Arsho Baghsarian was born in Turkey to Armenian parents and immigrated to the United States in 1957, during her teen years, eager to study design. She would receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with honors in fashion design From the Pratt Institute in New York in 1962.
That same year, after she competed in a competition for best student fashion design among the top ten fashion students in the country and received the prestigious annual N.Y. Fashion Designer Celanese Award, Baghsarian briefly designed sportswear on 7th Avenue. However, a phone call from former professor Laura Tosato Busgang was the catalyst that caused the young woman, who during adolescence had cut out and laced cardboard soles with bright ribbons, to begin what would become a successful career spanning more than forty-five years in the footwear industry. The phone call concerned a position with Genesco that was designed to reinvigorate it Christian Dior, a position Baghsarian gladly accepted in 1963. Six months later the Christian Dior division of Genesco merged with I Miller, another division of Genesco. Baghsarian took over design for the new label until 1969. Before leaving the label and pursuing other projects within the footwear industry, Baghsarian received the Pellon Award, as well as won the Leather Industries of America’s American Shoe Designer Award in the women’s best footwear category in 1968.
From 1969 to 1971, Baghsarian designed for Andrew Geller’s Etcetera & Adlib lines. After she teamed up with Jerry Miller and helped design his Margaret Jerrold and Shoe Biz lines. (Jerry Miller’s grandfather founded I. Miller, which he worked for until I. Miller was bought by Genesco and he started his own line.) She credits her fifteen years at the company as having a huge influence on her career years at the company run by Jerry Miller—credits him as having huge influence on her career since Miller’s Margaret Jerrold, Shoe Strings and Shoe Biz lines had her creating footwear in factories around the world from Spain to Italy to France and even becoming the first company to make fashion sandals at a price in mainland China. Miller was so impressed by Arsho’s work he created the Arsho for Shoe Biz label. The title of the line was fitting for a designer who did not remain behind the scenes and preferred instead to present her designs at trunk shows, such as at Lord & Taylor and Bonwit Teller and be on a first-name basis with customers.
In 1986 until 2008, Baghsarian designed for Stuart Weitzman & Company. During this time she also designed a couture line under the Arsho label, however, her talent led to Weitzman awarding her the label Arsho for Stuart Weitzman. She became the first full-time designer he collaborated with on his collection, which was not limited to casual stretch shoes, thongs, sneakers, mules, clogs, fur and mouton boots, bridal shoes and evening footwear complete with with pave stones and jeweled architectural heels. Within the company, Baghsarian was able to fully express her creativity, whether displaying her affinity for whimsical designs or her taste for glamor.
In January 2008, Baghsarian retired from the footwear industry and was inducted into Footwear News Hall of Fame. She now divides her time between Manhattan and Southhampton with her husband of more than forty years, fashion photographer and sculptor Avedis Baghsarian. Despite her retirement, she admits she will never stop designing.
Glenda Bailey was born in Derby, England and after enduring childhood polio, she studied fashion design at Kingston University. In 1988, she was appointment the editor of a the newly launched UK edition of Marie Claire, where she served in this capacity until 1996 when she was appointed editor-in-chief of Marie Claire US. In 2001, Bailey left Marie Claire to become the editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar, a role she held until January of 2020.
In 2012, Bailey received the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres from the French government and in 2019, was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
The dancer, actress, and activist Josephine Baker was born on June 3, 1906 in St. Louis, Missouri. At the age of 18, she left America and her turbulent childhood behind for Europe. She settled in Paris, quickly becoming the toast of the town after starring in "La Revue Nègre." After a year starring in the revue, Baker became a headline attraction at the Follies Bergère. It was at this famous club that Baker debuted her now-famous banana skirt. Thanks to her success in Paris, Baker was able to perform throughout Europe. The entertainer continued to perform in Parisian revues throughout the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, Baker began acting in movies, becoming one of the first black woman to star in a major motion picture. Her first speaking role was in 1934's Zouzou. In 1936, Baker returned to the U.S. and performed on Broadway in the "Ziegfeld Follies." After appearing on the New York stage, she traveled the U.S. in her own show. Baker returned to Paris, however, and became a French citizen in 1937. During WWII, Baker worked as an intelligence agent, ambulance driver, and entertainer for French troops in North Africa. She was awarded the French Legion of Honor for her service. In the 1950s, Baker began adopting children of different backgrounds. Her and her "rainbow tribe," as she referred to them, lived in Southwestern France. In 1958, she returned to the Parisian stage in an auto-biographical show titled "Paris Mes Amours." Josephine Baker died on April 12, 1975 at the age of 68. Her legacy lives on to this day. Many contemporary fashion designers name her as inspiration for their collections.
