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fashion

OLEG CASSINI
By Suzanne Fox

hristmas, his appointment by Jackie
1936, the Kennedy as her “Secre-
day Oleg tary of Style.” He created
Cassini ar- the “Jackie O” look that
Crived in New revolutionized women’s
York was the beginning fashions and was copied
of a new era in fashion. by women all over the
His arrival was obscure world. He visualized Jackie
and uncelebrated. His as an American Queen
entire worldly possessions and she acknowledged
consisted of a tuxedo and that “Oleg dressed me for
two tennis rackets. But the part” with geometric
he carried a title from his dresses, pillbox hats, boxy
heritage as the son of the jackets with oversized
Russian Count Alexander buttons and occasionally
Loiewski and an immea- dramatic gowns.
surable talent for fashion Cassini designed more
design from his mother, than 300 outfits for the
Marguerite Cassini. First Lady including a Swiss
Cassini lived an intrigu- double satin white gown
ing life. He would follow decorated by a single flow-
his mother’s lead into the er appliqué that she wore
fashion industry that gave to the Inaugural Gala Ball in
him a head start on his 1961. The dress was subse-
career as an award win- quently named one of the
ning designer to the rich “50 Dresses that Changed
and famous. the World” by the Design
His introduction to Museum in England.
stardom began on the Today, Cassini’s designs
tennis court when he are carried on through
played a doubles match his design house with
with the head of Para- the same flare of style he
mount Pictures, which in used to create the “Jackie
turn led to a job offer as a O” look. It’s no wonder
full designer for Paramount that Cassini’s 2018 line of
movies. Cassini brought gowns sparkle with silver
color to the Tonight Show and iridescent stones, as
when he began dressing he once won an award,
Johnny Carson in col- “Most Creative Presenta-
ored shirts. He designed tion” for an evening gown
costumes for stars such painted in dramatic colors
as Grace Kelly, Audrey on silver foil. His brilliant
Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe use of color and texture
and Gene Tierney, whom is what makes his designs
he eventually married. so unique. If you have an
Contemporary icons opportunity to wear an
such as Renee Zellweger, Oleg Cassini gown on
Kim Basinger and Taylor your special day, wear it
Swift have worn his with pride because as
latest designs. Oleg Cassini said, “My
One of Cassini’s preoccupation is to make
greatest achievements was women look beautiful.”

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