Oleg Cassini (April 11, 1913 – March 17, 2006) was an American fashion designer born to an aristocratic Russian family with maternal Italian ancestry. He came to the United States as a young man after starting as a designer in Rome, and quickly got work with Paramount Pictures. Cassini established his reputation by designing for films. He gained additional renown by designing for First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. "The Jackie Look" was highly influential in American design. Cassini's designs such as the A-line, sheath and the empire strapless dresses continue to be influential. He was inspired by sports and Native American culture.
In his 1995 book, "A Thousand Days of Magic: Dressing Jacqueline Kennedy for the White House," Mr. Cassini wrote, "All I remember about those days are nerves, and Jackie on the phone: 'Hurry, hurry, Oleg, I've got nothing to wear.'"
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A late convert to animal rights, he blamed himself for the loss of 250,000 leopards -- killed as women flocked to copy a coat he had designed for Jackie Kennedy. He renounced the killing of animals and stuck by his word by introducing micro-fiber fake furs in 1999, a fully synthetic material that retained the feel, warmth, and fashion of real fur. He was also an avid animal-lover and shared his Oyster Bay estate with a menagerie of pets including eighteen dogs, fifteen cats, thirty goats, six sheep, one half-ton sow, two Vietnamese potbellied pigs, one donkey, two parrots, twenty-two full-size horses, and two miniature horses.
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He led a fast jet-set life and his reputation as a boulevardier. He wrote his autobiography "In My Own Fashion" in 1987.
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Was the first to introduce brightly colored shirts for men and was responsible for the short-lived trend of the Nehru jacket. Popularized the pillbox hat immortalized by Jackie Kennedy.
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Was the first to power a franchise via his name with over 50 licenses, including sunglasses, watches and children's closes. At one point his world-wide retail volume was estimated at $400 million.
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Arrived in New York in 1936 and was soon joined by brother Igor Cassini, who went on to become the well-known columnist Cholly Knickerbocker for the Heart newspaper.
Wed to actress Gene Tierney and had two daughters. Elder daughter Daria was born blind and severely retarded after Tierney was exposed to rubella by an overzealous fan while she was pregnant. Both daughters, Daria Cassini and Christina Cassini, survived him.
Dubbed the "secretary of style," he defined an era of haute coutre via Jacqueline Kennedy, the most glamorous woman ever to hit the White House. The newly-elected president JFK officially asked him to be the official designer for his wife. Joseph P. Kennedy picked up the tab for the nearly 300 outfits designed for Jackie during her 1,000 day-stay at the White House.
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He gave up his title as a Count to become a U.S. citizen and enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II serving stateside.
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Was briefly married to cough syrup heiress Merry Fahrney becoming the fourth of her nine ex-husbands.
Was romantically involved with actress Grace Kelly.
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Not only was he famous for his costume designs for motion pictures, he also designed many of the outfits worn by Jacqueline Kennedy, especially the gown she wore to John F. Kennedy's inaugural gala ball.
$700,000
