HALSTON - AMERICAN FASHION

STORY BY JOSHUA CROASDALE,, ZOE DELA PLANA, PAUL G ROBERTS
EDITED BY TAYLOR STEIN
NARRATED BY PAUL G ROBERTS
You can see more designer legends and news at fashionindustrybroadcast.com
HALSTON
It’s the mononymous name that continues to be whispered with reverence is rarely uttered in today’s fashion world: Halston.
Legendary designer Roy Halston Frowick was a quintessential figure in American fashion during the late ’70s-notably, the Studio 54 era, together with Andy Warhol. His clean, minimalist designs fashioned out of uber luxurious materials such as cashmere and ultrasuede worn by the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy and Bianca Jagger was what catapulted him to fame. At the height of his career, he had a brick and mortar store on Madison Avenue in New York and a star studded clientele. Unfortunately, this was also during the height of HIV/AIDS epidemic in 1990, which caused his untimely death. His legacy lives on thanks to his archive, friends and famous muses such as Broadway superstar Liza Minelli.
Halston, as the world came to know him - is largely considered to be the first American star designer, and one of the most crucial designers of the ‘70s, famed for blurring the lines between the glitz of Hollywood and the glamour of the New Manhattan fashion scene. His designs came to define the quintessential 70s woman, and eventually would transform fashion’s relationship with the everyday consumer.
Halston’s success was meteoric, but there’s was an air of mystery that surrounded his journey. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, he grew up with a passion for sewing and hat making for his family. This passion took him to the Art Institute in Chicago in the early 1950's. His 20's also saw Halston beginning to focus more on designing hats within his leisure time. He additionally worked as a fashion merchandiser during this time. His hat designs would go on to be sold at famous milliners in New York. However, hats would not be the item of clothing to grant him fortune.

[@larrywakeman4371]

I have many orignal 1980's J.C. Penney Halston CLASSICS- a black cape, black wool crepe cocktil dress, scarves, hats, skirts and I STILL wear them TODAY and you can wear them 60 years from now they are so GORGEOUSLY TIMELESS. My fave designer next to Don Loper! Kimberly

[@andyroo9381]

I believe Halston was the first American designer to use black models down the runway. This was a BIG DEAL back then. Halston's creations still stand today. Halston knew the body of a woman and the language of fabric. Halston was before his time. Now major designers are doing collections for Target!

[@shashee0000]

Ewan McGregor did a remarkable job in the Netflix docu-series. That’s what bought me here.

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

Nice to have you here Sha Shee. I think you would really like our Renegades of fashion series

[@jayskai3034]

It was really good that's why I came over here.. he really surprised me taking on that kind of a role but he played it well.

[@ebaez125]

@@Fashionindustrybroadcast the 6 part series you introduced at the beginning is on Netflix? Can’t find but would love to watch

[@simongill4715]

It would be better if they found a gay actor to play the role. So tired of the straight world exploiting our community for a quick buck

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

@@simongill4715 yeah a black gay guy would make a lot of sense

[@periscope7731]

Watched ALL of it last night on Netflix. EMG is riveting as Halston. Having come of age during this decadent era, I was really inspired by this fashion icon’s personal style.💁🏻‍♂️

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

Amazing Series. Faithfully told. I cried at the end.

[@CuirPhotodotNet]

@@Fashionindustrybroadcast ....that's why i cannot watch it....i probably would NOT STOP CRYING....i have worked with several people who have worked with him..and were his friends....and they all have wonderful things to say about him...i understand that he is buried somewhere in the northern California area around me...and when STEPHEN BURROWS asked me did i know WHERE ....i had to tell him no...and he told me he wanted to VISIT HIS GRAVE....i just had to fight back tears....HALSTON is on another dimension of FASHION and CULTURE....his PATTERNS are still for sale i recommend them to chic ladies all the time....

[@marymaxwell2975]

Amazing at the time 1978 1979 I was 17 years old and would go dancing and you could smell Halston in the air it was magical ..I didn’t know what it was 😳 had to ask a stranger on the dance floor and she said Halston ...wow so glad to see these wonderful things revealed ❤️

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

It was more likely amyl nitrate haha

[@thinkmirror8507]

I ran out to the store last night and bought the perfume. Smelled just like I remembered it.. Such good times.

[@BIGTODD250]

lol lol As a teen in high school Halston's mens Z-14 was my signature!!!

[@CuirPhotodotNet]

@@Fashionindustrybroadcast ........BEHAVE !!!!!!

[@dalbriggss]

I loved Halston cologne and perfume! It smelled unlike any other perfume! Too bad his life ended like it did. Too many people’s lives ended too soon in that era.

[@dawnlee866]

There wouldn't be Calvin Klein, Donna Karen, Perry Ellis, Michael Kors & Tom Ford without Halton's vision🥰❣🙌👑

[@markusmulder_]

I would ad Giorgio Armani to the list🤩

[@helohalo3106]

if you think about it Halston is a clear muse for Tom ford

[@laminage]

@@helohalo3106 Oh Yes! Tom Ford thought the world of him. Did you ever see his Mr. Porter's Channel. It's amazing.

