Skip to content

Oleg Cassini (1913-2006) first started designing in 1936, working for various stores in New York City. In 1940 he went to Hollywood where he designed costumes for 20th Century Fox. There, he met and married actress Gene Tierney in 1941. By the early 1950s he was back in New York, where he was designing under his own name. His look was very sexy and, at times, flamboyant.

But he was best known as the “Couturier to Camelot,” and his fashion collaboration with First Lady Jackie Kennedy. That collaboration had a profound impact on the way American women dressed, with the “Jackie O” look coming to mean simple designs with easy fit, straight lines, boxy jackets, and very restrained use of trims or ornamentation. Since the mid 1960s, he did little top line ready-to-wear and licensed his name extensively in swimwear, hosiery, foundations, sportswear, fur, and costume jewelry, to name but a few lines of products.

One of Oleg Cassini’s last lines was the Platinum Collection, made to order evening and bridal gowns based on his 1960s designs for Mrs. Kennedy. He died in March, 2006.

Written by pastperfectvintage.com


from an early 1960s dress - Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from an early 1960s dress

Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from an early 1960s hat  - Courtesy of aprizeeverytime

from an early 1960s hat

Courtesy of aprizeeverytime

from an early 1960s dress -  Courtesy of acceber

from an early 1960s dress

Courtesy of acceber

from a 1960s sweater - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s sweater

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a mid 1960s jacket  - Courtesy of ookoo

from a mid 1960s jacket

Courtesy of ookoo

from a 1960s dress - Courtesy of bartondoll

from a 1960s dress

Courtesy of bartondoll

from a 1970s dress   - Courtesy of this_perfect_day

from a 1970s dress

Courtesy of this_perfect_day

from a 1970s blouse  - Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1970s blouse

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1970s blouse (hang tag) - Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1970s blouse (hang tag)

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1980s evening jacket - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1980s evening jacket

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1980s men's blazer  - Courtesy of vintagegent.com

from a 1980s men’s blazer

Courtesy of vintagegent.com

from a 1980s licensed dress  - Courtesy of ladyinredfashions.com

from a 1980s licensed dress

Courtesy of ladyinredfashions.com

from a 1980s coat  - Courtesy of bartondoll

from a 1980s coat

Courtesy of bartondoll

from a 1980s jacket  - Courtesy of taskmaster

from a 1980s jacket

Courtesy of taskmaster

from a 1990s licensed dress - Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a 1990s licensed dress

Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com