Halston facts for kids

Roy Halston Frowick (born April 23, 1932 – died March 26, 1990) was an American fashion designer. He was known by just one name, Halston. He became very famous around the world in the 1970s.

Halston's designs were simple and clean. He often used soft fabrics like cashmere or ultrasuede. His styles became very popular in the 1970s and changed American fashion. Halston was known for creating comfortable yet stylish clothes for women. He was often seen at famous places like Studio 54 with his friends, including Liza Minnelli and Andy Warhol.

In the early 1950s, Halston started making women's hats while studying art in Chicago. Many well-known people bought his hats. He opened his own shop in Chicago in 1957. Later, he became the main hat designer for the fancy department store Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. He became even more famous when he designed the pillbox hat worn by Jacqueline Kennedy. She wore it to her husband, President John F. Kennedy's, inauguration in 1961. In the late 1960s, Halston began designing women's clothing. He opened a store in New York and started a line of ready-to-wear clothes. Halston passed away in 1990 at age 57.

Early Life and Beginnings

Roy Halston Frowick was born on April 23, 1932, in Des Moines, Iowa. He was the second son of James Edward Frowick and Hallie Mae. Halston became interested in sewing early on. He learned from his grandmother and started making hats and changing clothes for his mother and sister. He grew up in Des Moines and moved to Evansville, Indiana, when he was 14. He finished high school in 1950. He then studied briefly at Indiana University before going to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Starting His Career

In 1952, Halston moved to Chicago. He took night classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He also worked as a window dresser, arranging displays in stores. In 1953, he started his own hat business. His first customer was a radio actress named Fran Allison. Other famous people like Kim Novak and Gloria Swanson also bought his hats.

Halston's big break came when a newspaper, the Chicago Daily News, wrote a short story about his hats. In 1957, he opened his first shop in Chicago. Around this time, he started using his middle name, Halston, for his business. He had been called Halston as a child to tell him apart from his uncle, also named Roy. Halston moved to New York City in late 1957. He first worked for another hat designer, Lilly Daché. Within a year, he became a co-designer there. He then became the main hat designer for the department store Bergdorf Goodman.

Rise to Fashion Fame

Halston Ultrasuede shirt dress, 1972

Halston beaded nylon evening caftan, 1977

Halston became very famous after designing the pillbox hat for Jacqueline Kennedy. She wore it to her husband's presidential inauguration in 1961. When hats became less popular, Halston started designing clothes. A millionaire named Estelle Marsh helped him financially during this important time. He opened his first clothing store on Madison Avenue in 1968. That year, he designed a dark green velvet wedding dress for Mary Wells Lawrence. She later helped bring Halston to Braniff International Airways in 1976. He designed uniforms for their flight attendants and other staff.

Halston launched his first ready-to-wear clothing line, Halston Limited, in 1969. His designs were usually simple and elegant. They were also comfortable. Halston loved to use soft, fancy fabrics like silk. He once said he removed "all of the extra details that didn't work." He wanted clothes to flow naturally and show the body's shape.

Halston's store attracted many celebrity clients. These included Greta Garbo, Anjelica Huston, Lauren Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor, Bianca Jagger, and Liza Minnelli. From 1968 to 1973, his clothing line made an estimated $30 million. In 1973, Halston sold his company to Norton Simon, Inc. for $16 million. He remained the main designer, which gave him creative freedom and lots of money to work with. In 1975, Max Factor released Halston's first perfume for women. By 1977, the perfume sales reached $85 million. Throughout the 1970s, Halston expanded his brand. He added menswear, luggage, handbags, and bedding. Vogue magazine later said Halston made caftans and matte jersey halter top dresses very popular in America.

The Halstonettes: His Models

As Halston's fame grew, the models he worked with also became well known. He had a group of favorite models. These included Pat Cleveland, Anjelica Huston, Beverly Johnson, and others. A fashion journalist called this group "The Halstonettes." The Halstonettes appeared together in magazines and ads for Halston's clothes and makeup. They also attended many events with him. They often traveled with Halston and were his inspiration. Halston was one of the first big designers to hire models of different races for his shows and ads.

Designing Uniforms for Braniff Airways

Halston was also very good at designing uniforms. In 1977, Braniff International Airways asked him to create new uniforms for their flight attendants. He designed uniforms in soft brown colors with a special "H" logo. Halston created pieces that could be mixed and matched. The colors were bone, tan, and taupe. The airline even used brown leather for the seat covers. This whole look was called "Ultra Touch." It was inspired by Halston's ultrasuede designs and captured the style of the late 1970s.

A big party was held in February 1977 to show off the new Halston uniforms. Braniff's chairman, Harding Lawrence, his wife, and Halston himself were there. Halston and his models arrived at different times during the party. They wore outfits that matched the new colors of Braniff's airplanes. The party and the uniforms were a big hit. Both the fashion world and Braniff employees loved them. The employees found the uniforms very comfortable.

Halston also designed uniforms for other groups. He designed uniforms for the U.S. Olympic Committee for the Pan American Games and the U.S. Olympic Team in 1976. He also designed uniforms for the Girl Scouts, the New York Police Department, and Avis Rent a Car System.

