Herbert Kasper
Encyclopedia
Herbert Kasper is an American fashion designer who is known as Kasper. He studied English and advertising at New York University
and fashion at the Parsons School of Design in New York from 1951–53 and l'Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ecole-de-la-Chambre-Syndicale-de-la-Couture-Parisienne/216686197031 in 1953. He left NYU to serve in the US Army in Europe. After WWII he enrolled at Parson and then returned to Paris
for two years developing his skills in design. He had positions at Jacques Fath
, Christian Dior
and Marcel Rochas. When he returned to the US, he worked for Mr. Fred, a milliner, where his reputation grew. His talent was for making inexpensive clothes look "exquisite" and expensive, which endeared him to several other Seventh Avenue manufactures in the 1950s. He then worked as a dress designer for Penart, Lord & Taylor in New York. His works were known as Kasper of Penart. In the 60s he started to make clothing under his own label. In 1963, he won the Coty Award
for American designers.
Joan Leslie (1902-1966) had a women's dress and sportwear company that Mr. Kasper worked for, when she died, Mr. Kasper became the head designer for the company and eventually became Vice-President for the company, the Lesley Fay Co. Inc. He left the company in 1985. He designed clothes for Joanne Carson, the wife of talk show host Johnny Carson
, who described his clothes as being both feminine and sexy.
Mr. Kasper married Betsey Pickering in 1955, divorced 1958. He married Jondar Conning in 1979
In 2011 (January 21 - May 1) his collection of Drawings and Photographs were exhibited at the Morgan Library
in the exhibit Mannerism and Modernism: The Kasper collection of Drawings and Photographs.
Whatever she's doing, running a home, a career, entertaining, mothering, traveling, I deeply believe this woman remains an individual. No one is going to tell her exactly what she has to wear, no matter what's currently in style. She wants and needs high style, high quality, fashion-conscious clothes that can last for more than one season…. And because I think I have an exceptional ability to anticipate trends, my clothes always have a "today" spirit. I'm constantly refining, improving, interpreting…trying to capture the essence of the times without being trendy. But from whatever source my ideas come from, I always keep in mind that lively, energetic, smart looking woman who is my customer. She's my motivation and my ultimate inspiration.
—Herbert Kasper
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and fashion at the Parsons School of Design in New York from 1951–53 and l'Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ecole-de-la-Chambre-Syndicale-de-la-Couture-Parisienne/216686197031 in 1953. He left NYU to serve in the US Army in Europe. After WWII he enrolled at Parson and then returned to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for two years developing his skills in design. He had positions at Jacques Fath
Jacques Fath
Jacques Fath was a French fashion designer who was considered one of the three dominant influences on postwar haute couture, the others being Christian Dior and Pierre Balmain.-Career:The son of André Fath, an Alsatian-Flemish insurance agent, Fath came from a creative family...
, Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
and Marcel Rochas. When he returned to the US, he worked for Mr. Fred, a milliner, where his reputation grew. His talent was for making inexpensive clothes look "exquisite" and expensive, which endeared him to several other Seventh Avenue manufactures in the 1950s. He then worked as a dress designer for Penart, Lord & Taylor in New York. His works were known as Kasper of Penart. In the 60s he started to make clothing under his own label. In 1963, he won the Coty Award
Coty Award
The Coty American Fashion Critics' Awards were first announced in January 1942 by the cosmetics and perfume company Coty, Inc. to promote and celebrate American fashion, and encourage design during the Second World War. The first awards were presented in January 1943, with Norman Norell winning...
for American designers.
Joan Leslie (1902-1966) had a women's dress and sportwear company that Mr. Kasper worked for, when she died, Mr. Kasper became the head designer for the company and eventually became Vice-President for the company, the Lesley Fay Co. Inc. He left the company in 1985. He designed clothes for Joanne Carson, the wife of talk show host Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
, who described his clothes as being both feminine and sexy.
Mr. Kasper married Betsey Pickering in 1955, divorced 1958. He married Jondar Conning in 1979
In 2011 (January 21 - May 1) his collection of Drawings and Photographs were exhibited at the Morgan Library
Morgan Library
The Morgan Library & Museum is a museum and research library in New York City, USA. It was founded to house the private library of J. P. Morgan in 1906, which included, besides the manuscripts and printed books, some of them in rare bindings, his collection of prints and drawings...
in the exhibit Mannerism and Modernism: The Kasper collection of Drawings and Photographs.
Quotes
Over a lifetime of designing I've evolved a philosophy that comes from creating clothes for a particular kind of American woman. (Who, by the way, I very much admire.) This woman is adventurous and vital with a lifestyle that demands she play many different roles throughout the day. It's the confident spirit of this kind of woman that inspires me most.Whatever she's doing, running a home, a career, entertaining, mothering, traveling, I deeply believe this woman remains an individual. No one is going to tell her exactly what she has to wear, no matter what's currently in style. She wants and needs high style, high quality, fashion-conscious clothes that can last for more than one season…. And because I think I have an exceptional ability to anticipate trends, my clothes always have a "today" spirit. I'm constantly refining, improving, interpreting…trying to capture the essence of the times without being trendy. But from whatever source my ideas come from, I always keep in mind that lively, energetic, smart looking woman who is my customer. She's my motivation and my ultimate inspiration.
—Herbert Kasper
Awards
- Coty American Fashion Critics Award
- Cotton Fashion Award - 1972
- Maas Brothers Pavilion Design Award - 1983
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Governor Award - 1984
- Ronald MacDonald House Award - 1984
External links
- Profile in Fashion Encyclopedia
- Mannerism and Modernism: The Kasper Collection of Drawings and Photographs from the Morgan Library
- Designer profile on Fashion Model Directory
- Information on Answers.com on Herbert Kasper
- Reference on Encyclopedia.com
- You Tube video from Inside Fashion Interview from 1984
- Blue Velvet Vintage: 50's Herbert Kasper Silk Floral Full Skirt Dress