Geoffrey Beene
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Beene was an American
fashion designer.
Beene was born in Haynesville, Louisiana
. He studied medicine at Tulane University
, but dropped out in 1946, after three years. He moved to New York in 1947 to attend the Traphagen School of Fashion. He then worked at a number of fashion houses, both in Paris
and New York
, including Harmay and Teal Traina. & Rockohype
In 1963 he started his own company, Geoffrey Beene, Inc., with a showroom located on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan
. His clients included such notables as Lady Bird Johnson
, Pat Nixon
, Nancy Reagan
, Faye Dunaway
and Glenn Close
.
He was known as both an innovator and a teacher. Several of his former apprentices, Kay Unger
, Alber Elbaz
and Doo Ri Chung are now successful fashion designers, thanks to his early guidance in their respective careers.
Beene died on September 28, 2004, due to complications from cancer
. His career in fashion design spanned over 40 years.
In honor of Beene’s fashion legacy, the CFDA] (Council of Fashion Designers of America
) created the annual Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award, which was presented in 2009 to the influential designer, Anna Sui
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fashion designer.
Beene was born in Haynesville, Louisiana
Haynesville, Louisiana
Haynesville is a town in northern Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, United States, located just south of the Arkansas border. The population was 2,679 at the 2000 census....
. He studied medicine at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, but dropped out in 1946, after three years. He moved to New York in 1947 to attend the Traphagen School of Fashion. He then worked at a number of fashion houses, both in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, including Harmay and Teal Traina. & Rockohype
In 1963 he started his own company, Geoffrey Beene, Inc., with a showroom located on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. His clients included such notables as Lady Bird Johnson
Lady Bird Johnson
Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson was First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969 during the presidency of her husband Lyndon B. Johnson. Throughout her life, she was an advocate for beautification of the nation's cities and highways and conservation of natural resources and made that...
, Pat Nixon
Pat Nixon
Thelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon was the wife of Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, and was First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. She was commonly known as Patricia or Pat Nixon.Born in Nevada, Pat Ryan grew up in Los Angeles, California...
, Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
, Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway is an American actress.Dunaway won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Network after receiving previous nominations for the critically acclaimed films Bonnie and Clyde and Chinatown...
and Glenn Close
Glenn Close
Glenn Close is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and...
.
He was known as both an innovator and a teacher. Several of his former apprentices, Kay Unger
Kay Unger
Kay Unger is an American fashion designer, currently she is the creative head and public face of Phoebe Company LLC and its brands; Kay Unger New York, Phoebe Couture, Unger by Kay Unger and Kay J’s by Kay Unger...
, Alber Elbaz
Alber Elbaz
-Biography:Alberto Elbaz was born in Casablanca, Morocco. He immigrated to Israel with his family at the age of ten and grew up in Holon. After serving in the Israeli Defense Forces, he studied at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in Ramat Gan...
and Doo Ri Chung are now successful fashion designers, thanks to his early guidance in their respective careers.
Beene died on September 28, 2004, due to complications from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. His career in fashion design spanned over 40 years.
In honor of Beene’s fashion legacy, the CFDA] (Council of Fashion Designers of America
Council of Fashion Designers of America
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association of over 350 of America’s foremost fashion and accessory designers. As of 2009, Diane von Fürstenberg is the group's President and Steven Kolb is the Executive Director...
) created the annual Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award, which was presented in 2009 to the influential designer, Anna Sui
Anna Sui
Anna Sui is an American fashion designer. Her luxury brand retails globally in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Her clothing, fragrance, cosmetic, and accessories lines sell at Anna Sui stores in over 50 countries and are also widely distributed at leading department stores...
.