William Ralph "Bill" Blass was an American fashion designer. He is known for his tailoring and his innovative combinations of textures and patterns. He is the recipient of many fashion awards, including seven Coty Awards and the Fashion Institute of Technology's Lifetime Achievement Award (1999)
Bill Blass, born William Ralph Blass in 1922, was the son of a dressmaker and a traveling hardware salesman. His father committed suicide when Bill was five, and afterwards Bill found refuge in the arts.Blass’ designs are best known for being wearable.
In a time when other designers were designing clothes which were known more for being a work of art, Blass was designing clothing which even everyday women could wear day or night. According to Ellin Saltzman in the New York Times.
In 1999 Blass sold Bill Blass Limited for $50 million and retired to his home in New Preston, Connecticut. Blass was diagnosed with oral/tongue cancer in 2000. It later became throat cancer and caused Blass's 2002 death.
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