In 1963, Geoffrey Beene started his fashion empire after being educated in fashion in New York and Paris and working for other brands such as Samuel Winston, Harmay, and Teal Traina. The following year he won the first of eight Coty Awards and won the Neiman-Marcus fashion award in 1965.
Geoffrey Beene wanted to create something new and fresh. Parisian designers were in vogue, and Beene wanted to shake up high fashion. He is known for designing ballgowns out of more casual materials such as flannels and jersey knits, his series of dresses inspired by athletic jerseys including a sequined full-length football-jersey gown, and his attention to details. His designs included delicate collars and cuffs to the structure of his blouses.
Geoffrey Beene was one of the first designers to create both high-fashion wears and a lower-price point line for the everyday fashion consumer called Beene Bag.
His fame grew worldwide. In 1976, Geoffrey Beene was among the first American designers to produce and sell his collections in Europe and Japan as well as show his collections in Italy.
These inventive ideas were just some of numerous steps that landed him into the Fashion Hall of Fame.
Geoffrey Beene’s designs have been displayed in several galleries and museums including the New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, The Met, and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
