HATS ON… TO HALSTON!
Photos by
Julie Weissman
FASHION QUIZ:
1. What designer was fascinated
as a little boy by his mother’s
hats?
2. What designer opened a millenary
department in a hair
salon in Evanston, Illinois?
3.What designer fashioned hats
for Jackie Kennedy and Liza
Minelli?
4. What designer reflected the
Women’s Movement in his
clothing designs?
5. What designer was in the forefront
of using ultrasuede in his
fashion designs?
If you answered “Halston” to all
the above, chances are you were
at the NST Women’s Club meeting
on June 7 in the downstairs card
room. After opening remarks by
Co-President Bobbie Gould and
program and events co-chairs
Gloria Beck and Rosalie Goodman,
members were treated to an evening
with Halston. The program was created
by Nassau Country Museum
docent, Leslie Bomar, prior to the
club’s trip to the Halston exhibit,
slated for Wednesday, June 28. The
exhibit, put together by Halston’s
niece, Leslie Halston, is a tribute
to her uncle’s innovative personal
style and groundbreaking sense of
chic and glamour.
Bomar has been a docent at the
museum for nine years and is the
daughter of successful artist and silk
screen expert, Frank Bomar. Calling
the program, “An Adventure Walk
through the Life of Halston,” she
traced his modest beginnings in Des
Moines, Iowa. His mother, a seamstress,
2017
July ¢COURIER TOWERS wore hats, which piqued the
young man’s interest in millinery.
“The best way to keep Halston
SHORE busy is to give him a needle and
thread,” she remarked. This early
influence remained with Halston
NORTH throughout his career.
After attending the prestigious
School of the Art Institute in
32 Chicago, and several millenary
look at “Dame Helen Mirren” design spaces, he arrived in New
York in 1957 and went to work at
Bergdorf Goodman.
Halston developed a successful
career working with many celebrities,
including Elizabeth Taylor,
Babe Paley, Liza Minelli, and
Lauren Bacall to name a few. His
most famous client and fashion
accessory was Jackie Kennedy and
the pillbox hat he designed for JFK’s
inauguration. He was dubbed by
Newsday as “The premier fashion
designer of all America.” In addition,
Halston also paid homage to
his modest beginnings by designing
uniforms for Braniff International
Airways and the Girl Scouts of
America. His clothing could also
be found at J.C. Penney, to give
more women access to his designs.
Another breakthrough for the
designer came as a result of the
Women’s Movement in the ’70s.
He created fashions for women in
the workplace with more freedom
of motion, using free flowing fabrics,
ultrasuede, and he introduced
pantsuits. “He put together art
and materials,” Bomar said, using
cashmere, sweater sets and fabrics
cut on a bias for a unique draping
look. It was ultimately Halston’s
undoing he could not separate his
work space and his play space. His
models, “The Halsonettes,” were
always at his side. He partied with
Andy Warhol and Liza Minelli
at Studio 54, and with his good
looks and glamour, he networked
to stardom. Unfortunately, he died
of AIDS in 1990. As Bomar quoted:
“He was the God that got too close
to the sun.”
NOTE: This ended the last
meeting of the calendar year for
the Women’s Club which now has
a membership of 314 members.
TIME TO RENEW!
Liza Minelli in Halston Docent Leslie Bomar talks
Halston
Jackie Kennedy in Halston’s
famous pillbox hat
JULY
IS
DUES TIME!
Leave your $25 Check, made
out to “NST Women’s Club,”
with the building concierges
addressed to:
Bldg. #1, 5N—Rosalie
Goodman (718-279-2271)
Bldg. #2, 21H—Bobbie Gould
(718-224-4388)
Bldg. #3, 1T—Chickie Kaufman
(718-819-8176)
Dues can also be paid at our
Anniversary event on July 19th
COMING UP…
YOU DON’T
WANT TO MISS
THIS ONE —
FREE FOR
PAID-UP MEMBERS
Wednesday, July 19, at 7:30 p.m.
at Towers on the Green
2nd Anniversary Dessert
Party—Open seating
Entertainment by music and
film historian, Richard Knox
(Music of the 40’s, 50’s & 60’s)
RSVP by July 15
For more info call Julie
Weissman at 718-631-3886 or
Bobbie Gould at 718-224-4388
Dues must be paid before
admission.
BACK
BY POPULAR
DEMAND
Wednesday, August 16, at 7:30
p.m. in the Large Downstairs
Card Room
Popular Speaker Marilyn
Carminio returns with a fascinating