Halston sketches and photographs, circa 1964, 1979-1989
Scope and Contents
This collection is comprised of 121 black marker millinery sketches and photographs.
Dates
- Creation: 1964, bulk 1980-1989
Creator
- Halston, 1932-1990 (1932-1990) (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Access is open to researchers by appointment at the Fashion Institute of Technology Library, Department of Special Collections and FIT Archive. If you have any questions, or wish to schedule an appointment contact us at [email protected] or call (212) 217-4385.
Conditions Governing Use
The unit of Special Collections and FIT Archive does not own copyright for all material held in its physical custody. It is the researcher's obligation to abide by and satisfy copyright law (http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#108) when copying or using materials (including digital materials) found in or made available from the department. When possible, the department will inform a researcher about the copyright status of material, the researcher's obligations with regard to such material, and, wherever possible, the owner or owners of the copyrights. Any and all reproduction of originals is at the archivist's discretion.
Biographical / Historical
Born Roy Halston Frowick in 1932 in Des Moines, Iowa, the fashion designer who was better known as simply 'Halston' moved to Chicago in 1952 where he took a job as a window dresser for the Carson Pirie Scott department store. In 1958, he moved to New York to work for the preeminent milliner Lilly Daché before taking a job designing millinery for Bergdorf Goodman. In 1966, Bergdorf Goodman sponsored Halston's first ready-to-wear clothing line which had its own boutique within the store. He left Bergdorf in 1967 and launched his own line the following year, which was an immediate success. He won COTY Awards in 1969, 1971, and 1972. In 1973, Halston signed licensing deals with Norton Simon. Halston and menswear lines were launched in 1975.
During this period, Halston was at the epicenter of a glittering social circle, frequently attending the Studio54 night club beginning in 1977 with Andy Warhol, Liza Minelli, Mick and Bianca Jagger, and his coterie of models dubbed "The Halstonettes."
Halston diffusion lines were launched with J.C. Penny's in 1983 and the following year, Halston unsuccessfully attempted to buy his company back from Norton Simon; Halston Originals closes in 1985 and the following year Halston learned that he was HIV positive. Halston passed away from AIDS-related complications in 1990.
Full Extent
1 placeholder : 1.25 linear feet of sketches and photographs
Language of Materials
Undetermined
Arrangement
There are two series in this collection: a set of millinery sketches and a set of 8x10" color photographs of runway presentations.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was given to the FIT Library unit of Special Collections and FIT Archive by The Museum at FIT (MFIT) in 2013. According to MFIT curator Fred Dennis we have duplicates of photos held by the Museum as part of their Halston archive, which also contains patterns, and business and personal correspondance.
Existence and Location of Originals
The Library of the Fashion Institute of Technology, unit of Special Collections and FIT Archive, 27th St. at 7th Ave., NY, NY , USA, 10001
Existence and Location of Copies
Duplicates of the photographs are housed in The Museum at FIT.
General
Born Roy Halston Frowick in 1932 in Des Moines, Iowa, the fashion designer who was better known as simply 'Halston' moved to Chicago in 1952 where he took a job as a window dresser for the Carson Pirie Scott department store. In 1958, he moved to New York to work for the preeminent milliner Lilly Daché before taking a job designing millinery for Bergdorf Goodman. In 1966, Bergdorf Goodman sponsored Halston's first ready-to-wear clothing line which had its own boutique within the store. He left Bergdorf in 1967 and launched his own line the following year, which was an immediate success. He won COTY Awards in 1969, 1971, and 1972. In 1973, Halston signed licensing deals with Norton Simon. Halston and menswear lines were launched in 1975.
During this period, Halston was at the epicenter of a glittering social circle, frequently attending the Studio54 night club beginning in 1977 with Andy Warhol, Liza Minelli, Mick and Bianca Jagger, and his coterie of models dubbed "The Halstonettes."
Halston diffusion lines were launched with J.C. Penny's in 1983 and the following year, Halston unsuccessfully attempted to buy his company back from Norton Simon; Halston Originals closes in 1985 and the following year Halston learned that he was HIV positive. Halston passed away from AIDS-related complications in 1990.
General
Published
Processing Information
Arrangement, description, and/or archival processing by April Calahan in December 2014, FIT, NY, NY, USA.
- Title
- Halston sketches and photographs, circa 1964, 1979-1989
- Date
- 2023-06-05
- Description rules
- Aat; Ansi; Dacs; Dcmi; Isad(g); Iso; Lo C; Niso; Etc
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and FIT Archive Repository