurs and others disappear from the conversation for a while, but their work is eventually rediscovered and celebrated anew (and rightly so!)

Montana was genius. Even his tenure at Lanvin will live forever. I think he was monumental and directional. I’m so glad you mentioned the slowing down of the models, and his love for making them work the haute couture moves/poses. That’s an important element in who he was and how he manifested the designs. Exceptional artist.

Tim's coolness is timeless, he can interview the most obnoxious person or cover a show with the worst schedule that he will always look serene, you rock!

I always loved his work, he was a genius. And this particular collection was absolutely astonishing. All of those outfits could still be worn today. And thanks for featuring the always-wonderful Kristen McMenamy. You should make a video about Montana's work for Lanvin.

Claude Montana is brilliant! His clothes are timeless and gorgeous. His designs are so great and the models more beautiful! He may have been eclectic but he was truly a master of his craft!

Timeless, perfect cut, exquisite color- he was a master.

This collection is legendary and unforgotten.

This is probably one of my favorites collection of 90s, I would wear all these clothes today

It's for episodes like this one that I LOVE TBT! Great great great!

His collections and runway shows from 1985 to 1987 were amazing and way in front of the game at that time.

Such a legend. Sometimes it’s great to end on a high note. Makes his pieces more special!

A very iconic and influential designer of the 80's that created modern designs. He created his own esthetics that is so sharp and strong, it made a mark in fashion history. Hope he comes back.

Montana to me was the perfectionist. The clothes are so creative and so futuristic. The leathers were sublime and so chic. I love all of his creations.

Thanks for sharing Tim Blanks! That dress how Yasmeen walked in!!! and the finale wedding gown Christy wore!!!! I thought what Claude Montana did at Lanvin Couture, was decades too advanced for women then. Now, it seems rather appropriate.

In the decade of 1980-1989 I was aged 10-19. Watching the few blurry remains of footage from the period, Claude Montana is one of those people who brings out the 80's of the 1980's, and shows what its style was really about, at least as I recall it. So refined! I loved the fashion back then. He reminds me of what I really had wanted to do with my life, this and architecture!

Those clothes are actually flawless. With outfits we always notice things we would change or alter...But these outfits are actually perfection. I couldn't find any flaws!!!!!!!! I'm shook!!!!!

Baby Tim!

I was a student at F.I.T. when he was at the height of his glory- I absolutely loved watching his shows at the time on Video fashion Monthly & Style with Elsa Klensch. His shows were spectacular and I remember his shop at Henri Bendel, State of Montana. By that time his star was falling. He refused to change his style. The fashion machine was growing and the retail landscape did change as well. Stores like Charivari & Bagutta carried some of his pieces. The fabrics were beautiful and his sense of color was extraordinary. I think not changing and other mistakes really did him in.

Very good job Tim, I feel as you do, it's like he was such a great force in the eighties & nineties that you could not imagine fashion without him. I loved the theatrical shows. And the clothes themselves were always spot on for the times. He is one of my all time favorites. I wish he got more accolades such as the other greats have ( ysl, etc.). He was an innovative, creative & visionary being. I also wish you could show his lanvin couture collections.

What a brilliant piece, thank you...most illuminating. I can see the clear links from Montanas aesthetic to Tom ford's Gucci and Versace's 90s looks so clearly. He basically launched the LOOK of the 90s, the models, the attitude. Wow. Thanks for dicumrnting this so well.

Amazing video ! I love Claude Montana ! He is one of the designers that most inspires me in my own fashion sketches ! What can I say I love shoulder pads too, dramatic and he knew how to make women look both elegant and powerful ! So many beautiful collections through the years but his early collections are my favorite, shoulder pads extreme !

Damn this was brilliant! I love this shit... btw Tim was kinda cute young

What a genius.. He's work was amazing 👏

Timeless Montana was a fave of mine in the 80s his collar work was just divine

I totally remember looking forward to each new issue of Vogue to see what incredible power silhouettes Claude Montana would come up with. For me, Mugler and Montana were the most exciting designers of the 80s and it's nice to see you talk about Monsieur Montana.

I am a docent at the Phoenix Art Museum. Patsy Tarr, a Beeniac, donated over 350 pieces in 2019. MOVE opened a few weeks ago featuring Patsy's collection. GB was a phenomenal innovator whose designs expand our awareness today. We are blessed by GB's vision and execution as an expert in sketching, draping, and tailoring. What an American treasure!

