Christian Lacroix: A career in pictures

The designer at work in 1988 Photograph: Jean-Pierre Couderc/Roger Viollet

Lacroix is famous for his designs based on matador's costume. He also invented 'le pouf': the puffball skirt Photograph: Pierre Guillaud/AFP/Getty Images

This time 'le pouf' is on the front Photograph: Julio Donoso/CORBIS SYGMA

Frou frou doesn't even get close: A seriously over the top wedding dress by the designer Photograph: Francois Mori/AP

October 2006: Christian Lacroix walks down the catwalk with a model in a wedding dress during his Fashion in Motion show at the V&A, London. The show featured highlights from his Autumn/Winter 2006-7 Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Air France uniforms designed by Christian Lacroix in 1970 Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

Christian Lacroix and Jane Seymour during the 1980s Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features

A year after he founded his own fashion house, Christian Lacroix presented his first spring-summer collection in 1988, and was awarded the Golden Thimble for that year. All we can say is God bless the 80s Photograph: Julio Donoso/CORBIS SYGMA

The 1988 collection. Those aren't real women in case you were wondering Photograph: Ron Galella/WireImage

The Absolutely Fabulous stars with Christian Lacroix bags in 1996 Photograph: Edward Hirst/Rex Features

Christian Lacroix takes to the catwalk with Lily Cole at the end of his haute couture show for autumn-winter 2007/2008 Photograph: Jacques Brinon/AP

A somewhat subdued affair is worn by Kirsten Dunst at the premiere of Spider-Man 2 Photograph: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Helen Mirren wearing Christian Lacroix at the 2007 Oscars Photograph: Chris Carlson/AP

Mary Kate Olsen wearing Christian Lacroix at this year's Costume Gala in New York Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

May 2004: Madonna performs onstage during her "Re-Invention" World Tour. The outfit she is wearing is designed by Christian LaCroix Photograph: Frank Micelotta/guardian.co.uk

May 2009: Models present creations from the Christian Lacroix Spring/Summer 2009 Haute Couture collection at the Audi Fashion Festival in Singapore Photograph: Vivek Prakash/guardian.co.uk

May 2009: Christian Lacroix at the Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza on day one of Audi Fashion Festival Singapore Photograph: Stefen Chow/guardian.co.uk

July 2009: French fashion designer Christian Lacroix at his atelier. French fashion house Christian Lacroix was placed on June 2, 2009 under administration after filing for bankruptcy protection because of the global financial crisis Photograph: Pierre Verdy/guardian.co.uk