Oleg Cassini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oleg Cassini
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Cassini with Joan Fontaine and Joan Crawford in 1962
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| Born |
Oleg Cassini Loiewski
11 April 1913 Paris, France
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| Died | 17 March 2006 (aged 92) Manhasset, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Fashion designer |
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Label(s)
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Oleg Cassini |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary "Merry" Fahrney
(m. 1938; div. 1940)Marianne Nestor
(m. 1971) |
Oleg Cassini (born April 11, 1913 – died March 17, 2006) was a famous fashion designer. He was born into a noble Russian family. His family also had Italian roots.
Cassini moved to the United States when he was young. He had already started designing clothes in Rome. Soon, he began working for Paramount Pictures in Hollywood. He became well-known for creating costumes for movies.
He became especially famous for designing clothes for Jacqueline Kennedy. She was the First Lady of the United States. The "Jackie Look" became very popular and admired around the world. Cassini found inspiration in sports and Native American culture.
Contents
Early life
Oleg Cassini was born in Paris, France. His full name was Oleg Aleksandrovich Loiewski. His mother was Countess Marguerite Cassini, and his father was Count Alexander Loiewski. His grandfather, Arthur Cassini, was a Russian ambassador to the United States.
In 1918, the Russian Revolution forced Oleg's family to leave Russia. They lost their wealth and homes. Oleg saw his cousin shot when he was a small child. The family traveled through Denmark and Switzerland. They finally settled in Florence, Italy. In Italy, the children started using the last name Cassini.
When he was young, Oleg had a serious accident. He almost lost his leg. He spent a year recovering in bed. During this time, he read many books and studied history. He especially loved the history and traditions of Native American tribes. He also learned about American culture by watching movies from the United States.
Oleg already knew Russian, French, and Danish. When he started school in Italy, he had to learn Italian. His mother, Marguerite Cassini, opened her own fashion house in Florence. She had American clients because of her father's connections in Washington, D.C.
Oleg was also a talented athlete. He played soccer and was on the university track and ski teams. He also played tennis for the Italian Jr. Davis Cup team. He even became the Italian Jr. Champion.
Education and early career
Cassini studied Political Science at the University of Florence. He was also a skilled horse rider. He studied fine art with the painter Giorgio de Chirico. Later, he began studying fashion with the French designer Jean Patou.
Cassini won many fashion competitions in Italy. He won five first prizes for his designs. He opened his own fashion shop in Rome. He designed clothes for movies and for wealthy people in Roman society.
Move to America
Oleg became engaged to a woman in Rome. After winning a duel, he decided to move to America. He arrived in New York on Christmas Day in 1936. He later wrote that he only had a tuxedo, two tennis rackets, his title, and his talent. He briefly worked as a political cartoonist in Washington, D.C. Then, he moved to Hollywood.
Career
Hollywood, California
When Cassini arrived in California, he played tennis at a famous club. After winning a doubles tournament, his partner introduced himself. He was the head of Paramount Pictures. He told Cassini he was "looking for another designer." Cassini went to the studio the next day and got a job as a full designer.
In 1941, he designed for his first film, I Wanted Wings. He created the look for the new star, Veronica Lake. Cassini designed costumes for many other films. He dressed famous stars like Gene Tierney, Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and Grace Kelly.
World War II
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Cassini joined the war effort. He first joined the United States Coast Guard. Later, he served in the U.S. Army as a cavalry officer. He became a first lieutenant. Cassini became a United States citizen in 1941 or 1942. This meant he gave up his noble titles.
New York, New York
After the war, Cassini moved to New York City in 1952. He opened his own fashion house on Seventh Avenue. This street was the center of the fashion industry. He designed ready-to-wear dresses. He also continued to design for television, movies, and Broadway theatre.
Cassini launched his first clothing collection. It received great reviews. The head of Lord & Taylor, a big department store, gave Cassini all of their Fifth Avenue store windows to show his collection. Cassini also promoted his designs on TV shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Johnny Carson even wore clothes designed by Cassini exclusively for his show.
In 1953, Cassini met Jacqueline Bouvier. She was about to marry John Kennedy. Cassini's reputation grew because of his talent for original designs.
