Christopher Essex
Christopher Essex (April 1945 – 13 September 2006) was an Australian costumer and designer whose client list included Tina Turner, Phyllis Diller and Dionne Warwick.
Essex was born in England but grew up in Australia. He began his career by designing displays at Mark Foy's, Sydney's leading department store at that time.
In the 1960s he opened his first salon, "Camille", in Hong Kong. Camille's customers included Nancy Kwan and Bruce Lee.
An initial bout with cancer prompted Essex to return to Australia. His successful recovery prompted him to re-establish his career, designing costumes for stage productions such as Get Happy, Private Lives, Hot Shoe Shuffle and Little Shop of Horrors and the film Strictly Ballroom.
Essex succumbed to a second bout of cancer at age 61. He died at Westmead Private Hospital in Sydney.