Later Career and Challenges

In 1983, Halston signed a big deal with the retail store J. C. Penney. This deal was worth a lot of money. The clothing line, called Halston III, offered affordable clothes, accessories, and perfumes. Prices ranged from $24 to $200. At the time, this was a controversial move. No other high-end designer had ever sold their designs in a mid-priced store. Halston was excited, thinking it would make his brand even bigger. However, the deal hurt his image with high-end fashion stores. They felt his name had become "cheap." Bergdorf Goodman, for example, stopped selling his main Halston Limited line.

In 1983, Halston Limited was bought by another company. After this, Halston started to lose control over his own company. He became frustrated as the company changed owners several times. By 1984, he was no longer designing clothes for Halston Enterprises. He tried to buy his company back, but it was difficult. Halston Enterprises was eventually bought by Revlon in 1986. Halston was paid by Revlon, but he stopped designing clothes for the company. He continued to design for his family and friends, like Liza Minnelli. After his contract with Revlon ended, he did not sign a new one. The Halston clothing line continued with other designers until 1990. Revlon then stopped the clothing part of the line but kept selling Halston perfumes.

Legacy and Commemoration

In June 1990, Halston's friend, Liza Minnelli, held a tribute for him at Lincoln Center.

In 2010, a documentary film called Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston was made about him.

From November 2014 to January 2015, an exhibition called Halston and Warhol Silver and Suede traveled to different museums. It was about Halston and his friend, artist Andy Warhol. Halston's niece, Lesley Frowick, helped organize it.

From February to April 2015, an exhibition was held at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. It celebrated Halston's fashion designs from the 1970s.

In March 2017, a show called Halston Style opened at the Nassau County Museum. It looked back at his career. Halston's niece, Lesley Frowick, also organized this show. It featured items from his personal collections that he gave to her. Frowick also wrote a book about him called Halston: Inventing American Fashion.

In May 2019, a documentary film simply titled Halston was released.

Fashion critic Robin Givhan said that when designer Tom Ford relaunched Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent in the late 1990s, he was inspired by Halston's glamorous style.

Ewan McGregor played Halston in a TV show called Halston. It came out on Netflix on May 14, 2021. The show was based on a book about Halston.

Halston Heritage: The Brand Today

Brand History After Halston

After Halston passed away in 1990, his company changed owners many times.

After Revlon stopped making clothes for the company in 1990, it was bought by Borghese in 1991. In 1996, a company called Tropic Tex bought the right to make Halston clothing. Revlon still owns the rights to Halston perfumes. Tropic Tex hired designer Randolph Duke to restart the clothing line. Duke's first collection came out in fall 1997 and was praised by critics. Celebrities like Mariah Carey and Celine Dion wore the new Halston designs. By 1998, Duke left the company. Later that year, designer Kevan Hall became the head designer for the brand, then called House of Halston. Hall's first collection was also well-received. In 1999, the company was sold again. Kevan Hall left in 2000.

After Hall left, the new owner, James J. Ammeen, wanted to relaunch Halston as a luxury brand. He hired designer Bradley Bayou. Bayou's designs were worn by Oprah Winfrey and Queen Latifah. Bayou left in 2005 because he felt he wasn't given enough money for advertising.

In 2006, Jimmy Choo co-founder Tamara Mellon, stylist Rachel Zoe, and film producer Harvey Weinstein bought the line. They wanted to relaunch it again. There were disagreements about the new direction. Marco Zanini was hired as a designer in July 2007.

From 2007 to 2008, Chris Royer, a former Halston model, became the Halston Archivist. She helped create an archive of over 300 vintage Halston pieces. In 2008, Chris Royer organized an exhibition called "Neiman Marcus Halston Glam" using these archives.

Zanini's Halston collection came out in February 2008. Reviews were mixed. Zanini left in July 2008. A British designer, Marios Schwab, was hired in May 2009. Halston Enterprises then decided to launch a second line called Halston Heritage. This line was based on Halston's old sketches but with modern updates. In 2009, actress Sarah Jessica Parker wore two Halston Heritage dresses in the movie Sex and the City 2. The company then hired her as the president and chief creative officer for the main line. She also oversaw the Halston Heritage line.

In February 2011, Marios Schwab released his first Halston collection. Sarah Jessica Parker revealed in August 2011 that she had left the company. Schwab and Harvey Weinstein also left soon after.

In late 2011, Hilco Consumer Capital took full ownership. They brought in Ben Malka to lead the Halston Heritage business. Malka hired Marie Mazelis to help relaunch the modern line. Hilco decided to focus only on the Halston Heritage ready-to-wear clothes.

In September 2012, the company moved its main office from New York to Los Angeles. In February 2013, Halston Heritage made a deal to sell its products in the United Arab Emirates. In 2015, the company sold some of its other brands, H by Halston and H Halston, to a company that brings brands to bigger stores.

The fall 2018 collection focused on comfortable, athletic-inspired clothing.

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See also

In Spanish: Halston para niños