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] In Style February 1998, 1998
This folder contains a clipping and 3 photocopies of an article from the February 1998 issue of In Style magazine featuring celebrities wearing Bill Blass designs.
BB [Bill Blass] In Style February 1998, 1998
This folder contains a clipping of an article about Bill Blass's home in Connecticut.
BB [Bill Blass] In-Style March 2000, 2000
This folder contains a clipping from the March 2000 of In-Style magazine that features two Bill Blass designs from the Spring 2000 collection.
BB [Bill Blass] Interior Design April 1997, 1997
This folder contains the April 1997 issue of Interior Design magazine and a clipping of the article from this issue about Bill Blass's home.
BB [Bill Blass] Invite Fall 1998, April 2, 1998, 1998
This folder contains 3 copies of the Bill Blass Fall 1998 collection invitation as well as drafts of the invitation with associated notes and fax transmittal forms.
BB [Bill Blass] Journal of Camden County April 23, 1999, 1999
This folder contains a clipping from the April 23, 1999 issue of the Journal of Camden County that pictures a Bill Blass design.
BB [Bill Blass] Line Up Fall 1998, April 2, 1998, 1998
This folder contains the lineup of looks for the Bill Blass Fall 1998 collection.
BB [Bill Blass] Mailing Spring 1999, November 5, 1998, 1998
This folder contains four 8x10 negatives and multiple 8x10 prints of 4 looks (2 photographed in black and white, 2 in color) from the Bill Blass Spring 1999 collection, as well as notes about cropping and captioning the photographs.
BB [Bill Blass] Marin Indep. Journal 1999, August 23, 1999, 1999
This folder contains a clipping about a Bill Blass fashion show at a luncheon to benefit the League to Save Lake Tahoe, from the August 23, 1999 Marin Independent Journal, as well as a hand-written note from the journalist, Dale Kern.
BB [Bill Blass] Mirabella March/April 1996, 1996
This folder contains press clippings.