The Russian painter and costumer Léon Bakst is best known for his spectacular sets and costumes for the Ballets Russes, the famous Russian dance troupe that took Paris by storm in the early 20th century. Bakst's vast knowledge of history and world cultures combined with his brilliant understanding of the decorative effect of color to create delightful theatrical masterpieces that captured the era's zeitgeist.
Howard Balaban was a model with Ford Models during the 1980s.
Alec Baldwin (born Alexander Rae Baldwin III on April 3, 1958 in Massapequa, New York) is an American stage, T.V. and film actor. He is the oldest of four brothers, all of whom are actors. He is probably best known for his portrayal of Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock (2006-2013).
American fashion designer.
The house of Balenciaga was founded in 1937 by the Basque-born Spanish couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga, who fled his country amid the tensions of the Spanish Civil War. The house quickly rose to prominence as a leading French couture house, known for its sculptural creations and innovative silhouettes. Balenciaga sat at the helm of the house until his retirement in 1968. The house of Balenciaga was revived in 1986 under the creative direction of Michel Goma, followed by Josephus Thimister and notably Nicolas Ghesquière in 1997. In 2012, Alexander Wang replaced Ghesquière until 2015 when Demna Gvasalia was tapped as the house's new creative director.
Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972) was a Basque-born Spanish fashion designer. Established in 1917, he was a leading couturier in Spain where he designed under his label Eisa. After moving to Paris in 1937 amid the Spanish Civil War, Balenciaga founded his eponymously named couture house which was known for its "pureness of lines, the reinterpretation of Spanish tradition and the development of innovative volumes." Fellow couturier Christian Dior called Balenciaga "the master of us all," and the designer's work was held in reverence until his retirement 1968. The house of Balenciaga remained closed until its revival in 1986 under the creative direction of Michel Goma.
Theodore H. Ball was Vice President and Merchandise Manager of Accessories at Saks Fifth Avenue for 37 years until his retirement in January 1970. He passed on December 18, 1975 at age 79.
Bettina Ballard (1905-1961) was a celebrated fashion editor at Vogue magazine. Vogue hired Ballard in 1934. Ballard first worked as a writer at the New York office but was soon sent to France to be the American resident editor because of her knowledge of French and familiarity with Paris. During the war, Ballard chose to temporary leave Vogue to serve in the Red Cross. Ballard was rehired after the war and was promoted to fashion editor. From 1946 to 1954, Ballard reported on both the U.S. and French couture shows. In addition to this, she was one of the first reporters to cover the Spanish, Italian, and Irish fashion shows. After leaving Vogue, Ballard worked as a fashion consultant and contributing writer for Town & Country magazine, until her death in 1961.
Louella Ballerino (1900-1978) was a sportswear designer working in Los Angeles during the mid-20th century. While studying art history at the University of California, Ballerino learned design techniques from Andre Ani, a costume designer at MGM. Around this time, Ballerino sold fashion sketches to wholesale designers to earn extra cash. Around 1940, Ballerino opened her own shop in Los Angeles. Her design aesthetic was informed by the California lifestyle of leisure and comfort. The sportswear brand Jantzen hired Ballerino to design a beachwear collection. Her popularity waned in the early 1950s and she never again achieved the fame and success she had in the 1940s.
Founded in Paris in 1909 by Russian ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev, the avant-garde dance company employed the talents of some of the great early 20th centuries creatives including choreographers Michel Fokine and George Balanchine, dancers Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinsky. Musical scores for the troupe were created by Rimsky-Korsakov, Stravinsky and Erick Satie. Artists and designers who created sets and stage costumes included Léon Bakst, Picasso, Rouault, Matisse, and Derain.
The Ballets russes dissolved as a company upon the death of its founder Diaghilev in 1929.
After working for several years alongside Christian Dior as co-designers for the house of Lucien Lelong, Pierre Balmain (1914-1982) founded his eponymously named fashion house in 1945. The House of Balmain quickly became a leader in the post-war couture world, dressing royalty and actresses including Marlene Dietrich, Katharine Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, and Sophia Loren. Balmain remained at the helm of his house right up until his death at age 68 in 1982 and was subsequently succeeded by his long-time assistant designer Eric Mortensen.
Bamberger's was a department store chain native to New Jersey. It was founded in Newark in 1893 by Louis Bamberger and originally named L. Bamberger & Co. In 1929, it was bought by R.H. Macy and Co. Over the decades, the chain branched out across the state, opening multiple locations. However, in 1986, Macy's made the decision to rename all Bamberger's stores as Macy's.
Banana Republic is a clothing and accessories retailer owned by the American multinational corporation Gap Inc. It was founded in 1978 by Mel and Patricia Ziegler, who originally called the company "Banana Republic Travel & Safari Clothing Company." The original concept for the company was to sell items that complement a safari and travel lifestyle. In 1983, Gap purchased the company, changed the name to "Banana Republic," and rebranded the stores.
