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:
Fall 1999, 1999
This folder contains 8x10" black and white and color photographs, with press releases attached, of ensembles designed by Bill Blass.
February 17-18, 1996, 1996
This folder contains a column on Spring fashion and black and white photos of ensembles by Todd Oldham, Oscar de la Renta and black and white photocopies of photos of an ensemble by Bill Blass.
February 28- March 1, 1998, 1998
This folder contains a column on Spring fashion and column and color and black and white photos of ensembles by Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta and Fernando Sanchez.
Fort Bend Lifestyle BB [Bill Blass], Fernando Sanchez, Joan & David, 1998-1999, 1998-1999
This folder contains clippings from Fort Bend Lifestyle magazine from March 1998, August 1998, September 1998, and July 1999 featuring designs by Bill Blass and Fernando Sanchez, and Joan & David.
January 3-4, 1998, 1998
This folder contains a column on the basic wardrobe and color and black and white photos of ensembles by Bill Blass, Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta.
January 10-11, 1998, 1998
This folder contains a column on fashion and color and black and white photos of ensembles by Oscar de la Renta and Bill Blass.
January 17-18, 1998, 1998
This folder contains a column on American fashion and color and black and white photos of ensembles by Oscar de la Renta and Bill Blass.
January 24-25, 1998, 1998
This folder contains a column on the little black dress and color and black and white photos by Bill Blass, Joan Halpern, Oscar de la Renta, Isabel Toledo and Calvin Klein.
January 27-28, 1996, 1996
This folder contains a column on fashion classics and black and white photos of ensembles by Ralph Lauren, Todd Oldham and black and white photocopies of photos of ensembles by Bill Blass.
July 4-5, 1987, 1987
This folder contains 5 8x10 black and white photographs of sportswear designs from Bill Blass, YSL, and Randolph Duke, and others.