Simpson

Adele (1903-1995). A New York designer who was one of the first to design clothes for the working woman. She knew how to “take cotton out of the kitchen,” to quote a 1940s expression, using the fabric for her clothes. Her garments are designed and made with wearability and functionality in mind, so that you can take something off to make the garment more suitable for either the day or evening, for work, for cocktails or for a society event. Having studied at the Pratt Institute of Design in Brooklyn she worked for Ben Gershel (1923-26) and then moved to Mary Lee Fashions where she signed a collection. In 1949 she set up her own company, Adele Simpson Inc. Her clothes are displayed in many museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of New York. Besides Margot Fonteyn, who was one of the first to appreciate her, her most devoted clients included the wives of four American presidents: Eisenhower, Johnson, Nixon, and Carter.