Christopher John Rogers

Christopher John Rogers
Born	Baton Rouge, LA
Alma mater	Savannah College of Art and Design
Occupation	Fashion designer
Website	christopherjohnrogers.com

Christopher John Rogers is a fashion designer hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, currently operating out of Brooklyn, New York. He introduced his inaugural collection in the fall of 2018 at the age of 24 and secured the highest honor at the 16th CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2019.

Early life and education

Raised in an artistic household in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Rogers' mother, Johnell, transitioned from ballet dancing to a career as a medical technologist, while his father, Christopher, pursued photography before moving into library technology at Southern University.

During his time at Baton Rouge Magnet High School, he began creating designs for New Orleans Fashion Week. His early inspirations included anime, the artworks of Paul Gauguin, and the monochrome clothing worn by his grandmother and fellow members of his Baptist congregation.

Although he was accepted to Parsons School of Design, Rogers ultimately enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) after losing his Parsons admission. He completed his studies at SCAD in 2016.

Career and brand

Following graduation, Rogers relocated to Brooklyn to pursue his fashion ambitions, initially gaining experience at Diane von Fürstenberg. Notably, Cardi B donned a jacket from his graduation collection during the 2017 BET Awards.

In 2016, he established his namesake label and unveiled his debut collection in fall 2018 at age 24. This collection drew inspiration from his Southern Baptist roots, mid-20th century couture styles, and an abandoned beach in California. The debut took place at Martos Gallery in Chinatown. His sophomore collection was showcased at New York Fashion Week in 2019 and was described by Rogers as "a debutante ball thrown at Stonehenge and illustrated by Dr. Seuss."

Rogers earned the $400,000 grand prize at the 16th CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2019. The following year, he was honored as CFDA’s first American Emerging Designer of the Year. The CFDA highlighted his daring approach to design that balances meticulous craftsmanship with enduring style while empowering wearers to confidently occupy space. In 2020, he was also featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

In 2021, Rogers’ creations appeared on the rebooted Gossip Girl, worn by the character Julien Calloway. Vice President Kamala Harris selected a Christopher John Rogers outfit for her inauguration attire. That year also saw a 70-piece collaboration released with ALEXIS and RIXO for Target under his brand.

After pausing for two years, Rogers made a comeback in 2022 with Collection 10 titled "Playdough," which premiered in Brooklyn. This collection included custom footwear designed exclusively for him by Christian Louboutin. His work was featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual fashion exhibition "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion."

A distinctive hallmark of Rogers’ design language is the "strawberry skirt," characterized by a voluminous hip silhouette paired with a cinched waist and tailored hemline.

In 2024, J. Crew collaborated with Christopher John Rogers to launch a line comprising 48 pieces spanning various womenswear categories.