In this play, "Hank Hadley" is one of the most famous fashion designers in America. To these people, fashion is life and clothes tell not only thier story but place in society. It was very difficult to find clothes that I felt fit these people and their lifestyle with no budget. More so because, the actors are not at an age where they need to have gowns, dresses and suits in their closets. With that said, I made due with what I had and made the best product I could.
Fashion is a such a huge world, with many things to write about. I thought I would feature bios of all the fashion designers spoken of in the show and why they may have used these certain ones.
Ralph Lauren
His Polo brand known today as the preppy English-tweed look it conveys did not get to be a million dollar empire because Lauren was lucky, nor because Lauren had an immaculate sense of style. Lauren not only had an innovative mind, but he also knew that packaging and presentation were of utmost importance -- something he didn't need to learn while studying for his business degree.
In the late 60's, while Lauren was trying to develop his line of wide ties, Bloomingdale's insisted Lauren remove his name from the ties' label, and make his ties narrower. Not giving into the retail giant Bloomingdale's, Lauren stuck to his guns and refused to sell to the department store under such circumstances. Suffice it to say, the retailer came back crawling to Lauren and his ties under his terms, after having seen the brand's success.
http://www.infomat.com/whoswho/ralphlauren.html
Valentino
A list of his work
VALENTINO, date of creation: 1959
1959
Having completed his fashion studies and an apprenticeship with Jean Desss and Guy Laroche, Valentino starts up his first studio in Rome
1960
Begins his collaboration with Giancarlo Giammetti, who manages the commercial development of the House of Valentino
1962
His first collection at the international fashion Gotha in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence, is a triumphant success
1965
Valentino is recognized as the top name in Italian Haute Couture
1967
He is awarded the Neiman Marcus Prize in Dallas (the equivalent of an Oscar in the world of Fashion)
1968
Valentino's reputation is secured with the enormous success of his "Collezione Bianca", the first clothes and accessories to have the magic "V" label
Designs the wedding dress worn by Jacqueline Kennedy for her marriage to Aristote Onassis
1969
Begins his Boutique line of clothes and opens the first Valentino shop in Milan
1970
Launch of his first Ready-to-Wear collections
Opening of Valentino boutiques in Rome and New York
1971
Opening of the first menswear shop in Via Condotti
1975
First fashion show of his Ready-to-Wear collection in Paris
1976
Opens a boutique in Tokyo
1978
Launch of the Valentino perfume at a gala evening in Paris, at the ThŽ‰tre des Champs ElysŽes
1982
Publication of the book "Valentino", edited by Franco Maria Ricci
20 September, Valentino presents his Autumn/Winter collection at the Metropolitan Museum in New York
1984
Valentino celebrates his twenty-fifth year in the business and receives an official award from the Minister for Industry
1985
He is awarded the Grand'Ufficiale dell'Ordine al Merito by the President of Italy
1986
Receives the highest decoration possible in Italy, the Cavaliere di Gran Croce, from the President
1989
First show of the Haute Couture collection in Paris
1990
In February, Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti found L.I.F.E (initials in Italian for "Fighting, Informing, Building, Teaching"), an association working for the fight against Aids
The Accademia Valentino is officially opened to the public with an exhibition of painters of the Roman School
Exhibition of "The Art of Cartier" at the Accademia Valentino
Publication of the book "Valentino: Trent'Anni de Magia", by Leonardo
1991
To celebrate his thirtieth year in the fashion business, an exhibition entitled "Valentino: Thirsty Years of Magic" is organized in Valentino's honour by the Mayor of Rome at the Capitole Museum, while the Accademia Valentino presents a retrospective of his designs
Creation of the perfume Vendetta for men and women
1992
Exhibition at the Accademia Valentino entitled: "La seduzione da Boucher a Warhol"
The "Valentino: Thirty Years of Magic"' exhibition is invited to go to New York to coincide with the fifth centenary celebrations of the discovery of America.
Valentino is invited by the Chinese government to stage a show in Beijing
1994
In January, Valentino presents his first ever costume designs at the Eisenhower Theatre in the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Center, Washington, for an opera entitled "The Dream of Valentino", based on the life of the movie star Rudolf Valentino
1995
Valentino's return to Italy is celebrated on 14 January in Florence with a fashion show at the Stazione Leopolda, over thirty years his first show at the Palazzo Pitti. The Mayor of Florence awards him the "Premio speciale dell'arte nella moda"
1996
Valentino is named Cavaliere del Lavoro
1998
The House of Valentino is bought by H.d.P group (Holding di Partecipazioni Industriali), present on the Stock market.
