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] NY Times September 21, 1999, 1999
This folder contains a clipping of an article reviewing the Spring 2000 runway shows including Bill Blass, from the September 21, 1999 issue of the New York Times.
BB [Bill Blass] NYP May 17, 1999, 1999
This folder contains a clipping from the May 17, 1999 issue of the New York Post featuring a short mention of Bill Blass's contradictory statements about his pending retirement.
BB [Bill Blass] NYT April 13, 1999, 1999
This folder contains two clippings from the April 13, 1999 New York Times of an article covering Bill Blass and Geoffrey Beene's late Fall 1999 fashion showings.
BB [Bill Blass] NYT September 4, 1997, 1997
This folder contains the Home section of the New York Times and two clippings of an article about Bill Blass furniture from September 4, 1997.
BB [Bill Blass] NYT September 17, 1998, 1998
This folder contains three clippings (all the same) from the September 17, 1998 issue of the New York Times featuring a society photo of Bill Blass at the party celebrating him and his guest issue of Civilization magazine.
BB [Bill Blass] Palm Beach Daily News August 25, 1999, 1999
This folder contains a clipping from the August 25, 1999 issue of the Palm Beach Daily News which mentions Bill Blass's fragrance "Amazing."
BB [Bill Blass] People December 6, 1999, 1999
This folder contains two copies of the December 6, 1999 issue of People magazine, which includes a Bill Blass retrospective article.
BB [Bill Blass] Perfumania [Furniture Press Correspondence September-October 1997], 1997
This folder contains photocopied and original correspondence pertaining to press requests for Bill Blass's furniture collection in collaboration with Pennsylvania House. This includes two photocopies of portraits of Blass.
BB [Bill Blass] Phone Invite Spring 1998 [Spring 1999, October-November 1998], 1998
This folder contains a draft and notes pertaining to the Spring 1999 Bill Blass fashion show invitation, and a final copy of the invitation.
BB [Bill Blass] Press Kit at Show Fall 1997, 1997
This folder contains one press kit from the Fall 1997 show including a folder and a list of looks.