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Finger, Mildred (1924-1995)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1924-1995

Biography

"Mildred Finger Haines ... helped shape fashion tastes for four decades as a top buyer for department stores and a consultant to clothes makers and retailers.... From the late 1940's through the late 1960's, Mrs. Haines, known throughout her career as Mildred Finger, was a buyer of ready-to-wear at Macy's, Ohrbach's and Bergdorf Goodman, and was one of New York City's most often cited taste makers. At Bergdorf's, in particular, she was noted for bringing European styles to American consumers. She later became Vice President of Charles of the Ritz, headed fashion merchandising for Yves St. Laurent and became an independent consultant, with clients like the Limited and Arthur D. Little. Suffering from multiple sclerosis, she retired in 1986. In succeeding years, she frequently contributed her knowledge of the fashion industry to the oral history projects of the American Jewish Committee and the Fashion Institute of Technology...." New York Times Obituary, 1995

Found in 113 Collections and/or Records:

Irving Rubinstein and Edward Rubinstein interviews, 1982 April 23 and May 5, 1982 April 23 and May 5

 Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.1.16
Scope and Contents From the sub-sub-sub-series:

The Oral History Project of the Fashion Industries began informally in the late 1970s, and was officially funded by a grant from the Educational Foundation for the Fashion Industries beginning in 1981. The project was guided by an industry advisory committee chaired by Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, Jr., and was largely guided by then director of the Gladys Marcus Library at FIT, John Touhey.

Dates: 1982 April 23 and May 5

Israel Myers interview, 1983 March 02, 1983 March 02

 Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.1.84
Scope and Contents From the sub-sub-sub-series:

The Oral History Project of the Fashion Industries began informally in the late 1970s, and was officially funded by a grant from the Educational Foundation for the Fashion Industries beginning in 1981. The project was guided by an industry advisory committee chaired by Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, Jr., and was largely guided by then director of the Gladys Marcus Library at FIT, John Touhey.

Dates: 1983 March 02

Jack Cassidy interview, 1983 May 12, 1983 May 12

 Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.1.27
Scope and Contents From the sub-sub-sub-series:

The Oral History Project of the Fashion Industries began informally in the late 1970s, and was officially funded by a grant from the Educational Foundation for the Fashion Industries beginning in 1981. The project was guided by an industry advisory committee chaired by Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, Jr., and was largely guided by then director of the Gladys Marcus Library at FIT, John Touhey.

Dates: 1983 May 12

Jack I. Straus interview, 1982 November 1 & 26, 1982 November 1 & 26

 Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.1.124
Scope and Contents From the sub-sub-sub-series:

The Oral History Project of the Fashion Industries began informally in the late 1970s, and was officially funded by a grant from the Educational Foundation for the Fashion Industries beginning in 1981. The project was guided by an industry advisory committee chaired by Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, Jr., and was largely guided by then director of the Gladys Marcus Library at FIT, John Touhey.

Dates: 1982 November 1 & 26

Janet Sloane interview, 1982 December 19, 1982 December 19

 Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.1.118
Scope and Contents From the sub-sub-sub-series:

The Oral History Project of the Fashion Industries began informally in the late 1970s, and was officially funded by a grant from the Educational Foundation for the Fashion Industries beginning in 1981. The project was guided by an industry advisory committee chaired by Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, Jr., and was largely guided by then director of the Gladys Marcus Library at FIT, John Touhey.

Dates: 1982 December 19

Jay Rossbach interview, 1990 February 20, 1990 February 20

 Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.9.2
Scope and Contents

Estelle Ellis interviews Saks Fifth Avenue's former Senior Vice President Jay H. Rossbach, Jr. about his time at Saks Fifth Avenue, including the goals of Adam Long Gimbel for the department store as well as the names of those who worked for Saks at the time.

Dates: 1990 February 20

Jeanette Jarnow interview, 1994 December 20, 1994 December 20

 Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.4.15
Scope and Contents Jeannette Jarnow, former Chair of the Fashion Buying and Merchandising Department (FBM), discusses the small and intimate nature of FIT when she joined in 1956. She discusses the founding of the school by Morris Haft, Virginia Pope, and a handful of fashion industry insiders. She then describes the birth of the FBM department thanks to an endowment by Bergdorf Goodman as well as close relationships with Lord & Taylor, Abraham and Strauss, and Bloomingdale's. Jarnow touches on influential...
Dates: 1994 December 20

Jeannette Jarnow interview, 1984 November 1, 1984 November 1

 Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.12.2
Scope and Contents This interview is with Jeannette Jarnow, the first chairperson of the Buying and Merchandising Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology (New York, N.Y.). Jarnow describes her professional ascent at the department store, Abraham & Straus, up to 1944; when she took a brief break due to her first pregnancy. Jarnow describes the path that led her to seek out a teaching post at the Fashion Institute of Technology (New York, N.Y.). Instead of offering Jarnow a professorial post,...
Dates: 1984 November 1

Jerry Shaw interview, 1981 December 17, 1981 December 17

 Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.1.114
Scope and Contents From the sub-sub-sub-series:

The Oral History Project of the Fashion Industries began informally in the late 1970s, and was officially funded by a grant from the Educational Foundation for the Fashion Industries beginning in 1981. The project was guided by an industry advisory committee chaired by Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, Jr., and was largely guided by then director of the Gladys Marcus Library at FIT, John Touhey.

Dates: 1981 December 17