Darkness Beyond the Ramp: 10 Grim Tales From The Glamorous World of Fashion

Tales about designers which have created more buzz than their fashion statements

The world of fashion is often associated with glamour and style, but behind the well lit runways and iconic designs lies a world of eccentric individuals and grim realities. In this collection of vignettes, we delve into the lives of renowned figures such as Gianni Versace, Yves Saint-Laurent, John Galliano, and many more, exploring everything from tragic assassinations to tumultuous family feuds in the fashion industry.

1. Gianni Versace

On the fateful morning of July 15, 1997, the renowned fashion icon Gianni Versace left his South Beach, Miami mansion, for his daily stroll to a local café. Tragically, this routine was disrupted when he lost his life to an assassin's bullets. The perpetrator, Andrew Cunanan, was already the target of an FBI manhunt, with Versace becoming the fifth victim of his killing spree. Cunanan, once a privately educated student from a privileged background, spiraled into darkness, eventually committing a series of gruesome murders that culminated in his death by suicide as the FBI closed in.

2. Hugo Boss

Hugo Boss, the German fashion brand recognized for its sleek image, conceals a blemished past. Established in 1924, the brand's founder, Hugo Boss, initially manufactured work clothes and raincoats, but things took a troubling turn as they began making shirts for the emerging National Socialist Party, later known as the Nazi Party. By 1931, Boss was exclusively manufacturing uniforms for the Waffen SS, Hitler Youth, and the German army. During WWII, his factory relied on forced labor from occupied Poland and France, and subjected workers, mainly women, to dire conditions. Despite being banned from post-war business operations due to his Nazi past, Boss successfully appealed, and the company transformed into the luxury brand it is today.

3. Maurizio Gucci

In a tumultuous chapter of the Gucci family saga, Maurizio Gucci, the sole heir of the fashion empire, defied his family's wishes by marrying Patrizia Reggiani in 1973. The union resulted in two daughters but ended bitterly in 1984, while he struggled for power with his cousin Paolo. However, Maurizio's fortune changed when his father, Rodolfo, passed away, bequeathing him the majority of the company. As CEO, Maurizio sold Gucci holdings for approximately $120 million, angering Patrizia, who bombarded him and his fiancée with death threats. Tragically, on March 27, 1995, Maurizio was assassinated on the steps of his Milan office. Patrizia, known as the "Black Widow," served 16 years in prison for ordering the hit.

4. Alexander McQueen

Lee Alexander McQueen, a prodigy who began his journey as a tailor on London's prestigious Savile Row at 16, swiftly transitioned to theatrical design. His graduation collection, provocatively titled "Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victims," featuring garments adorned with fake blood and human hair, garnered attention from influential stylist Isabella Blow. Notorious for his audacious style, McQueen once featured an amputee model in a runway show. In 1996, he briefly served as chief designer at Givenchy before returning to London, dissatisfied with the house's conventions, to continue under his name. The fashion world mourned in 2010, as McQueen took his own life just days after his mother's death, marking a tragic end to his extraordinary career.

5. Paolo Gucci

Inspired by the refined luggage of guests at London's Savoy Hotel in 1898, Gucci ventured into the world of leather goods, establishing the first Gucci store in Florence in 1921. By 1953, his son Aldo had expanded the brand globally, contributing to the iconic double G logo. In 1977, Aldo appointed his son Paolo as Vice President. When Paolo attempted to launch his luxury brand under Gucci's name, family disputes ensued, leading to Aldo's imprisonment for tax evasion at the age of 81.

6. John Galliano

John Galliano, the acclaimed designer and Dior's creative director tarnished his reputation with a shocking outburst at a Paris bar. In a 45-minute hate-filled tirade, he unleashed vile anti-Semitic language and menacing death threats. When confronted by the victims, Galliano accused them of defamation rather than taking responsibility. The situation escalated as a video emerged, revealing another inebriated rant a few months prior where he professed, "I love Hitler." Dior promptly suspended Galliano in February 2011, and a legal battle ensued, as he attributed his actions to alcohol and Valium addiction, and claimed memory loss. Ultimately, he received a guilty verdict for public insults, though his fine was suspended upon offering an apology.

7. Ossie Clark

Ossie Clark, an iconic designer from 1960s London, gained fame for his stylish creations for rockstars like the Beatles and Mick Jagger. However, as the swinging sixties waned, Clark's once-popular floral and bohemian designs fell into obscurity, leading to bankruptcy and homelessness by 1980. Tragically, in 2010, Clark met a gruesome end, brutally stabbed to death in his London flat by his former lover, Diego Cogolato, who was convicted for the murder driven by a transient psychotic episode in which he believed Clark to be the devil.

8. Halston

Born in Iowa in 1932, Roy Halston Frowick initially embarked on a career as a milliner, gaining widespread recognition for creating Jackie Kennedy's iconic pillbox hat for her husband's 1961 inauguration. By 1970, he transitioned towards womenswear, establishing a boutique on Madison Avenue. Halston's name became synonymous with disco-inspired fashion, as celebrities sported his designs at the legendary Studio 54 nightclub. In 1973, he sold his brand to Norton Simon Inc. but retained an executive role and continued designing. However, his extravagant lifestyle, excessive spending, and drug use frequently made headlines. In 1984, he was terminated due to adverse publicity, losing all rights to design under his name. Despite legal battles, he never regained control of the company.

9. Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana, the renowned Sicilian design duo, encountered widespread controversy in 2018, sparking a global boycott for an advert featuring a Chinese model struggling with chopsticks while promoting their "D&G Loves China" campaign. This incident led to stores in China removing their products, models boycotting a planned fashion show, and protestors burning D&G clothing in outrage. Earlier in 2015, Dolce made controversial remarks about babies born through IVF, referring to them as "synthetic," prompting a personal boycott from Elton John and protests by an LGBT rights group. Dolce & Gabbana attributed their provocative comments to their strict religious upbringing, yet further controversy erupted in June 2018 when Gabbana criticized Selena Gomez's appearance on a blogger's Instagram post.

10. Yves Saint-Laurent

Born in Algeria in 1936, Yves Saint-Laurent overcame childhood bullying through his creativity, winning a prestigious design competition that opened doors to Paris at the age of 17. Hired by couturier Christian Dior, he revolutionized the brand's image with innovative designs, but his avant-garde approach didn't sit well with Dior's traditional clientele. In 1960, Saint-Laurent's brief military service ended after 19 days due to harsh conditions and brutal treatment that triggered a mental breakdown. He was also fired by Dior and replaced by a rival designer. Despite his recovery, Saint-Laurent grappled with mental illness, and addiction to hallucinogenic drugs, cocaine, and alcohol.