Before Christian Lacroix became one of the most famous couturiers in the world, he was an art historian who wanted to work in a museum. But fashion called and he answered with witty silhouettes and a sophisticated, art-historical color sense. In his second career designing costumes for theater, opera, and ballet, this same wit and color has made his every new commission an event. Lacroix brings his ebullient eye to costumes for this new production of The Marriage of Figaro, directed by filmmaker James Gray. —L.J.