Tallulah Bankhead (1902 - 1968) was an American stage and screen actress. Known for her outrageous personality, Bankhead won acclaim from both U.S. and European audiences. She began acting in 1918, performing a bit part in a Broadway production. Although a steady stream of roles came to her during her early career, Bankhead was unsatisfied with the tepid response she received from reviewers. She left for London in 1923 and became a box office hit. She appeared in a handful of stage roles, each garnering her praise, until she left for Hollywood to star in her first film, in 1931. Unfortunately, her first few films were flops. Bankhead returned to Broadway in 1933, but could not find success. It wasn't until 1939 when Bankhead starred in The Little Foxes that she won over critics, winning a New York Drama Critics Circle award for her performance. This was to be her last major triumph on the American stage. Bankhead continued acting in films and on stage until her death in 1968.
Jeffrey Banks is a menswear designer working in New York. Banks holds a degree in Fashion Design from both Pratt Institute and Parsons School of Design. While at school, Banks worked as a design assistant to both Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. In 1977, he launched The Jeffrey Banks Signature Menswear Collection. Banks became the design director for Merona Sport in the 1980s, reinventing the brand by introducing new colors and textiles. Since then, Banks has worked at several design firms including Haggar Clothing Company, Johnnie Walker Scotch, East Island, and Metropolitan View, establishing each as a successful company under his direction.. He has won two Coty Awards for Outstanding Menswear (1982) and men's Furs (1977). Banks has also acted as a senior board member of the Board of Trustees of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).
George Barbier was one of the great French illustrators of the early 20th century. Born in Nantes, France October 10, 1882, he was a student of J.P. Laurens at the Beaux-Arts and exhibited at the Salon des Humoristes in 1910 under the name of Edouard William. The following year he began working at the gallery of Boutet de Monvel. From 1912 to his death he regularly figured into Salon des Artistes Décorateurs and was the recipient of many prizes. For the next 20 years Barbier led a group from the École des Beaux Arts whom Vogue nicknamed "The Knights of the Bracelet"—a tribute to their fashionable and flamboyant mannerisms and style of dress. Included in this élite circle were Paul Iribe, Georges Lepape, Charles Martin, and his cousins Bernard Boutet de Monvel and Pierre Brissaud. He contributed to Gazette du Bon Ton, le Jardin des Dames et des Modes, Modes et Manières d'Aujourd'hui, Les Feuillets d'Art, Fémina, Vogue, and Comœdia Illustré. His career also included jewelry, glass, and wallpaper designs. Through the Max Weldy Studios he created a number of décors and costumes for the Folies Bergère and other music halls. He is credited with the costume for Rudolph Valentino in the movie Monsieur Beaucaire. In the mid 1920s he worked with Erté to design sets and costumes. In 1929 he wrote the introduction for Erté's acclaimed exhibition and achieved mainstream popularity through regular appearances in L'Illustration magazine. Barbier was also one of many artists who made a living illustrating limited "editions de luxe," intended to be collectors’ items due to their rarity and high standards of printing. Eagerly collected In France in the teens and twenties these classics and contemporary works were illustrated by leading artists of the day and often bound in lavish, specially designed bindings. Artists such as Guy Arnoux, George Barbier, Leon Benigni, Benito, Brunelleschi, Georges Lepape, Charles Martin, and Andre Marty found a lucrative demand for contributions which brought a considerable amount of prestige. The first book of this kind done by Barbier, in 1913, was an album of drawings of Nijinsky, the dancer, done in his various roles in the Ballets Russes. 1914 saw a similar album of Karsavina. Done mostly in black and white, it is in these that the similarity to Beardsley's style is most evident. After these albums, Barbier seemed to pull away from this style, using more color and less outlining to make his graphic statements. Barbier died in 1932 at the very pinnacle of his success.
One of the great French illustrators of the early 20th century, he was also a designer of theater and ballet costumes, a journalist and writer.
Barbier was born in Nantes, France and moved to Paris to study at the École des Beaux-Arts. There he studied alongside many of the fellow artists and illustrators later dubbed "The Knights of the Bracelet," by Vogue, which included Paul Iribe, Georges Lepape, and Charles Martin. Over the course of his career, he contributed to many popular journals of the day including Gazette du bon ton, Les feuillets d'art, Fémina, Vogue, and Comoedia Illustré. He created set designs and costumes for the Folies Bergère, and worked as an illustrator for artists’ books and “editions de luxe.” Very little documentation of Barbier’s personal life survives today; he died at the pinnacle of his success at the age of 50.