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:
July 6-7, 1991, 1991
This folder contains a column on coats and black and white photos of coats by Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta and Bill Blass.
July 13-14, 1991, 1991
This folder contains a column of reader mail, a column on dresses and black and white photos of dresses by Carolina Herrera, Bill Blass and Pauline Trigere.
July 27-28, 1996, 1996
This folder contains a column on pantsuits and black and white photos of pantsuits by Carolina Herrera, Bill Blass and Romeo Gigli.
July, August, September 1986, 1986
This folder contains articles written for a syndicated column in July, August and September of 1986. Included are over 30 8x10 black and white photographs including the subjects of, Ralph Lauren, Adele Simpson, Halston, Bill Blass, Fur collections, Valentino, the Haute Couture shows, Coats, Fashionable Lingerie, Loungewear, Designer Coats, and Famous Females Gardening.
June 11-12, 1988, 1988
This folder contains 3 copies of 8x10 black and white photographs of designs by Carolina Herrera, Bill Blass.
June 20-21, 1998, 1998
This folder contains a column on suits and black and white photos of suits by Badgley Mischka, Calvin Klein, Bill Blass and Ralph Lauren.
March 7-8, 1998, 1998
This folder contains a column on Jacqueline de Ribes and black and white photos of ensembles by Bill Blass, Han Feng and Nicole Miller.
March 22-23, 1997, 1997
This folder contains Sabina Fay Braxton and press clippings and color and black and white photocopies of photos of ensembles by Bill Blass using Sabina Braxton textiles.
March 28-29, 1998, 1998
This folder contains a column on Spring suits and black and white and color photos of ensembles by Yves Saint Laurent, Bill Blass, and Emanuel Ungaro.
May 6-7, 1988, 1988
This folder contains 4 8x10 black and white photographs and 10 copies of 8x10 black and white photographs of designs by Bill Blass, Oscar De La Renta