Anne Klein facts for kids

Anne Klein (born Hannah Golofsky; August 3, 1923 – March 19, 1974) was a famous American fashion designer. She was also a successful businesswoman. Anne Klein started her own company, Anne Klein & Company. Today, this company is owned by WHP Global.

Anne Klein began her design journey in 1937. She won a scholarship to the Traphagen School of Fashion. This led to her first job sketching dresses. In 1948, she married Ben Klein. Together, they started the Junior Sophisticates clothing line. This line offered stylish clothes for younger women.

In 1968, Anne Klein started Anne Klein & Company. She co-founded it with Gunther Oppenheim. Within ten years, her designs were very popular. They were sold in over 750 stores across the USA. Anne Klein won many fashion awards. She gained international recognition for her work. Sadly, she passed away in 1974 at age 50.

Early Life and Education

Discovering a Talent for Design

Anne Klein was born Hannah Golofski on August 3, 1923. Her birthplace was Brooklyn, New York. Her father, Morris Golofski, owned many taxicabs. Her mother was Esther Golofski. Anne often said she changed her name to Anne. She felt it sounded more pleasing.

She studied art at Girls' Commercial High School. This school is now called Prospect Heights High School. Here, she found her talent for design. Soon after, she got her first job. It was in the clothing industry with Varden Petites.

Redesigning Clothes for Young Women

At Varden Petites, Anne helped redesign their collections. She introduced a new style of ready-to-wear clothing. These clothes were for young women with smaller figures. This style became known as "Junior Miss."

In 1937, Anne received a special scholarship. It was for the Traphagen School of Fashion. This led to her first job on 7th Avenue. She worked as a sketcher for dress companies. She studied fashion at Traphagen from 1937 to 1938.

Fashion Career in the 1940s and 1950s

Becoming a Noted Designer

By 1940, Anne Klein was making a name for herself. She started designing for Maurice Rentner. His company made ready-to-wear clothes for men and women.

In 1944, Anne Klein joined two other designers. They were Bonnie Cashin and Claire McCardell. Together, they helped create American sportswear. This style focused on comfortable, practical clothes.

Junior Sophisticates and "Separates"

In 1948, she married clothing maker Ben Klein. They launched the Junior Sophisticates brand. This brand offered elegant styles. It was for younger women with smaller body types. Anne Klein was the main designer there until 1960. That's when her marriage ended.

During this time, ready-to-wear fashion was growing. More women were also joining the workforce. Anne Klein was one of the first designers to introduce "separates." These are individual clothing pieces. They can be mixed and matched to create different outfits. This was different from traditional dresses.

Winning Fashion Awards

Anne Klein began winning awards in the fashion world.

• In 1954, she won the Mademoiselle Merit Award.
• Also in 1954, she received the Coty American Fashion Critics Award.
• In 1959, she won the Neiman-Marcus Fashion Award. This award brought her international recognition.

Fashion Career in the 1960s and 1970s

New Beginnings and Freelance Work

In 1960, Anne's marriage to Ben Klein ended. Her work with Junior Sophisticates also ended. In the early 1960s, she kept the name Klein. She worked as a freelance designer. She helped improve well-known brands. These included Pierre Cardin coats and Evan-Picone.

This freelance work helped her open Anne Klein Studio. It opened in 1963 on 57th Street. Also in 1963, she married Matthew "Chip" Rubenstein.

More Awards and Company Expansion

• In 1961, she won the American Creativity Award.
• In 1964, she received the Lord & Taylor Rose Award. This award recognized independent thinking. Albert Einstein was the first person to receive it.

In 1968, she started Anne Klein & Company. She was the director and co-owner with her husband. They opened the label on 39th Street. Gunther Oppenheim, a fashion expert, was also an investor. Over the next ten years, the business grew a lot. Her designs were sold in over 750 stores in America.

• In 1969, she won the Neiman-Marcus Fashion Award again. She was the first designer to win it twice.
• In 1970, Klein opened a special boutique. It was called "Anne Klein Corner" inside Saks Fifth Avenue in New York.
• That same year, she won the Coty American Fashion Critics Award again.
• In 1971, she was inducted into the Coty Fashion Hall of Fame. She was the 8th designer to receive this honor in 28 years.

The Battle of Versailles

In 1973, Anne Klein was part of a special event. It was called the Battle of Versailles. She was one of five American designers invited. They competed against five French designers. The show raised money to renovate the Palace of Versailles.

Death

Anne Klein passed away on March 19, 1974. She was 50 years old. She died from breast cancer at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

The Company After Anne Klein

After Anne Klein's death in 1974, her company continued. Donna Karan and Louis Dell’Olio took over the design leadership.

Today, Anne Klein is a privately owned American company. WHP Global bought the brand in July 2019. The brand now sells many lifestyle products. These include clothes, shoes, watches, and jewelry. Anne Klein products are sold in 60 countries worldwide.

Awards

• 1954 – Mademoiselle Merit Award
• 1955, 1969, 1971 – Coty American Fashion Critics Award
• 1959, 1969 – Neiman Marcus Award (Klein was the first designer to receive this award twice)
• 1964 – Lord & Taylor Award
• 1965 – National Cotton Council Award
• 1971 – Induction into the Coty Fashion Hall of Fame