Dresses Heed Decor
by habituallychic
08 . 10 . 11
While I was researching my Bill Blass posts, I came across a fabulous article from the May 24, 1963 issue of Life magazine entitled Dresses Heed Decor. The tag line read, “as a man designs, so shall he decorate,” and it featured the apartments of three of the top fashion designers of the day, Bill Blass, Arnold Scaasi, and John Moore. I found a few more photos of each and except for a few details, they look pretty chic to me.
The top photo and this bedroom belonged to Bill Blass when he lived at 444 East 57th Street. It had previously belonged to the model Suzy Parker who sold it to Blass after she married Pitou De Le Salle. He mentions the Life article in Bare Blass where he describes it as “all too evident – exactly what you’d expect of someone eager to be perceived as a sophisticated extra man…the style of 444 did convey something of the youthfulness and energy of the sixties. And up until then everything in fashion and decoration came from the old.”
It’s interesting to see how much sparser his style became in later years. He also says in the book, ” I suddenly realized that I couldn’t stand the idea of a house full of mementos and crapola.”
Apparently, John Moore was once a designer for Marilyn Monroe and his apartment exudes glamour.
The show stopping apartment in the article belonged to Arnold Scaasi. “Two-stories high, with windows overlooking Central Park, it is a rich melange of color and texture combining blue velvet banquettes, gilded chairs shaped like hands (bought in Mexico) and an enormous rug which this summer he plans to replace with a mat of fake green grass.”
Looks like the blue velvet banquettes were also slip covered for summer when the green grass carpet was rolled out, below. I just hope he kept those Pedro Friedeberg gold hand chairs. They are quite collectible!
9 Comments
This is wonderful! Those gold hands remind me of an old re-run episode of the odd couple, when Felix redecorates the apt…and I love that Blass used the word “crapola”! too funny, great post!
Such a fun peek into retro decor. Love the hairstyles these women wore!
Thank You for this. Absolutely stunning.
I love this post!
Thank you for these delightful shots from the 1960’s!
The summer slipcovers in Arnold Scaasi’s apartment appear to be the “Feathers” design by Woodson Taulbee of Woodson Wallpapers. The design, in brown and gold tones, also was also by Geraldine Stutz in the “Street of Shops” elevators at Henri Bendel.
Mr. Taulbee, who was a distant cousin of mine with family roots in Kentucky, worked closely with Billy Baldwin. His “Matisse” design graces the cover of Mr. Baldwin’s initial book on decorating.
OMG it’s ALL to die for! If I could have any appartment of these I’d be happy 🙂
Oooh, to be surounded every day by such beauty, even in the ordinary things! It inspires me to look at everything that way — why not!!
nice to read your blog.
Woot! He said “crapola”! I think I would’ve liked him!