Parnis, Mollie (1899 March 18-1992)
Dates
- Existence: 1899 March 18-1992
Biography
Brooklyn-born ready-to-wear and boutique designer for women’s clothes, Mollie Parnis was born in 1899 as Sara Rosen Parnis to a poor immigrant family. She started working at the age of 8 years old and briefly studied law at Hunter College before beginning her career in fashion. In 1928, Parnis began as a saleswoman in a showroom of a blouse manufacturer, but soon moved on to designing. In 1933, Parnis opened her own business with her husband Leon Livingston. In the 1940s, she launched her own label.
Parnis’s clothes were feminine, accentuating waistlines with full skirts. She became known for her understated, conservative, well-tailored dresses and suits in luxurious looking fabrics. She designed for several first ladies, including Mamie Eisenhower and Betty Ford, and always kept her prices in a moderate range. Parnis stayed in business throughout the 1980s, closing her salon in 1984. She published a book, ‘Fashion: The Inside Story" and started up an at-home business concentrating on loungewear in 1985.
Parnis passed away in 1992.
Found in 62 Collections and/or Records:
Mollie Parnis Summer 1965 Releases, 1965
This folder contains Mollie Parnis Summer 1965 typed and written notes.
Mollie Parnis, Summer 1966, 1966
This folder contains a clipping from the March 20, 1966 New York Journal-American with an article featuring a Mollie Parnis floral dress, as well as hand-written notes, a description of a dress, and Notes for Miss Parnis from Summer 1966.
Mollie Parnis Summer Collection Sheraton East March 28, 1962, 1962
This folder contains 3 copies of the lineup of looks and models for the showing of Mollie Parnis's Summer 1962 collection at the Sheraton East on March 28th, 1962, as well as an invitation to the fashion show and a page of hand-written notes.
Old Mollie Parnis Bios, 1956-1961, 1956-1961
This folder contains several copies of biographies of designer Mollie Parnis, 3 different black and white 8x10 portraits of her with negative, and clippings pertaining to Mollie Parnis. This folder also contains a booklet of biographies called "Who's News and Why" from 1956, articles by Carmel Snow and Eleanor Lambert about Paris designers, and the press release for Christian Dior New York's Fall/Winter 1961 collection.
Parnis 1954-1960 Eisenhower features, 1954-1960
This folder contains a page of hand-written notes and a press release about First Lady Eisenhower's new winter wardrobe by her favorite designer Mollie Parnis.
Parnis 1962 Celeb Dresses, Fall 1962, 1962
This folder contains 5 black and white 8x10 photographs of looks from Mollie Parnis's Fall 1962 collection with captions including a description and lists of well-known people who own them, as well as an article about these "VMP" (Very Mollie Parnis) looks.
Parnis 1963 Correspondence, 1963
This folder contains correspondence from 1963 pertaining to Mollie Parnis press and fashion shows, as well as programs from a Mollie Parnis fashion show at an American Institute of Banking luncheon and Jo Hughes' presentation speech awarding Mollie Parnis "The Customers' Award."
Parnis 1963 Spring, 1963
This folder contains the press release and 9 black and white 8x10 photographs of looks from Mollie Parnis's Spring 1963 collection, with descriptions.
Parnis Correspondence 1959, 1959
This folder contains correspondence from 1959 between Eleanor Lambert and others pertaining to Mollie Parnis, including drafts of an article by Parnis that Lambert was trying to publish.
Parnis Fall 1960 Collection, 1960
This folder contains the press release for Mollie Parnis's Fall 1960 collection, 12 black and white 8x10 photographs of dresses and suits from the collection with descriptions, and one newspaper clipping.