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] Vogue January 2000, 2000
This folder contains the January 2000 issue of Vogue.
BB [Bill Blass] Vogue June 1999, 1999
This folder contains clippings and two color photocopies from the June 1999 issue of Vogue, including the letter from the editor and "talking fashion" sections, both about Bill Blass.
BB [Bill Blass] Vogue.com Oct 16, 1999 [September 16, 1999], 1999
This folder contains three black and white photocopies of an article from Vogue.com about Bill Blass's final collection, dated September 16, 1999.
BB [Bill Blass] W magazine January 1999, 1999
This folder contains 3 clippings of an article from the January 1999 issue of W magazine that mentions Joanne de Guardiola wearing a Bill Blass dress.
BB [Bill Blass] Washington Post April 3, 1998, 1998
This folder contains the style section of the April 3, 1998 issue of the Washington Post and two photocopies of an article from it featuring Bill Blass fall 1998 designs.
BB [Bill Blass] Washington Post Fall 1999, April 10, 1999, 1999
This folder contains a clipping from the April 10, 1999 Washington post of an article about Beene and Blass's enduring fashion.
BB [Bill Blass] Worth September 1999, 1999
This folder contains a clipping of an article in which Bill Blass names his top 10 books, from the September 1999 issue of Worth magazine
BB [Bill Blass] WWD April 3, 1998, 1998
This folder contains two copies of the April 3, 1998 issue of Women's Wear Daily, and a clipping and photocopies of the article from it which is about sportswear and features designs from the Bill Blass fall 1998 collection,
BB [Bill Blass] WWD April 8, 1998, 1998
This folder contains the April 8, 1998 issue of Women's Wear Daily, which includes and article on color in the fall 1998 collections, featuring a Bill Blass design.
BB [Bill Blass] WWD April 9, 1999, 1999
This folder contains 2 clippings and a photocopy of a Women's Wear Daily article from April 9, 1999 that covers Bill Blass's Fall 1999 showing, and a related fax transmittal form.