Blass, Bill (William Ralph Blass), 1922–2002, American fashion designer, b. Fort Wayne, Ind. Active for three decades, he was most noted for high-quality, high-priced, and quintessentially American clothing featuring a look of sporty sophistication and offhand glamour. His polished classic style, which was less severe than that of many contemporaries, attracted a wide audience. Winner of numerous fashion awards, his designs included sportswear, rainwear, accessories, and evening wear. Beginning in the late 1960s, he also designed menswear. After establishing Bill Blass Limited in 1970, he expanded his line to include such diverse products as airline uniforms, luggage, chocolates, bed linens, and perfumes.

Bibliography

See his memoir Bare Blass (2002).

Blass, Bill

(born June 22, 1922, Ft. Wayne, Ind., U.S.—died June 12, 2002, New Preston, Conn.) U.S. fashion designer. Blass left home at age 17 to attend the Parsons School of Design in New York City. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he returned to New York, where in 1959 he became the head designer of Maurice Rentner, Ltd. Building upon the innovations of European designers such as Coco Chanel, Blass made clothes that allowed women a chic, modern sense of ease and comfort. His work became popular among New York high-society women. In 1970 Blass became owner of Rentner, which he renamed after himself. He was a pioneer in employing the business strategy of licensing his designs and name to a huge array of fashion accessories. In 1999 he sold his company, which continued as Bill Blass Ltd., and he retired the following year.

Blass, Bill (William Ralph) (1922– ) fashion designer; born in Fort Wayne, Ind. He began his New York fashion career in 1946, joining Maurice Rentner Ltd. (1959) (after 1970, Bill Blass Ltd.). Winner of eight Coty Awards, Blass created high-priced, beautifully cut and tailored women's wear, notable for its inventive combinations of patterns and textures.