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] Distinction Mag April 3, 1997, 1997
This folder contains one issue of Distincton magazine that features an interview with Bill Blass.
BB [Bill Blass] Elle Décor October 199, 1999
This folder contains a clipping of a "glamour poll" article from the October issue of Elle Décor that pictures Bill Blass.
BB [Bill Blass] Fall 1999 Slides, April 1999, 1999
This folder contains six slides of looks from Bill Blass's Fall 1999 collection.
BB [Bill Blass] Fragrances Release 1998-1999, 1998-1999
This folder contains 3 copies of a press release announcing Bill Blass's licensing deal with Five Star Fragrance Company.
BB [Bill Blass] Furniture October 1997, 1997
This folder contains the October 1997 issue of Furniture Style magazine featuring an article about Bill Blass furniture.
BB [Bill Blass] Harper's Bazaar January 2000, 2000
This folder contains a clipping of an article about the Spring 2000 collections, including Bill Blass, from the January 2000 issue of Harper's Bazaar.
BB [Bill Blass] Harper's Bazaar March 2000, 2000
This folder contains the March 2000 issue of Harper's Bazaar which includes two images of Bill Blass designs in a fashion report and an advertisement.
BB [Bill Blass] House & Garden September 1997, 1997
This folder contains three copies of the article "Blass and Books" clipped from House and Garden magazine.
BB [Bill Blass] Houston Lifestyles 1998 Joan & David, Fernando Sanchez, March 1998-July 1999, 1998-1999
This folder contains clippings from Houston Lifestyle magazine from March 1998, August 1998, September 1998, and July 1999 featuring designs by Bill Blass and Fernando Sanchez, and Joan & David.
BB [Bill Blass] Imageen March 1999, 1999
This folder contains the cover and clippings of articles with runway photos, including Bill Blass looks, from the March 1999 issue of Imageen magazine, which is in Spanish.