Designer Spotlight: Roy Halston Frowick

April 19, 2019

Designer Spotlight: Roy Halston Frowick

Roy Halston Frowick AKA Halston, was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1932. Halston began his career in fashion by making and altering dresses for his mother and sister, as well as making hats. While attending night school at the Art Institute of Chicago, Halston worked as a fashion merchandiser at the Carson Pririe Scott department store. Soon after, Halston met prominent hairdresser Andre Basil, who invited him to display his hats at Basil’s salon; this exposure led Halston to eventually move to New York and work under legendary milliner Lily Dache. Halston’s innovative use of luxurious materials including jewelry, silk flowers, and fringe, led him to work as head milliner at Bergdorf Goodman.

Halston was thrown into the limelight when Jacqueline Kennedy wore his pillbox hat to John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. Soon Halston expanded into women’s wear, creating both couture and ready-to-wear fashion catering to the fashionable and elite jet set. Halston also accepted the honor of designing the 1976 US Olympic team uniforms, redesigned Braniff Airlines’ uniforms in 1977, and created uniforms for the New York Police Department and the Girl Scouts in 1978.

Halston was innovative, using slinky knit material and ultrasuedes, and introducing a halter dress design that elongated a wearer’s silhouette. Halston pioneered the sensual and soft draped looks associated with disco and his beloved Studio 54.

Clients include: Elizabeth Taylor, Bianca Jagger, Anjelica Houston, Liza Minelli, Pat Cleveland, Diana Vreeland, Marlene Dietrich, and Rita Hayworth.



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