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:
Parnis January Press Week, 1961, 1961
This folder contains 11 black and white 8x10 photographs of 9 looks from Mollie Parnis's Spring 1961 collection.
Parnis Liberty of London 1961, summer 1961, 1961
This folder contains 15 8x10 black and white photographs of 5 looks from Mollie Parnis's Summer 1961 Liberty of London prints collection, lists, notes, and press releases pertaining to the collection and Liberty of London Art Nouveau prints, a television transcript, and 6 2x2 color negatives.
Parnis-Livingston - 1964 Bills, 1964
This folder contains Parnis-Livingston bills from 1964, primarily for photographic prints.
Parnis-Livingston 1964 Correspondence, 1964
This folder contains correspondence related to Mollie Parnis, including programs for the "Salute to Women Who Work Week" fashion show, as well as correspondence related to other designers participating in this event, including Bonnie Cashin, Lily Daché and Pauline Trigere. This folder also contains 2 5x7 and one 4x5 color negative of Mollie Parnis Fall 1964 designs.
Parnis-Livingston 1966 Correspondence, 1966
This folder contains correspondence pertaining to Mollie Parnis from 1966.
Parnis-Livingston 1966 Jan Press Week, 1966
This folder contains 16 black and white 8x10 photographs of looks from Mollie Parnis's Spring 1966 collection with captions.
Parnis-Livingston 1967 Bills, 1967
This folder contains Mollie Parnis bills from 1967.
Parnis-Livingston Bills 1966, 1966
This folder contains Mollie Parnis bills from 1966 for photographs, models, and printed materials.
Parnis-Livingston Fall 1964 Press Week, 1964
This folder contains 11 5x7 color negatives of looks from Mollie Parnis's Fall 1964 collection with captions, 14 black and white 8x10 photographs of 8 looks from the collection (some duplicates), hand-written notes, additional types captions, and a newspaper clipping featuring a Mollie Parnis design.
Parnis-Livingston Fall 1964 Releases, 1964
This folder contains multiple copies of the press release for Mollie Parnis's Fall 1964 collection as well as telegrams, address cards, notes, "Quotes by Mollie Parnis," and additional short press releases.