Secretary of Style to the White House
In 1961, Jacqueline Kennedy chose Cassini as her exclusive designer. People called him her "Secretary of Style." This gave him a very important position. Cassini said that Mrs. Kennedy's beauty and style would bring a "new American elegance."
Cassini used French fashion techniques and luxurious fabrics. His unique designs for Jacqueline Kennedy started a new era of simple, elegant style. Her look featured clean lines and rich fabrics. Cassini helped bring American design to the world stage. Jacqueline Kennedy's style became known for its sophistication and good taste. The "Jackie look" that he created was copied by women everywhere. Mrs. Kennedy said that "Oleg dressed me for the part."
The clothes Cassini designed for Mrs. Kennedy became very popular. Women of all ages wanted to copy her look. This included simple, geometric dresses made of beautiful fabrics. She also wore pillbox hats and elegant hairstyles. Cassini designed about 300 outfits for the First Lady. One famous design was a white gown she wore to the Inaugural Gala Ball in 1961. This dress was later named one of the "50 Dresses that Changed the World."
In 1961, a newspaper survey said that Oleg Cassini was the best-known name in American fashion.
Designer licensing
Cassini became very well known for his licensing agreements. This meant his name was put on many different products. These included luggage, nail polish, and even special luxurious cars. The 1974 and 1975 AMC Matador cars had special Oleg Cassini versions. He helped promote these cars in advertisements.
Recognition
Milestones
In 1960, Oleg and his brother Igor opened Le Club in Manhattan. It became a popular private club for famous people. In 1960, Oleg Cassini was named Mrs. Kennedy's personal designer. This launched the famous "Jackie look" in 1961.
In 1967, he created colorful shirts for men. Before this, most dress shirts were white. Sales of dress shirts greatly increased. This new look became popular on The Tonight Show. Oleg also created the "Johnny Carson" line of men's wear. In 1968, Newsweek magazine said Cassini was leading a revolution in men's fashion worldwide.
In 2003, the Council of Fashion Designers of America honored Cassini. They gave him a special tribute for his amazing design achievements.
Sportsman
Oleg Cassini was an excellent tennis player. He competed seriously from a young age. His tennis skills even helped him get his first design job in Hollywood. Cassini also created colorful tennis wear. He dressed the US Davis Cup team. He played in celebrity tennis tournaments. In 1976, he won the 5th Annual RFK Pro Celebrity Tennis Tournament. Jackie Kennedy Onassis herself presented him with the winner's cup.
Cassini also competed professionally in harness racing. In 1985, he earned a professional license. He won races at several famous tracks. He received awards for supporting horse charities. He also played golf and scored three holes-in-one.
Humanitarian
Oleg Cassini received the James Herriot Award from the Humane Society of the United States. This was for his work and care for animals. He created collections of man-made fashion fur. He called them "evolutionary furs."
In 1999, he received the Humanitarian Award. He said, "What we're designing is as elegant and attractive as fur and eliminates the enormous cruelty that goes on in the killing of animals for fur."
Cassini also helped Native American tribes. He was named an honorary member of the Chickasaw and Navajo nations in 1981. This was because he helped raise money for the tribes. He and his brother organized charity balls for this purpose.
Books and television
Oleg Cassini wrote several best-selling books. These include In My Own Fashion and A Thousand Days of Magic: Dressing Jacqueline Kennedy for the White House. This second book honored Jacqueline Kennedy and the "Camelot Era." He also wrote Oleg Cassini: The Wedding Dress.
Cassini appeared on many television shows around the world. He also hosted a 13-part TV series called Conversations with Cassini. This show was on the Arts & Entertainment Network.
Personal life
On September 2, 1938, Cassini married Mary "Merry" Fahrney. They divorced in 1940. Cassini then married actress Gene Tierney on June 2, 1941. They had two daughters, Antoinette Daria and Christina. They divorced in 1953.
After his divorce from Gene Tierney, Cassini dated and was engaged to Grace Kelly. In 1971, Cassini married model Marianne Nestor. Marianne helped manage the licensing and public relations for his brand.
Death
Oleg Cassini died in Manhasset, New York, in 2006. He was 92 years old. He died from problems related to an aneurysm. He was survived by his wife, Marianne.
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