Amidst the excitement of New York Fashion Week, fashion students’ Instagram feeds have been flooded with coverage of iconic shows and scandalous spring ‘16 trends.
A bit of the fashion world paid a visit to the IU campus Sept. 11.
Lesley Frowick, author of “Halston: Inventing American Fashion” and niece of Roy Halston Frowick, delivered her lecture, “A Personal Journey with Halston” at the School of Fine Arts.
Halston Frowick, more commonly known as Halston, was an influential fashion designer who rose to international fame in the 1970s.
Halston was acquainted with some of the most celebrated societal figures of the time, including Andy Warhol and Walter Cronkite.
Known for his minimalist, elegant designs in ultrasuede and cashmere, the designer dressed New York’s esteemed artists and celebrities.
But his claim to fashion fame did not begin in New York.
Halston grew up in Evansville, Indiana. His father was a Norwegian-American accountant and his mother was a seamstress.
“He had a middle America, classic, stable upbringing,” Frowick said.
His love of sewing came from his mother. As a young boy, he began altering clothing and making his first hats.
Halston attended IU in spring 1952, though his term did not last long. He moved to the next best midwest city to finish his degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
“Halston never took fashion design classes — he taught himself,” Frowick said.
Halston became known for his first of many accomplishments, the iconic pillbox hat worn by Jacquelyn Kennedy Onassis at the 1961 presidential inauguration.
Five years later, he released his first apparel collection that led him to dominate the fashion landscape.
His designs were “simple, elegant and effortless,” Frowick said.
Halston cashmeres were today’s Chanel loafers: a symbol of sophistication, authenticity, en vogue.
Halston usually used primary and solid colors because he felt patterns took away from the design elements of dress — a bold move during the time of Oscar de la Renta’s bright floral caftans and Diane von Furstenberg’s detailed wrap-dresses.
His designs were only worn by the most tasteful women of New York, the affluent 1 percent who could attend runway shows and flaunt couture.
“He always wanted to design for America, not just the 1 percent,” Frowick said.
Like any true designer, the Halston name lives on. Today, his classic designs appear on silhouettes on runways and in retailers around the world.
You might be surprised to find a Halston-inspired silhouette in your closet from H&M. H&M’s fitted calf-length jersey dress is almost identical to the silhouette on Halston Heritage’s Metal Plate crepe gown.
To dress like the stylish icons of the ‘70s, look out for these staples on your next online-shopping binge: Alice and Olivia One Shoulder Silk Maxi Dress, $105 inspired by the Halston Heritage One Shoulder Chiffon Gown; Aldo Luvian Evening Clutch, $35 inspired by the Halston Square Colorblock Minaudiere Evening Clutch; and Steve Madden Lala Black Sandals, $109.95 inspired by the Halston Heritage Suede Sandals.
It seems Halston’s wish came true, decades after his fashion reign.
“You are only as good as the people you dress,” — Roy Halston Frowick.