[@laminage]

@@markusmulder_ Not necessarily. Halston kicked the door for every US Designer that came after him. Isaac Mizrahi also talked about his influence. When he was first starting out, Eve Orton a Fashion Consultant (Pre Anna Wintour) was working with Calvin Klein and when he saw Halston come into a Restaurant, he looked at him and said to Eve "That's What I Want! but as the saying goes "Be Careful For What You Wish For, It May Come True!"

[@jennlovesbert1094]

The Netflix show is really good!

[@roachqueen1973]

He could have been a model himself. He was a gorgeous man.

[@dawnlee866]

Yesssss. I know some women made passes at him to see if he would try the other side😂😂😂he was so handsome & dressed impeccably ❣🥰🙏🏽

[@annmarieknapp]

Yes, he was stunning. Elegant!

[@miriamhavard7621]

He was MORE glamorous than most movie!!!! 🤩🎥

[@dublin201]

Who’s here after watching Netflix Halston?

[@MrKarmapolice97]

Me! I loved it! All that 70’sness Studio 54, snorting coke, the starting of gay rights,it just seemed like a glorious time

[@tam1729]

Lol me

[@w.urlitzer1869]

@@MrKarmapolice97 and then, AIDS

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

If the plague ended the Middle Ages, AIDS def ended the 80's

[@oceanbrzzz]

I still have a Halston party dress.

[@TIGGYY1]

@marcia Davis, I had during the 80s, a Elsa Perritti teardrop silver ink pen. I didn't really realize what I had, I was careless with it.😭😭. Too bad , it would be a highly coveted item today

[@oceanbrzzz]

@@TIGGYY1 I know what you mean, I was so ignorant (naive?) back then!

[@uberglamazon]

@@TIGGYY1 They still make it.

[@TIGGYY1]

@@uberglamazon not as cheap as it was back then, it was one of those gifts with a purchase deals, it didn't come from Tiffany's, lol, I remember buying the cologne at a local department store

[@alexdc912]

Holy cow, came here because of Ewan. I was curious how accurate his portrayal was. It’s like Ewan was possessed by Halston’s spirit. If this was a movie, Ewan would have won the Oscar for Best Actor hands down.

[@midnightmilkman1]

Halston was Simply Marvelous !

[@michaelp6420]

HALSTON by far the Greatest American Designer... Elegant, Simple, Luxurius fabrics... NOT COSTUMES as today.

[@catherder4747]

I agree. What they're sending down the runways today are, for the most part, either hideous, unwearable, or an outright joke.

[@tomvalveede6808]

Practical with a Capital "P"!!! And luxurious Always for the evening! A Master of Style!!! Now, a Fashion Icon and deservably So !!! 🎉🇺🇸♥️🇺🇸🎉🇺🇸♥️🇺🇸🎉🇺🇸♥️🇺🇸🎉

[@golden8972]

Ewen McGregor is absolutely AMAZING as Halston!!

[@jenniferglunt2916]

I thought the Halston III clothing line from JC Penney were great. Classic, 1980s. With a twist of Annie Hall. I remember seeing those clothes in the shops and catalogs. What a tragedy that Halston was treated so poorly.

[@Ladybohio]

Maybe I'm wrong, but my impression is that he was in love with the wrong person, Viktor was not good for him, he has been a major obstacle throughout his career...But, maybe I'm wrong ..

[@letzsnuggzz]

Most people who knew Halston didn't like Victor and thought he was Halston's downfall.

[@chrisroyercollections]

6:05 Fyi The model to the left of Halston is Chris Royer, apart of the Halstonettes, photographer Dustin Pitman

[@CuirPhotodotNet]

....YAAAAAAASSSS....LOL....

[@astrologychampionandtarot7829]

Loved the show

[@palwashasaqib5900]

What a sad demise for such a creative genius. Saw the series about him, and it brought tears to my eyes...

[@AliAl-gw2pu]

I'd like to see more of his early bold geometric work; that was his earliest collection. I found that the most striking. Is there a book?

[@w.urlitzer1869]

there is a very good documentary Halston 2019

[@septillion2501]

Ewan McGregor WISHES he was this handsome.

[@tequiness061]

Totally! How attractive the real Halston was!

[@billkeaveney1526]

Thanks to EMG his name has been remembered.

[@SRSM198]

Erwin is here to stay a great character actor.

[@peck404]

Love🌍🌍🌍🎥🎥😎🌻

[@pjangels609]

71st thumbs up. He took a risk, made it happen for better or worse, but began a standard for third world, sewn slums to pump out cheap fashions for western consumerism! I am an admirer...

[@The70sChick]

Who's here because they were around when Halston ruled the fashion world?

