Adele Simpson
USABiography of Adele Simpson
Adele Simpson, the famous American fashion designer and owner of 'Adele Simpson, Inc.', had a significant influence on the fashion industry in the United States for over five decades. She was born as Adele Smithline on December 8, 1903, in New York City, the fifth daughter of Latvian immigrants.
During her childhood, Adele performed in vaudeville shows and danced with popular performers of that time, including Milton Berle. However, she was more attracted to a career in fashion design than the uncertain livelihood of a performer. At the age of 21, she graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and in 1927, she took over as the head designer at Ben Girshel, a respected clothing manufacturer on Seventh Avenue, where American fashion is created.
By her early twenties, Adele was already considered one of the highest-paid designers in America. After a few years, she started working for Mary Lee, whose business was also located on Seventh Avenue, and began releasing collections under her own name. In 1944 (or 1949 according to other sources), Adele purchased the 'Mary Lee Fashions' business, renamed it 'Adele Simpson', and introduced her clothing line to the New York public, offering it at affordable prices. Simpson adapted French haute couture to American realities and transformed it into ready-to-wear collections. In the 1950s, she briefly ventured into designing jewelry, which is still highly sought after in vintage jewelry stores. She received numerous awards for her professional achievements, including the 'Coty Award' in 1947.
On March 3, 1947, 'Life Magazine' featured photographs of a spring ensemble made of wool crepe by Adele Simpson. In September of the same year, the magazine published an article titled 'Newest styles give every woman's figure a chance', which included an illustration of a green satin dress by Adele Simpson with a dropped shoulder line, priced at $50, and a gold brocade dress for $79.
In 1964, Simpson's company released a special collection for the New York store 'Bloomingdale's' under the banner of 'Givenchy'. Anticipating her time, Simpson's fall collection in 1970 showcased elements of Oriental and Japanese style, such as high collars, dresses with narrow skirts below the knee, Japanese prints, and silk fabrics. Simpson continued to design collections in her 70s and 80s until she retired in 1985. Her daughter, Joan Raines, and son-in-law, Richard Raines, took over the business until they sold it to Barron Peters in 1991, who decided not to continue producing clothing under the 'Adele Simpson' brand. He later went bankrupt.
Adele Simpson passed away on August 23, 1995, at the age of 91, in her home in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her husband, Wesley Simpson, who worked in the textile industry, had passed away in 1976. She left behind a daughter, a son named Jeffrey Simpson, and three grandchildren. Simpson created practical clothing, and her blouses, suits, dresses, jackets, and coats were extremely popular, especially among female American politicians. Her clients included Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of President Lyndon Johnson, Mamie Eisenhower, Rosalynn Carter, Pat Nixon, and Barbara Bush, and her collections were sold in top department stores, including Bonwit Teller, B. Altman, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Adele Simpson was the first American designer to use cotton as a serious material, creating both daytime and long evening dresses from it. In the 1950s, she invented the cotton shirt dress with an attached belt that could be tied at the front or back. Surprisingly, dresses by Adele Simpson are still instantly purchased whenever they appear in the window of a vintage store.
