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Geoffrey Beene

 

Geoffrey Beene
Photo by Randy Brooke

 

Vintage Fashion Guild honors the life and work of designer Geoffrey Beene who passed away in September, 2004. We have collected a pictorial history of his designs through the years of actual garments either owned or sold by our members.

Beene was born August 30th, 1927 in Haynesville, Louisiana. Initially, he planned to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and become a doctor. He was enrolled in the pre-med program at Tulane University, New Orleans. It was here where Beene began sketching his first designs.

1960s navy wool coat dress with ivory satin accent Courtesy of bigchief1731960s black and white tent dress Courtesy of designertrend.com1960s two-piece red dress suit Courtesy of Memphis Vintage

He quit medical school and his displeased parents sent him to the University of Southern California to complete his studies. Instead, he landed his first job in the industry as an assistant in the display department of the downtown Los Angeles branch of I. Magnin.

Beene then moved to New York in 1947 where he attended the Traphagen School of Fashion.

Next he went on to Paris where he studied at L’Academie Julian and l’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisenne.

Black satin with trompe l'oeil collar and tie Fall 1971: Courtesy of pf1 Late 1960s empire-waist espresso evening dress Courtesy of designertrend.com Early 1970s fringed wrap skirt Courtesy of kickshawproductions

In the early 1950s he returned to New York. He worked for a year with Samuel Winston and then as an assistant designer at Harmay, a 7th Avenue design house.

In 1958 he produced his first collection for Teal Traina, receiving credit on the labels and in editorial copy.

Early 1970s cranberry tweed dress Courtesy of pf1 Early 1970s ivory caftan Courtesy of katzoid Circa 1974 -1976 black evening dress Courtesy of pastperfect2

In 1963, Beene started his own fashion empire with the unveiling of his first women’s collection and was an immediate success.

Just one year later, in 1964, he won his first of eight Coty Awards and in 1964 and 1965 he won the Neiman-Marcus fashion award.

1970s sparkling metallic dress Courtesy of shopping-goddess Circa 1983 red/white silk dress with kimono-sleeves Courtesy of pf1 1970s salt & pepper tweed blouse/trouser ensemble Courtesy of designertrend.com

In 1967, he designed the wedding dress for first daughter Lynda Bird Johnson.

1980s red and black jacket Courtesy of pf1 1980s Emerald green silk knit two-piece dress Courtesy of pf1 Early to mid 1980s oatmeal wool knit wrap dress Courtesy of bombshell*vintage

In 1969, Beene created a menswear line which down the road led to a license agreement with Van Heusen for shirts.

In 1971, Beene pioneered a lower-priced “Beene Bag” label for casual clothes that cost a fraction of his signature collections. Also in 1974, Beene became a member of the Fashion Hall of Fame.

1980s black wool knit dress for I. Magnin Courtesy of pf1 1980s ivory blouse featuring satin bow details Courtesy of bombshell*frocks Late 1980s velvet two piece skirt and top Courtesy of schoolsgirl

In 1976, Geoffrey Beene was invited to show his clothes in Milan. He was also among the first American designers to produce and sell his collections in Europe and Japan.

“Fashion is my way of contributing to other human beings. It is my way of communicating with people, of making something better in their lives.” Geoffrey Beene, 1978

1990s Chocolate brown and black suit Courtesy of pf1 1990s tan tweed jacket with asymmetrical zipper Courtesy of pf1 1990s cranberry skirt suit with leather detail Courtesy of designertrend.com

His designs were displayed in several galleries and museums, including New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology in 1994 and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in 2002.

“The more you learn about clothes, the more you realize what has to be left off. Simplification becomes a very complicated procedure.” —Geoffrey Beene

1990s black and white tweed tent dress Courtesy of designertrend.com Spring 1993 Black & white checked pattern wool suit Courtesy of pf1 

Written in 2004 by Carolyn Schreiber/bigchief173 and Justine Carroll/ikonicvintage