Gustave Tassell facts for kids

Gustave Tassell (born February 4, 1926 – died June 9, 2014) was a famous American fashion designer. He became very well known in the early 1960s for his simple, elegant clothes. Many important women wore his designs, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Greer Garson, and Princess Grace of Monaco.

Gustave Tassell (pronounced Tass-SELL) designed outfits that Jackie Kennedy wore when she was the First Lady of the United States. One famous outfit was worn during her trip to India in 1962. That year, fashion magazines and newspapers called him one of America's most exciting new designers.

Early Life and Fashion Journey

Gustave Tassell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 4, 1926. His parents were Lena and Samuel Tassell. His father owned amusement parks. Gustave's mother encouraged him to study painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

After serving in the Army, Tassell was studying painting in New York City in the late 1940s. He took a job in the advertising department for Hattie Carnegie. She was a very important person in early fashion design, known for her custom-made and fancy ready-to-wear clothes. Tassell was inspired by Carnegie's designer, Norman Norell. This made him decide to become a fashion designer himself.

In 1952, Tassell moved to Paris, France. There, he drew sketches for different fashion houses, including Jacques Fath. During this time, he met another designer named James Galanos. Galanos suggested that Tassell should start his own fashion line.

Starting His Own Fashion Line

In 1956, Gustave Tassell opened his own design studio in Los Angeles. He quickly became a key designer in the California fashion world. By 1958, Tassell held his first fashion show in a small workroom. Within a few days, he received many orders for his clothes.

In 1959, a fashion review praised his style, saying it was similar to the famous Paris designer Balenciaga. Experts like Dilys Blum, a curator at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, said that Tassell was inspired by both Balenciaga and Norell. She noted that he continued the elegant style of Norman Norell.

In 1962, the year after he won the Coty Award, Jacqueline Kennedy was seen in India wearing a shiny yellow silk dress designed by Tassell. She was even photographed riding an elephant in it! This dress was later shown in a 2001 exhibit at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art called "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years."

In 1972, Tassell moved to New York to manage Norell's fashion house after Norell passed away. He returned to designing under his own name in 1976.

Gustave Tassell's Unique Style

Gustave Tassell's customers wanted what he called "a subtle form of chic." This meant clothes that were stylish but not too flashy. He designed coats, dresses, and evening wear using fine silks and gabardines. His clothes came in soft colors and had simple lines that gently followed the body. These special clothes sometimes cost more than a car!

Tassell rarely added many decorations to his designs. The most he would use were a few rhinestones or diamonds. He did not follow every new fashion trend. This quality was very appealing to the wealthy women who visited his showroom in the 1960s and 1970s.

For example, Betsy Bloomingdale, whose husband was a department store owner, once talked about a cotton dress by Tassell. She had owned it for 12 years and still wore it every summer. She told the New York Times in 1969 that she always received compliments on it.

Tassell's design ideas did not change much over the years. He always aimed to create modern fashion that was perfect for elegant and confident women. He imagined designs made from natural fabrics that could be used for many different occasions. His goal was to make clothing that was affordable, graceful, and well-designed.

A Small Role in a Movie

Gustave Tassell was once described as looking a bit like Harpo Marx because of his curly hair. He even had a small acting part as a customer in a cabaret in director Woody Allen's 1980 movie "Stardust Memories." Woody Allen saw him at a popular New York restaurant called Elaine's and liked his face.

Death

Gustave Tassell passed away in Los Angeles on June 9, 2014. His sister, actress Rebecca Welles, shared that he died from problems related to Alzheimer's disease.