GPierre Cardin, a Frenchman born and brought up in Venice, came to Paris to work at the houses of Paquin and Schia parelli and was with Dior when the New Look was launched Cardin started up his own house in 1949. He designed for men as well as women and made a reputation in the 1950s with his original designs which included slim coats with immense cape collars(often double) and his oriental styles. He introduced a number of ideas which were not popular at the time but which later were taken up: for instance thigh-length boots coloured, patterned stockings; and the wearing of a maxi coat over a mini dress. Another