Adele Simpson

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Adele Simpson
Born
Adele Smithline

(1903-12-08)December 8, 1903
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 23, 1995(1995-08-23) (aged 91)
Greenwich, Connecticut
NationalityAmerican
OccupationFashion designer

Adele Simpson (December 8,[1] 1903[2] โ€“ August 23, 1995)[3] was an American fashion designer with a successful career that spanned nearly five decades, as well as a child performer in vaudeville who danced in productions with Milton Berle and other entertainers.[4]

Design career

Born Adele Smithline, she was the fifth daughter born to

French couture and presented it with an American ready-to-wear translation.[3]

Prominence

historic visit to the People's Republic of China, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum

Simpson received many commendations and awards for her fashion designs, including the 1946 Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion, the 1947 Coty American Fashion Critics Award, and the American Academy of Achievements Award.[7][8] She was also recognized as the inaugural winner of the Cotton Council's Cotton Fashion Award for innovative use of cotton in cocktail dresses, essentially "bringing cotton out of the kitchen."[9][10][11] As her career developed, Simpson was frequently recognized for this innovative use of fabrics in her designs.

Her collections were highly visible in the United States, highlighted in both department stores and in the media. For example, her designs were available at

B. Altman, and Saks Fifth Avenue.[3]
The March 3, 1947 Life Magazine has pictures of Simpson's crocus suit. The spring attire was constructed of sheer wool crepe. The cuffs of the jacket are made of linen and its buttons are high and snug. It has a petal-white collar.
Life Magazine featured an article entitled Newest styles give every woman's figure a chance. These fall fashions included an Adele Simpson green satin afternoon dress with a dropped shoulder line for $50, and a gold brocade dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline, which retailed for $79.[13]

Luci Johnson.[14] Pat Nixon's 1973 inaugural gown - a turquoise blue silk organza and silver silk lame princess-line dress - was also designed by Simpson.[15]

Design Inspiration

Simpson often travelled internationally and drew inspiration from the fashions and material culture of other cultures. She collected fabrics, trimmings, accessories, and toys, all of which inspired her designs.

Fashion Institute of Technology Museum's 1978 exhibition "1001 Treasures of Design," which included objects and clothing from around the world paired with Simpson's own designs.[18] That same year she donated her collection of artifacts, magazines, and costumes to FIT, though she continued designing following that.[16]

Later years

Simpson continued to design into her 70s before she retired in 1985. Her daughter, Joan Raines, and her son-in-law, Richard Raines, maintained the business prior to selling out to Barron Peters in 1991. Based in Lowell, Massachusetts, the firm chose not to continue the Adele Simpson line. Barron Peters later filed for bankruptcy.

Death

Simpson died at her Greenwich, Connecticut home in 1995. Her husband, Wesley Simpson, a textile executive, died in 1976. Aside from her daughter, Simpson was survived by a son, Jeffrey, also of Manhattan. She had three grandchildren.[3]

Museum Collections

References

  1. ^ Adele Simpson, Current Biography Yearbook, H.W. Wilson Company, 1971, p. 397.
  2. ^ Adele Simpson, American Decades 1940 - 1949, Victor Bondi, Gale Research, 1995, pg. 195.
  3. ^ a b c d e Constance C. R. White (August 24, 1995). "Adele Simpson, 91, a Designer And Postwar Fashion Leader". The New York Times. p. D21.
  4. ^ Adele Simpson, Biography News, March/April 1975, p. 444.
  5. ^ SIMPSON, Adele, Fashion Encyclopedia
  6. Gale Research
    , 1995, p. 171.
  7. ^ "Ocala Star-Banner - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  8. ^ "The Victoria Advocate - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  9. ^ "The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky ยท Page 22". Newspapers.com. April 23, 1953. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  10. ^ "Adele Simpson: 40 years of great fashion UPI Special Sections -- Fall Fashion". UPI. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  11. ^ This garment can be found at the Texas Fashion Collection in Denton, TX.
  12. ^ Springlike! Adele Simpson's Crocus Suit!, Life Magazine, March 3, 1947, pg. 60.
  13. ^ Life Magazine, September 22, 1947, p. 117.
  14. ^ Daves, Jessica (January 1, 1967). Ready-made miracle: the American story of fashion for the millions. Putnam.
  15. ^ "Portrait of Pat Nixon - U1760870 - Rights Managed - Stock Photo - Corbis". www.corbisimages.com. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Adele Simpson - Fashion Designer Encyclopedia - clothing, women, suits, dress, style, new, body, collection". www.fashionencyclopedia.com. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  17. ^ Adele Simpson, Current Biography Yearbook, H.W. Wilson Company, 1971, p. 398
  18. ^ 1001 Treasures of Design. Fashion Institute of Technology. January 1, 1978.
  19. ^ "Explore Texas Fashion Collection: List View UNT Digital Library". digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  20. ^ "Indianapolis Museum of Art Collection Search". collection.imamuseum.org. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  21. ^ "FIDM Museum Blog: Adele Simpson". blog.fidmmuseum.org. Retrieved March 26, 2016.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adele_Simpson&oldid=1162038760"