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:
BB [Bill Blass] Press Kit Fall 1995 April 6, 1995, 1995
This folder contains a press kit and color photos of ensembles by Bill Blass.
BB [Bill Blass] Press Kit Fall 1996, 1996
This folder contains press kits, 8x10" black and white fashion photos of ensembles by Bill Blass and one 8x10" negative.
BB [Bill Blass] Press Kit Fall 1999 [with Spring 1999, November 1998], 1998-1999
This folder contains a Bill Blass folder, four 8x10 photographs (2 color, 2 black and white) of looks from the Bill Blass Spring 1999 collection, and four 8x10 negatives and six 8x10 photographs (2 color, 4 black and white) of four different looks from the Bill Blass Fall 1999 collection.
BB [Bill Blass] Press Kit May 24, 1999, 1999
This folder contains 2 press kits, each including a folder, a press release and fact sheet for the "Amazing" fragrance with two 8x10 photos, a press release about Blass's licensing agreement with Rose Cloak & Suit Co, a biography and 8x10 black and white photo of Blass, 2 color and 2 black and white 8x10 photos of looks from the Fall 1999 collection, and photocopies of articles featuring Bill Blass designs.
BB [Bill Blass] Press Kit Negatives Fall 1998 [April 2, 1998], 1998
This folder contains two 8x10 negatives, two 3x4 negatives, and two 8x10 color photographs of looks from the Bill Blass Fall 1998 collection.
BB [Bill Blass] Press Kit September 9, 1997, 1997
This folder contains a press kit for Bill Blass's furniture collection for Pennsylvania House with folder, press release, four 8x10 black and white photographs of furniture, two color prints of couches, and an 8x10 black and white portrait of Blass.
BB [Bill Blass] Press Kits Photos Spring 1999, November 5, 1998, 1998
This folder contains 3 press kits, each consisting of a folder with photocopied articles about/by Blass, a biography, a black and white 8x10 portrait of Blass, and two color and two black and white 8x10 photographs of looks from the Spring 1999 Bill Blass collection.
BB [Bill Blass] Press Release: Fragrance 1999, March 1998, 1998
This folder contains multiple drafts of the press release for the buy-back and re-release of the Bill Blass fragrance, and associated fax transmittals.
BB [Bill Blass] Press Spring 1999 [September 1999], 1999
This folder contains the September 16, 1999 issue of Style (Jewish Exponent_ and a clipping from the September 21, 1999 New York Times fashion section; both picture Bill Blass designs.
BB [Bill Blass] Publicity September 1998, 1998
This folder contains clippings from the Morris Town Daily Record and a section from Harper's Bazaar from September 1998, as well as notes pertaining to these press pieces.