42 Facts About Halston

Roy Halston Frowick, known mononymously as Halston, was an American fashion designer who rose to international fame in the 1970s.

Halston was known for creating a relaxed urban lifestyle for American women.

Halston was frequently photographed at Studio 54 with his close friends Liza Minnelli, Bianca Jagger, Joe Eula, and Andy Warhol.

Halston garnered a well-known clientele and opened a store on Chicago's Magnificent Mile in 1957.

Halston later became the head milliner for high-end New York City department store Bergdorf Goodman.

Halston's fame rose when he designed the pillbox hat Jacqueline Kennedy wore to the inauguration of her husband, President John F Kennedy, in 1961.

Halston died of AIDS-related cancer in 1990 at the age of 57.

Roy Halston Frowick was born on April 23,1932, in Des Moines, Iowa, the second son of accountant James Edward Frowick who was of Norwegian descent, and his stay-at-home wife Hallie Mae.

Halston developed an early interest in sewing from his grandmother and he began creating hats and altering clothes for his mother and sister.

Halston grew up in Des Moines, and moved to Evansville, Indiana, at the age of 14.

In 1952, Halston moved to Chicago, where he enrolled in a night course at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and worked as a window dresser.

Halston's hats were bought by Kim Novak, Gloria Swanson, Deborah Kerr, and Hedda Hopper.

Halston moved to New York City in late 1957, first working for milliner Lilly Dache.

Halston achieved great fame after designing the pillbox hat worn by Jacqueline Kennedy to her husband's presidential inauguration in 1961, and when he moved to designing women's wear, Newsweek dubbed him "the premier fashion designer of all America".

When hats fell out of fashion, Halston moved on to designing clothing, made possible by Estelle Marsh, a millionaire from Amarillo, Texas.

Halston opened his first boutique on Madison Avenue in 1968.

Halston would be instrumental in bringing Halston to Braniff in 1976 to design Braniff's hostess, pilot, ticket agent, and ground personnel uniforms.

Halston launched his first ready-to-wear line, Halston Limited, in 1969.

Halston's design was usually simple, minimalist yet sophisticated, glamorous and comfortable at the same time.

Halston liked to use soft, luxurious fabric like silk and chiffon.

Halston's boutique drew celebrity clients like Greta Garbo, Babe Paley, Anjelica Huston, Gene Tierney, Lauren Bacall, Margaux Hemingway, Elizabeth Taylor, Bianca Jagger and Liza Minnelli.

Vogue later noted that Halston was responsible for popularizing caftans, which he made for Jacqueline Kennedy; matte jersey halter top dresses; and polyurethane in American fashion.

Halston's favored models included Pat Cleveland, Anjelica Huston, Heidi Goldberg, Karen Bjornson, Beverly Johnson, Nancy North, Chris Royer, Alva Chinn, Connie Cook, and Pat Ast.

The troupe often travelled with Halston, attended his galas, acted as his muses, and reflected ethnic diversity.

Halston created muted brown uniforms with a distinctive "H" logo.

Halston created interchangeable separates in shades of bone, tan and taupe which the airline extended to the seat covers, using brown Argentine leather.

The party and the Halston creations were a hit not only with the fashion press but with Braniff employees, who thought they were the easiest and most comfortable uniforms they had ever worn.

Halston was asked by the US Olympic Committee to design the Pan American Games and US Olympic Team's uniforms in 1976.

Halston designed the uniforms for the Girl Scouts, the New York Police Department, and the Avis Rent a Car System.

In 1983, Halston signed a six-year licensing deal worth a reported $1 billion with retail chain J C Penney.

The line, called Halston III, consisted of affordable clothing, accessories, cosmetics and perfumes ranging from $24 to $200.

Halston attempted to buy back his company through protracted negotiations.

Halston was paid a salary by Revlon but had stopped designing clothing for the company.

Halston continued designing for family and friends, most notably Liza Minnelli and Martha Graham.

In 1986, Halston designed the costumes for the Martha Graham Dance Company's Temptations of the Moon.

Halston soon hired Hugo to work as his window dresser.

In 2010, Halston was the subject of the documentary Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston.

In May 2019, the documentary Halston, directed by Frederic Tcheng was released.

Ewan McGregor portrayed the designer in the television miniseries Halston, which premiered May 14,2021 on Netflix, adapted from the 1991 biography Simply Halston by Steven Gaines.

Bayou's line, Bradley Bayou for Halston, was worn by Oprah Winfrey and Queen Latifah.

Zanini's Halston collection debuted in February 2008 to mixed reviews.

In February 2013, Halston Heritage signed a deal with the Majid Al Futtaim Group for distribution of its products in the United Arab Emirates.