Blass, Bill (1922-2002)
Dates
- Existence: 1922-2002
Biography
Bill Blass was born William Ralph Blass on June 22, 1922 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Blass attended Parsons School of Design at the age of 17. Roughly around the same time, Blass worked as a sketch artist for David Crystal, a Seventh Ave manufacturer. He served three years in the U.S. army during WWII. After the war, he returned to design, first working as an assistant with Anne Klein and ultimately finding work at Anna Miller and Co. in New York. Bill Blass became the head designer for Maurice Rentner in 1959, LTD, after the firm merged with Anna Miller and Co. 11 years later, Blass became sole owner of Rentner and renamed the company after himself. By this time, Blass had already won acclaim in the fashion industry, winning a Coty award in 1968 for his menswear designs. Bill Blass would go on to win two more Coty Awards, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987 and the Humanitarian Leadership Award in 1996. From 1979 to 1981, Blass served as the honorary president for the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Bill Blass sold his business in 1999 for a rumoured $50 million. Bill Blass passed away at the age of 79 in 2002.
Found in 248 Collections and/or Records:
1991 December, 1991
This folder contains a column on tradition versus the avant garde and black and white photos of ensembles by Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Bill Blass, Norma Kamali and Christian Lacroix, and Carolina Herrera.
1991 November, 1991
This folder contains a column and black and white photos of loungewear by Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass and Fernando Sanchez.
1992 May, 1992
This folder contains a column on Bill Blass and black and white photocopies of photos by an unidentified designer.
1992 November, 1992
This folder contains a column on American fashion and black and white photos of ensembles by Bill Blass.
1992 September, 1992
This folder contains a column and black and white photos of ensembles by Debra Moises, Bill Blass and Oscar de la Renta.
1993 January, 1993
This folder contains a column on soft fabrics and black and white photos of ensembles by Go>Silk and Bill Blass.
1993 July, 1993
This folder contains a column on pantsuits and black and white photos of pantsuits by Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta and Bill Blass and one color photo of a pantsuit by Bill Blass.
1993 May, 1993
This folder contains a column on summer fashions of Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera and Bill Blass and black and white photos of ensembles by Bill Blass and Linda Allard for Ellen Tracy.
1993 May, 1993
This folder contains a column on jackets and black and white photos of jackets, with press releases attached, by Hanae Mori, Joseph Abboud and Bill Blass.
1993 November, 1993
This folder contains a column on New York Fashion Week and color photos of ensembles by Bill Blass and Go>Silk and one color reproduction of a sketch of an ensemble by Richard Tyler for Anne Klein.