LEGENDARY DESIGNER OLEG CASSINI LEAVES LEGACY OF DRESSING WOMEN, BEAUTIFULLY
Best known as designer for a First Lady and Hollywood stars,
Cassini found favor in a new generation of brides
CONSHOHOCKEN, PA, MARCH 28, 2006 - Given that the average age of today's bride is 27, most recent fans of Oleg Cassini were not even born during the designer's reign as couturier to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy during the early 1960's. In fact, most mothers of current brides were young girls themselves during the Camelot era, which solidified Cassini's fame as an international fashion icon.
The passing of Oleg Cassini, on March 17, at the age of 92, marked the end of a life devoted to making women look and feel their most beautiful, but it does not portend an end to the influence of the man whose extraordinary design talent outfitted such legendary stars as Grace Kelly and Gene Tierney.
"Oleg Cassini had a rare gift for fashion design, combined with an innate sense of how to compliment the feminine physique," states Bob Huth, CEO of David's Bridal, the national bridal retail chain with whom Mr. Cassini formed a partnership in the early 1990's. Cassini joined forces with David's Bridal during the company's early years when the firm was revolutionizing the bridal industry by stocking stores with wedding gowns and bridal party attire in virtually all sizes that could be tried on and taken home that day. "The Oleg Cassini Collection was the first of several designer offerings at David's and has been extremely well received by our customers," according to Huth.
"For the past 15 years Oleg has inspired the David's Bridal design team, who've had the opportunity to understand the Cassini design point of view," says Huth. " The Oleg Cassini Collection, offered exclusively at David's Bridal, will continue to evolve with the changing bridal fashion market, always keeping a mindful eye to Mr. Cassini's sense of design and fashion sensibility."
In 2005, Bride's magazine named Mr. Cassini among the nation's most prolific bridal designers by virtue of the more than 40,000 brides who walk down the aisle each year in his designs. Ironically, one of Mr. Cassini's gowns will grace the cover of the upcoming May/June issue of Bride's, an honor of which he was advised in the days immediately preceding his death.
"Oleg was thrilled when he learned that one of his gowns would be featured on the cover of Bride's," says Lee Applbaum, Senior Vice-President of Marketing for David's Bridal. "In his own inimitable fashion, he said, 'it's about time!' " The company is planning a celebration in Mr. Cassini's honor on the day the magazine hits newsstands, April 11th, which, coincidentally, would have been his 93rd birthday.
Thus, the true legacy of the iconic Oleg Cassini will live on via a new generation of beautiful women, who are "stars" in their own right. For Cassini understood better than most, that on her wedding day, every bride is indeed, "a star."
About David's Bridal:
With more than 50 years of bridal and special occasion experience, David's Bridal understands the importance of providing women with a vast selection of exquisitely crafted dresses, available at affordable prices. Today with nearly 260 locations nationwide, David's Bridal continues to expand its retail store locations, maintaining its philosophy of beauty, elegance and quality. To locate a store nearby, call 1-877-693-BRIDE or log onto www.davidsbridal.com.
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