He is and will always be pure brilliance to me. I remember the very first time I laid eyes on a photo of his work while I was in my first year in design school in 1988. My instant thought was, I have to find more. I mean, when a designer can design a look without any outside labels and you can identify the work by cut, colors, embellishment alone, that is genius. To me, it wasn't the shoulder pads and the leather that I remember. I remember probably 1986 to 97 as being his best years creatively. Including his tenure with the House of Lanvin. I can look at any piece from those years and know exactly which collection from which it belonged. He created the most cohesive collections I've ever seen. Sadly he has no rights to his own label name anymore and I think it is part of the entire package. No "Montana" or the signature "M" on his creations would be like sending Superman out with no "S" on his chest.

MONTANA IS GENIUS.

Timeless brilliant

Really love all the clothes paraded on the runway by Claude Montana.. he is such a marvel

I still love Claude Montana's designs. Always gorgeous!

Montana echoes in the cut and precision of his clothes. The futurism and power behind each garment still stand alone today. Designers of today should take heed and be more on the edge. Eschew all of the corporate cookie cutter designs and be inspired by Montana, Mugler, Patrick Kelly, La Croix...that era shall be deemed a renaissance by fashion historians.

He has always been my inspiration and inspired me to be the designer I am today.

AMAZING ❤❤❤

His work was and still is bloody marvelous.

Wonderful cloths, Excellent lines, Great Colors, Awesome accessories, Expert presentations. Sorry, so sad he’s not around today.

Tim, I think your reviews and, my favorites, the Throwbacks, are wonderful. More 90's, Please!

A genius will always be a genius regardless of time.

These clothes could stand today #timeless

Wow... his clothes were really beautiful, style and color.... Gorgeous!

stunning show!

Quel maitre. Fond memories of many beautiful shows on Elsa Clensch 80s-early 90s. A fantastic powerful time.

I remember him in the late 80 and early 90 the most fiercest fashion designers, at his era and time ❤️CM

Montana is fabulous! His design make women feel strong, elegant and feminine. I as a model, worked for him once at the Australia Bicentaniel show at the Opera House in Sidney.

Thanks much for this video. Discovered Vogue mag when he ruled it's pages. The pieces still look totally fresh, more timeless and less extreme than I remember.

Thank you so much for sharing these storiesTim! Love #TBT.

Dear Tim, i am really glad you seeing this video. I have been also a great Montana Fan , during my study i used to worked in a boutique who were selling Claude Montana and also State of Claude Montana . Suddenly his Creation went through a wrong direction... so sad . I kindly ask you to make a nother video about JPG maybe about the phenomenal collection Le Grand voyage ... , i appreciate your knowledge and style,

Thank you Tim, first time seeing his work. Agreed its sad but he can choose to return.

This was awesome! Everything shown here could be worn today.

beautiful....interesting story to go with the fashions. my those models...i love those exaggerated poses.

Tim Blake looking adorable in his youth !

Wow, I am in love with Claude Montana. Not only the guy is sexy, but his clothes are absolutely marvelous. Just look at Carla Bruni twirling forever with her dress slowly flowing in infiniti!!!!!!

ohhh so sad, I loved his style and still have 2 summer cotton pulls from the 90's

i love him ! Still the MASTER of the Eighties Fashion

I have 2 ties by Montana and love his clothes ,;wished he made a come back!,,

MONTANA!!! IS A FOREVER MAN, HIS STYLE WILL NEVER DIE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BEST RUNWAY SHOW..... TODAY, YOU SEE MONTANA RECREATIONS. HIS COLLECTIONS WERE UNIQUE, ELEGANT, CHIC, SOPHISTICATED, STRONG, HE WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME, his runway models, had hair that is in now, his fashion show were artistry. gorgeous cloths, just amazing!!!!!!!!! my trade mark is, his perfume.I dress up, I always recreate a bit of MONTANA IN MY LAURA STYLE. MONTANA IS A THE BURST OF FASHION, HE KNEW WOMEN BODYS AND HOW WE LIKE AND WANT TO PROJECT. LOVE HIS MONOCHROMATISM, MY WORD.

Sooooo Montana 💙

His collections around 84-86 were his strongest in my opinion. He really dictated the consumer trends at that time, his clothes were copycat gold. Then he somehow got stuck in a style he couldn't seem to move away from.

