George Halley (couturier)

George Halley

George Halley (b.1930) American couturier and important figure in mid-20th century fashion in New York City. Winner of the prestigious and coveted "Coty Award" in 1968 shortly after opening his wholesale business on Seventh Avenue.

Personal Life

Born and raised in Alliance, Ohio George Halley worked on his family's farm until graduating high school, whereupon he hitchhiked to New York City to pursue his passion for fashion. He married his wife Claudia Morgan, former model for Norman Norell in 1958. They divorced in 1978.

Career

Halley began work doing sketches for the designer Baron von Waldeck and designing windows at Lord and Taylor's, later getting work with designers Charles James, for whom he designed under the label "Sam Winston for Charles James," and Jo Copeland . He also worked for Andrew Arkin where he met Diana Vreeland, Vogue Editor who greatly admired his work and always gave space to George in the magazine throughout his career. In 1966 he co-designed a collection with Tzaims Luksus.

Sidney and Richard Blauner gave him his first label working on their Jeunesse line and his first show but it was after his very successful Fall 1967 show at Andre Surmain's restaurant Lutece, that Mildred Custin, president of Bonwit Teller used all their windows to display Halley's designs and paintings, perhaps paving the way to his Winnie award as the Coty's were known, the following year.

Eleanor Lambert, publicist who started the Coty Awards also supported Halley's work throughout his career writing his biography for press releases and giving him advice on what and how to do it, all without charge.

References

--Eric Albert 23:10, 31 July 2013 (UTC) Eric Albert 18:54, 20 August 2013 (UTC) --Eric Albert 22:58, 21 August 2013 (UTC)