Ted Lapidus

Edmond "Ted" Lapidus (June 23, 1929 – December 29, 2008) was a French fashion designer. He was born in Paris the son of a Russian Émigré tailor.

Lapidus was considered the creator and pioneer of the unisex fashion look and is credited with introducing a military and safari look into haute couture. He is credited as the first designer to put Military style Shoulder straps on both male and female clothing, and with making blue jeans part of the mainstream of fashion design.
Lapidus started his own fashion label in 1951, and gained prominence in the 1960s when French celebrities such as Brigitte Bardot and Alain Delon starting wearing his creations. He was admitted to the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture parisienne in 1963. In the late 1970s the Lapidus label started to produce fashion accessories as the haute couture market declined. In 1989 Ted Lapidus's son Oliver Lapidus, took over the Lapidus label, in 2000 the Lapidus label ceased producing haute couture and is now primarily known for its fashion accessories of watches and fragrances.

Lapidus died in Cannes, aged 79, from pulmonary complications brought on by leukaemia. He will be buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy paid tribute and said Lapidus had "democratised French elegance and classicism" and "made fashion accessible to men and women in the street." He also has a perfume and cologne line.