Couture Designers You Should Know About
Have you ever wondered about fashion history? Get to know some of these amazing couture designers! Provided below are their names, some of their achievements, and their special client lists.
Elizabeth Keckley
Elizabeth Keckley was from Dinwiddie County, Virginia. She used her skills as a seamstress to buy her way out of slavery in 1855, which led her to freedom.
This lovely purple silhouette below, was said to be one of her pieces.
Clients:
- Mary Todd Lincoln
- Marina Davis
- Mary Anna Custis Lee
Patrick Kelly
Patrick Kelly was from Vicksburg, Mississippi. As stated in PBS, he would sell his tube-shape dresses on the street while having his models advertise the looks for him. His approach caught the eye of Elle Magazine in 1985. He was also the first American to be submitted into the Chambre Syndicale du Pret-a-Porter des Couturiers.
Clients:
- Cicely Tyson
- Grace Jones
- Bette Davis
- Isabella Rossellini
Zelda Wynn Valdes
Zelda Wynn Valdes was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. According to Fashion abc, she was the first African-American women to open a shop on Broadway, which is now Washington Heights on Broadway and West 158th Street. She was the first person to manufacture the play boy bunny costume for Hugh Hefner.
Clients:
- Hugh Hefner
- Josephine Baker
- Dorothy Dandridge
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Eartha Kitt
And that concludes our fashion talk! I hope you all learned a lot! If you’re interested in other fashion topics click HERE, HERE, or HERE! 😉
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