Oleg Cassini

“Fashion anticipates … elegance is a state of mind.”

-- Oleg Cassini

oleg cassini

1930s: from fine art to fashion

Oleg Cassini was born in Paris, of Italian and Russian Aristocratic family, and grew up in Florence Italy. He studied both political science and fine arts in Florence, but moved toward fashion. He studied under the French Couturier Jean Patou, and also helped his mother, Marguerite Cassini, who had her own fashion house in Florence. But Cassini moved to Rome and opened his own boutique.

1940s: Hollywood

In 1936, Oleg Cassini immigrated to the United State fron Italy, arriving in New York with only 4Ts: a tuxedo, two tennis rackets, one title and talent.

In early 1940, he was hired by Paramont Studio as designer and the first film in which he designed the costumes was I wanted Wings directed by Mitchell Lesen in 1941, featuring Veronica Lake.

In the same year, Oleg Casini also designed for anothe film the Shanghai Gesture by Josef Von Sternberg featuring Gene Tierney, and On June 1, 1941, he married her. For the next 11 years, their life would be connected both on screen and off screen.

In the years he worked in movies, Oleg Cassini also designed costumes for many other Hollywood stars, including the stars of Golden Hollywood like Audrey Hepburn, Shirley Temple, Anita Ekberg, Janet Leigh, Loretta Young, Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Ursula Andress, Jayne Mansfield, Lana Turner, Sandra Dee, Suzy Parker, Gina Lollobrigida, and those of modern Hollywood like Renée Zellweger, Kim Basinger, Carroll Baker and Taylor Swift.

1950s: New York

In 1952, Oleg Cassini moved to New York, and opened his own fashion house on Seventh Avenue, to start design ready-to-wear for commerical market, while continuing costume design for movies, tv as well as theater.

1960s: Secretary of Style to the White House1960s

“I dressed Jackie to be a star in a major film, which she was, the most famous first lady of all time. I became her secretary of style”.

In 1953, Oleg Cassini met Jackie Bouviver before her marriage to John F. Kennedy. It was certainly the most significant encounter of his life.

was appointed as official designer of Jackie Kennedy, after she became first lady. In the 3 years he worked for Jackie, he created more than 300 outfits for her, some original, some modification of other couturiers or straight copies, and created the most elegant and unforgetable first lady in American History.

197Os-1990s: Post Camelot and Licencing

The status as official designer of Jackie Kennedy as First Lady brought Oleg Cassini both worldwide fame and success.

And after the Camelot years, Oleg Cassini triumphed another time, and on a bigger scale, with licensing. From nail polish to luggage, Oleg Cassini licensed his name to almost everything.