Their goal is to create the first italian luxury group.
http://www.infomat.com/whoswho/garavanivalentino.html
Donna Karan
Donna Karan is the fashion designer and the creator of the DKNY (Donna Karan New York) clothing label. She was born Donna Ivy Faske on October 2, 1948 in Forest Hills, New York. She grew up in Hewlett, Long Island with her stepfather who was a tailor and her mother who was a model. She graduated from Hewlett High School in 1966 and then went on to Parsons The New School for Design for two years. She left to work for Anne Klein. Eventually she became head of the Anne Klein design-team and remained in this position until 1989. At that time, she launched the Essentials line, and her legendary "Seven Easy Pieces." [1],[2] She married Mark Karan in the early 1970s.
The European DKNY business was damaged in the early 1990s by poor quality and flawed logistics which resulted in the creation of a European supply center in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The company later announced to show their collection at the Milan fashion week in 1996 but later backed out again.
Karan is the founder of many charities including, most recently, the Urban Zen initiative. On March 14 and 15 2008, Karan organized a huge sale of her personal belongings and vintage company samples at her late husband's studio to benefit the cause.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Karan
Vera Wang
Vera Wang has spent more than twenty-five years in the fashion industry. After her sixteen-year tenure at Vogue, where she was Senior Fashion Editor, Vera Wang served as a design director for Ralph Lauren. In 1990, she ventured out on her own, opening a luxury salon at the esteemed Carlyle Hotel in New York City to showcase her bridal collection. The Vera Wang label quickly took off, earning praise from the fashion elite for its luxurious fabrics, exquisite detailing and modern interpretation of classic lines.
The discipline Vera Wang brings to her work and to her life was developed early by her parents, who encouraged academic excellence and athletic prowess. She studied at Chapin, Sarah Lawrence and at the Sorbonne and competed in international skating competitions.
Years later, her intimate knowledge of the sport, coupled with her taste and design ability, would capture the world's attention when silver medalist Nancy Kerrigan wore Vera's unique design for the 1994 Olympics. Vera Wang remains active in designing at the Olympic level for skaters such as Michelle Kwan.
Vera Wang's fashion sense also came early in life, beginning with visits to the Paris shows with her mother and maturing during her tenure at Vogue. As Senior Fashion Editor, Vera Wang interacted with the world's leading designers and brought their visions and sense of style to the world. Many of these designers became personal friends and mentors and helped Vera Wang deepen her knowledge of the business of fashion. In 1985, Vera Wang left Vogue and joined Ralph Lauren as a design director.
The inspiration for her label stemmed from her own frustrating wedding dress experience. Vera Wang aspired to add fashion sophistication to the segment, which was steeped in tradition and symbolism and yet operated like a commodities business. There was no fashion in bridal until Vera Wang. Today, Vera Wang's position as the preeminent designer of bridal gowns is only one aspect of her fashion vision for the future. The outstanding editorial success of her ready-to-wear shows demonstrates her presence beyond bridal. She continues to challenge herself as a designer, pursuing fragrance, fine jewelry, eyewear, footwear and a home collection that capture her vision for the future. Vera Wang's philosophy remains simple and elegant and her voice clearly distinguished from other designers. She is a design expert that women turn to for advice. Vera Wang is creating a lifestyle that is the epitome of luxury - infinitely sophisticated and always modern.
Vera Wang lives in New York City with her husband, businessman Arthur Becker, and their two daughters.
Aside from evening gowns and bridesmaid dresses the company also designs sportswear, and licenses its name for eyewear, fragrances, china, crystal, silver, and jewelry. Products are sold through upscale department stores, specialty stores, and two company-owned boutiques in New York City. Vera remains Chairman, CEO, and owner.
http://www.infomat.com/whoswho/verawang.html
All of these designers are some of the most noted in the world, which is why "Hank" feels the need to poke fun at them. Ralph Lauren and Donna Karen are know for their sportswear. Vera Wang and Valentino are known for there gowns and wedding dresses. In the show "Hank" designs both sportswear and gowns. He is asked to make "Spencer"s wedding dress. In this production we took at a basic dress and made it look more expensive and hand made from the help of Bich Do. She is a very talented designer as well, thank god for her.
