This dress was a gift from the designer. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1928, he studied fine arts and English at Syracuse University. Later he studied art history and design at the Parsons School of Design in New York. In 1958, after working for several fashion firms including Townley (best known for the employment of another designer, Claire McCardell), he began designing under his own name. Simple and uncluttered lines, fine tailoring, and pure and unusual colors were his hallmark. He often used specially designed fabrics, such as this example designed by Julian Tomchin and manufactured by Chardon Marche, a U.S. textile company. He was awarded the Coty Fashion Award in 1958, 1962, 1967 and 1970. He received the New York Drama Critics Award in 1963 for his costumes for the theatre production of Richard Rodgers' No Strings. This dress was part of the Brooks Resorts Collection in 1967 and retailed for $435. Exhibited in Suiting Everyone: The Democratization of Clothing in America from 1974 to 1979.
