49 Facts About Oleg Cassini

Oleg Cassini was a fashion designer born to an aristocratic Russian family with maternal Italian ancestry.

Oleg Cassini came to the United States as a young man after starting as a designer in Rome, and quickly got work with Paramount Pictures.

Oleg Cassini became particularly well known as a designer for Jacqueline Kennedy while she was First Lady of the United States.

Oleg Cassini was born in Paris as Oleg Aleksandrovich Loiewski, the elder son of Countess Marguerite Cassini and her husband Count Alexander Loiewski, a Russian diplomat, thereby obtaining the title of Count.

Oleg Cassini spent much of a year in bed in recovery, during which time he studied history and read extensively, including authors such as American James Fenimore Cooper.

Oleg Cassini developed a love of history and the mysticism of Native American tribes.

Oleg Cassini discovered American culture through the movies from the United States that were shown in Italy.

When he started school, Oleg Cassini had to learn Italian, but he already knew Russian, French and Danish.

Oleg Cassini played soccer with the teenage team, the "Boys" of Fiorentina, and was on the university track and ski teams.

Oleg Cassini studied Political Science at the University of Florence and became an accomplished equestrian.

Oleg Cassini studied fine art under painter Giorgio de Chirico at the Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze.

Oleg Cassini won a number of international fashion competitions in Turin, including five first prizes in Mostra Della Moda for sketches and Most Creative Presentation for an evening dress painted in dramatic colors on silver foil, garnering a prize of 5,000 lire.

Oleg Cassini opened his own boutique in Rome and designed for the local film industry as well as Roman society.

Oleg Cassini became engaged to a debutante in Rome, Anna Donnina Toeplitz, and subsequently left for America after winning a duel.

Oleg Cassini sailed to America on the Saturnia and arrived in New York on Christmas Day 1936.

Oleg Cassini's autobiography describes his possessions upon arrival in America as being limited to a tuxedo, two tennis rackets, a title, and talent.

Oleg Cassini briefly worked as a political cartoonist in Washington, DC, upon his arrival prior to traveling to Hollywood.

Oleg Cassini went to the studio the next day and got the job as a full designer for Paramount Pictures.

Oleg Cassini's designs are worn in the climactic scene of Meet Joe Black and throughout Ready or Not.

Oleg Cassini worked for the major film studios and dressed numerous stars over the course of his career including Audrey Hepburn, Shirley Temple, Anita Ekberg, Janet Leigh, Loretta Young, Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Ursula Andress, Jayne Mansfield, Lana Turner, Sandra Dee, Suzy Parker, Gina Lollobrigida, Renee Zellweger, Malin Akerman, Kim Basinger, Carroll Baker and Taylor Swift.

Oleg Cassini became a United States citizen ; he was commissioned as a first Lieutenant at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Oleg Cassini remained in New York rather than work with Warner Brothers and opened his own designer brand.

Oleg Cassini had enough money to launch one line, his first Collection, which was received with rave reviews.

Oleg Cassini took his designs "on the road" to his customers in trunk shows and special fashion events in order to promote the new lines.

The in store events evolved into the emerging medium of television and Oleg Cassini displayed his product on Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Dinah Shore, Phil Donahue, and Good Morning America.

Oleg Cassini's reputation developed as a result of his genius for original spontaneous design and in 1953, shortly before her marriage to John Kennedy, Cassini met Jacqueline Bouvier, named by his brother, society columnist Cholly Knickerbocker as "Queen Deb of the Year" in 1947.

Oleg Cassini, you are, and will be in fashion history, the designer who created the indelible and stylish image for the First Lady.

Oleg Cassini brought American design to the world stage as the First Lady's identity became synonymous with sophistication and taste.

The publicity Oleg Cassini derived from his work for Mrs Kennedy led women from 18 to 80 to copy the look of simple, geometric dresses in sumptuous fabrics and pillbox hats with an elegant coiffure.

Oleg Cassini designed a reported 300 outfits for the First Lady, including a much-copied coat made of leopard pelts and a Swiss double satin white gown decorated by a single cocarde which she wore to the Inaugural Gala Ball in 1961.

Oleg Cassini was the recipient of a Doctorate of Fine Arts, in 1989,.

Oleg Cassini's name adorned everything from luggage to nail polish, as well as special luxurious coupe versions of the 1974 and 1975 AMC Matador automobile.

The special Oleg Cassini Matador was positioned in the popular and highly competitive "personal luxury car" market segment.

In 1960, with his younger brother, society columnist Igor, Oleg Cassini opened Le Club in Manhattan, which becomes a leading private club with such members as Gianni Agnelli, Stavros Niarchos, Aristotle Onassis, and Ray Stark.

In 1960 Oleg Cassini was named personal couturier by Mrs Kennedy, launching the Jackie look in 1961.

Oleg Cassini was awarded the Chicago Gold Coast Award for Excellence in Design.

In 1968, the Peacock Revolution is hailed by Newsweek, wherein Oleg Cassini is credited with leading a revolution in men's fashion worldwide.

In 2003, Oleg Cassini was crowned King of the Beaux Arts Ball.

Oleg Cassini excelled at tennis and competed seriously since his early days as a ranked Italian Junior Davis Cup player.

Decades later, Oleg Cassini created collections of printed and multi color tennis wear, bringing 'color to the court'.

Oleg Cassini is noted for having outfitted the US Davis Cup team and for participating in celebrity pro-am tournaments such as the Alan King Tournament in Las Vegas.

Oleg Cassini participated and won the 5th Annual RFK Pro Celebrity Tennis Tournament in 1976.

Oleg Cassini received awards in recognition of his efforts to support equine charities from "HORSE" and "The Equine Society" which recognized Cassini with its Man of the year award.

Oleg Cassini participated in golfing events, scoring three holes in one at the Deepdale Golf Club and one hole in one at the Westhampton Golf Club.

Oleg Cassini received the James Herriot Award as the Man of the Year from the Humane Society of the United States for his work and care for animals.

Oleg Cassini created collections of manmade fashion fur, the 'evolutionary furs'.

Oleg Cassini was named an honorary member of the Chickasaw and Navajo nations in 1981 due to his fund raising and organization of gala charity events for the tribes.

On September 2,1938, in Elkton, Maryland, Oleg Cassini became the husband of Mary "Merry" Fahrney.

Oleg Cassini died from complications of an aneurysm in Manhasset, New York, in 2006 at age 92.