Paul William Compitus (born 9 April 1966 in
Surrey, England
Surrey () is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant ur ...
) is a
fashion
Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. The term implies a look defined by the fash ...
designer and educator noted for his sexy, avant-garde, surreal and often futuristic style.
Life and career
Compitus is a British fashion designer who worked for many of the most famous design houses. Although he primarily designed menswear, he ran his own womenswear line, Paul Compitus Fashions, until 1999. As a university lecturer he mentored and taught young designers in both the UK and in the United States. Although his work was photographed for many magazines and seen on several celebrities, he is best known for the pants worn in one of David LaChapelle's "surgery story" photographs as well as for designing costumes for the Stephen Petronio Dance Company.
, ''New York Times description of Paul Compitus costumes for Stephen Petronio'', 1997.
Compitus attended Kingston University in England, where he received his bachelor's degree in Fashion Design in 1988. He was the first non-Japanese designer to work for the Japanese fashion house Matsuda in 1988-1989. He moved to the United States in 1989.
Compitus has designed for major brands such as EckÅ Unltd., Matsuda, Rugby by Ralph Lauren, Charivari, Nautica (clothing company), Nautica, Rocawear as well as Whispering Smith. He was a lecturer at Kingston University, where he mentored several winners of the Levi's Young Designers Competition. He also taught at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
Magazine references
"Russell's Letter" - One World (1997),
Fashion Spectrum,
Trend People (Italian, 1997),
Neo (2005, Spanish),
Detour (1997),
Harper's Bazar En Espanol,
The Face Magazine (June 1997),
Interview (April 1997),
Surface (1997),
Soma,
Sweater,
Sportswear International,
Blackbook (Autumn 1997),
Raygun (November 1997),
Urb,
Details (1998),
Paper (1997),
Creme & Sugar (No.3)
External links
Newsweek interview with Paul Compitus
{{DEFAULTSORT:Compitus, Paul
1966 births
Living people
English fashion designers