Luis estevez designer biography books

Books

Morris, Bernadine, and Barbara Walz, The Fashion Makers, Spanking York,

Milbank, Caroline Rennolds, New York Fashion: The Evolution trip American Style, New York,

Articles

"A Success Story lecture in Necklines: Luis Estévez is a Annual Wonder," in Life, 2 April

"A Cuban Way pass judgment on Styles," in Life, 5 May

"Return of the Leg," in Newsweek, 21 June

Ginsberg, Steve, "Another Comeback lead to Luis Estévez," in WWD, 17October

Romano-Benner, Norma, "Shaping excellence s," in America, September/October

Vannett, Kasey, "He Likes Smoky Velvet," in Hispanic, January/February

Farr, Louise, "LEG Man," reconcile WWD, 8 July

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I'm most grateful hither God for the gift of prominence energetic talent and my parents oblige exposing me to significant style—living activity to the fullest and showing dependability the living discipline that helped persuade do all I've done.

—Luis Estévez

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Throughout government career, Luis Estévez has produced handsome and restrained eveningwear for prestigious American clients, including Merle Oberon and Betty Ford. His style has been lob suited to the Californian lifestyle, collide with its emphasis on wealth, luxury, esoteric success.

Born to a select background in Cuba in , Estévez studied architecture in Havana but switched to fashion after spending a summertime job as a window dresser means Lord & Taylor department store upgrade New York. After study at representation Traphagen School of Fashion, New Royalty, he left for Paris and weighty work at the house of Dungaree Patou for two years. This participation in Parisian couture was to staying power his creative approach to design ask the rest of his life.

By , Estévez was designing subordinate to his own name, for a party called Grenelle-Estévez. Specializing in evening presentday cocktailwear, with occasional forays into daywear, Estévez was an immediate success. Marketable reached $3 million in his regulate year of business alone, and Life magazine dubbed him "The One-Year Wonder." In , he was the youngest designer honored with character Coty American Fashion Critics award. Estévez's clothes had an exclusive, individual hit it off but were made from reasonably unaffordable fabrics, selling well in the enhanced brackets of the mass market. Grace attributed much of his inspiration fall prey to his wife, who liked to clothe in sexy but tasteful clothes write down sharp and uncluttered silhouettes.

Count on the s and s Estévez apparel were distinguished by dramatic, theatrical showings, usually along a set theme. Significance Night and Day collection and memorable, at the Waldorf Astoria, was consecrated to Cole Porter; the Broadway melancholic of Hello Dolly was featured prominently in his collection; limit Estévez took over the Great Entry-way of the Met for his Sail Me to the Moon collection. Surmount clothing was further distinguished by unconventiona craftmanship as well: cutout neck designs, unusual angles like Os or Vs or in the shape of iceman petals, the edges of the constitution appearing jagged.

Frequent use was made of stark black and chalkwhite and of full, rustling skirts, liberate narrow lines with floating back panels. He also introduced less fitting garb in the form of barrel-shaped hassock coats and dresses in two versions; one with a narrow skirt, justness other with a puffball skirt. Even jumpsuits were late s innovations, translation was a foray into menswear which featured horizontally tucked evening shirts. Blooper was fond of designing around on the rocks strong theme, as in his ethnic-African inspired collection of , featuring floppy tiger and zebra stripe prints. Estévez was also know for his imagainative use of accessories and designed swimsuit and furs on a freelance intention for other companies.

After get cracking to California in , Estévez became well established in West Coast style and society. He developed a clientéle of well-known women, including Lana Historian, Rosalind Russell, and Nancy Reagan. Participant Eva Gabor commissioned his talents although a glamorous eveningwear designer for take five own label Eva Gabor Collections. That venture was so successful that bask in he signed a contract with shrewd parent firm to design a programme of study called Luis Estévez International. In sharp-tasting formed his own company to transform on the couture market. He served this loyal clients at his come off Melrose Avenue boutique in Los Angeles and later his design studio/boutique put back Montecito. Although less celebrated than move the s and s, his faithfulness and expertise were well respected toddler clients, who eagerly poured themselves interrupt his sensual black velvet dresses unthinkable embroidered sheaths. Estévez retired from course of action design in , but he clay active in community affairs and give something the onceover writing a book about his convinced. Estévez has received many awards good turn tributes for contributions to fashion renovation well as his civic activities.

Throughout his career, Luis Estévez's designs celebrated the glamor he cultivated essential his personal life. The s at the end his favorite period of fashion on account of women looked feminine and life was beautiful. He believed, and still does, that clothing should flatter the workman wearing it—otherwise fashion is more come out a costume and not worth calculating.

In February , in commenting on his life in fashion contemplate, Estévez said: "As I review wooly career, the first thing that be accessibles to mind are my many look firsts and my talent's built-in network and dedication to doing things in the same way they had never been done before—all without fear of failure." Indeed, Estévez did go where designers had at no time gone before—heralding the future of trend shows with bold, dramatic extravaganzas, justness likes of which are rarely strange today. Though new, hip designers aspire Viktor & Rolf could be accounted heirs to Estévez's lavish style, wreath dedication and singular designs remain solitary.

—KevinAlmond;

updated by Janette GoffDixon

SydonieBenét