I’ve been a Montana fan since since about 82 when only the most fashionista of the time knew who he was. I met these Filipinos about 8 of them that were very fashionable and about 5 owned a CM leather jacket when they were about 19 years of age. One of them was only 16 and managed to scam Charavaris in NYC and got one with a stolen credit card. The same red leather jacket that Mick Jagger owned and wore for one of his concerts. Back then there was only 2 stores in SF that sold Montana. My first was this Montana jacket was found in this not well know store called Walter Fong on sale. It was under the Mario Valentino label that he also designed for for a few years. It was bascule one of his leather jackets from his line, but updated and made of cotton. I bought the matching vest and went back for when I managed to scrape up the money some how. Anyway, wearing one of the hottest designer in the early 80s and being 19/20, you felt like a king and wearing the best clothes made possible. At a young age, you also wanted to prove to the world you had great taste in fashion and you reached for the ultimate and achieving that at that age was a high, especially if you were not rich and famous . Meaning you were wearing the clothes that was not meant for a poor teen. Yeah, it was like having a Ferrari for a first car at a young age and you didn’t have rich parents but somehow you pulled it off,

He was the best thing that happened to Lanvin like Olivier Rousteing for Balmain, Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent, John Galliano for Dior, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel.

@timblanks I think in the 90s the whole shift towards everything 70s after the grunge moment made montana look dated. I remember that we didn't want gold buttons on the suits and big pads on the shoulders we wanted long droopy skirts and chunky soled shoes. Looking at it now he was a genius and like you said time wasn't kind to him. like Halston and Ozzi clark his work is forever referenced but the designer himself not credit for the seismic shift that he created. love this channel thanks

I always assumed Olivier Rousteing absolutely must be a Montana stan

My apartment in Paris was in the same street where Montana lived and would occasionally see him walking around. Time has not been kind to him...

He can come back if he wanted...

I loved him and his campaigns by Dominique Isserman... I don't know if I am getting old but I don't understand the work of some designers nowadays comparing with the feelings Montana transmitted me at that time. I just come from watching the last Prada collection, and I sometimes wonder if some designers with a traditional sense of style and femininity look for ugliness in the name of modernity.

I LOVED MONTANA BECAUSE HE MADE WOMEN STRONG AND IN CONTROL! no waifs here! No damsels in distress!

MONTANA was icon when i was at the fashion school in mtl 79/81 his work was like architecture women,(not sure you say that in English) i had the chance o meet him and his business partner MILO, in a bar when he was in Montreal we talk part of the night and they invite me to the lunching of the men and lady fragrance i been to threre hotel to pick up my invitation,, the most funny thing the guy who was in charge of the event, did no want to let me get in and Claude saw me at the door call my name say you let him( the organister) let Gilbert pass that was one of my best souvenir of fashion party evening. I miss his design I wonder what he would design today for sure it would be not be sweat pan and ass hanging pant like guy and girl were today and they all look like homeless.

Tim Blanks was so hot!

The murder of a genius fashion

I wondered whatever happened to Montana- I never knew about the tragedy, how awful! A forgotten legend...

No one does or will ever do precision cut and tailoring like Claude Montana. He was the Zaha Hadid of the fashion world during his time.

The world needs this talent but he seemed stubborn.

Can you do a biography tribute to Gian Franco Ferre

What is the first song..?

What happened to him? Please Claude comeback i want be your muse

who's running the new collection for farfetch?

I think theres more to this story that is kept hidden. Cuz it makes no sense in an era obsessed with revival and vintage hes complitely forgotten

Sad when talent like Montana and Margiela leave the fashion world altogether

Wow extremely sleek considering the time period. But I can see why it's "forgotten" as there is nothing particularly special about those clothes that stand out...even tho they are beautiful.

so ironic mr. blanks. montana was one of the most criticized designers by fashion journalist in the 90s. bad reviews and journalist even were absent from his shows. can you guess what i am up to? with your reviews on style.com you split the fashion world into the good ones and bad ones. creativity is not a business or politics. its a gift. cretive people have ups and downs. you write bad about cavalli, gaultier. do want them the same fate like montana? you can find in any show good things at least a shoe or a detail on a dress. you dont must be a lier but also dont be a destroyer.

maybe Claude left and became M. Margelia?

Too bad he left the fashion scene

Is he a one of Trumps sons ?