[@fmaries7000]

TEN!!!! Fashions shows a year?! There r only 4 seasons IN a year. Poor guy was used up. I've since watched the Netflix series by Ewan McGregor. It is both fabulous and sad. 💅🤩😢

[@patriciajohnson3017]

Wonder if he was friends with Freddie

[@w.urlitzer1869]

starts at 1:28

[@beatnikrn2945]

Thanks for the video. I was born in the 70’s and I remember seeing his image on commercials as a child. Back when people sold their own products instead of hiring actors. And as a lover of fashion, those early years of my life had such an impact on my sense of style. I loved his simplicity, and hated the mid - ;ate 80’s when everything became the opposite- big and poofy! Thank god that’s gone. Or at least in beauty pageants where it belongs. But I always wondered why he was so predominant, then poof? By the mid-80’s even I knew on jr high not to say “I’m wearing Halston” bc it was considered so passé (I know what I like, but jr high is a lot of pressure) Which is sad because he was really talented and not appreciated enough after the 70’s. But then we have also seen this happen to other American designers.

[@jayvikramsingh6273]

Can anyone tell me which song is this ,the one played at the beginning of this video.please let me know guys 😊😉

[@swordscot]

Feel Alive by Voodoo

[@swordscot]

Feel Alive by Voodoo

[@stopthelies4249]

He had greatness and threw it away smh. WHY? I guess if I went to Studio 54 three nights a week. Well we’ll never know

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

He obviously had his demons. And drugs never really help. Just ask Johnny Depp.

[@SB-jn5ge]

drugs:(

[@grainofsand4176]

Just ask a whole lot of people.Terrible stuff addiction.

[@copyright-ur1sf]

The clip at 3:45-4:13 seems really out of place. I get that they were trying to convey that times were changing, but it was really distracting. "They're throwing glass at black people" Like OK. Wow.

[@RealPete]

Intro is too long.

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

We have taken your comments on board and will amend this for all future Eps in the Series.

[@lisahawkins7604]

Having seen what Halton really is like, after watching the Netflix series - I think Richard E Grant would have been perfect for the role! (not that Ewan was bad, but Richard resembles Halton better).

[@Justme-uh2gd]

At the beginning the quick shot of the model looks like Sonja Morgan from real housewives of New York.

[@angelcena759]

The information on Jackie Kennedy is WRONG. The pink dress was not by Halston and neither did she wear it in 1961.

[@markmalbone1147]

It was not the dress but the hat.

[@AllIsWellaus]

Girl Guides connected with something sexualised, that is bizzare.

[@laminage]

Sadly I think he was the first Designer to Die of AIDS. He died in March 1990 less then a Year after Steve Rubell died on July 25th who co owned Studio 54.

[@permijitdunkley5149]

blank so..@#.

[@seventiesgirl6449]

I often see the similarities: What Halston was to the fashion world in the 70's, Michael Kors is now.

[@enguerranddemarigny]

Nope IMHO ! As French, Halston as like Charles James, was (very) respected an considered by the french fashion masters as an authentic couturier. What does it mean ? Halston, like Yves Saint Laurent, knew how to draw, cut and stitch (or make stitch whic high precise instructions) a dress. Both of them were able to cut the fabric directly on the body of a real model and keep having in mind the 3 dimentions ! More specificaly, Halston was able to cut in bias way more difficult than the direct cut which in french is "le droit fil". Give a pair of scissors and a fabric roller to Michael Kors and the panic is there !

[@eddymoquette5152]

No my friend in what essence. Michael kors will never be not even a 10th of what Halston was

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

Kors is nothing compared to Halston.

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

Exactly. Kors is not in the same industry as the greats like Halston or YSL.

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

Not 1,000th

[@ericinman9245]

Gee, got bored with the intro.

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

We have cut that back to 20 seconds now. Thanks for the feedback

[@CuirPhotodotNet]

@@Fashionindustrybroadcast .......i have seen worse...you know fashion people ...rabid to pounce on anything that is not perfect......i myself enjoyed the video...i saw some images that moved me greatly...i cannot stress enough who and what Halston was on so many levels.....he was the most coherent and consistent American designer to represent fashion......he made fashion modern...and sexy on every level....especially the way we saw it... wore it....the culture of it.....the Joe Eula illustrations...the Andy Warhol illustrations...his loving support of real American art culture with his support of modern dance pioneer Martha Graham....his giving Elsa Perretti her big break for Tiffany's....his consistent use of black models......draped gunmetal grey silk crepe de chine on a young braless IMAN......his ambisexual A list chic parties...he still is very directional....his influence is everywhere in American fashion still...but we still have a way to go on his class level....the saddest example....the immortal..RITA MORENO...who recently was very busy promoting the remake of the iconic movie WEST SIDE STORY...was LOANED...a MICHAEL KORS gown....if Halston was still alive....he would have GIVEN her a COMPLETE WARDROBE of clothes and HALSTON HIMSELF would have ESCORTED her at her events...and the 2 of them would have SNATCHED MAGAZINE COVERS...and NEWS REELS.....therein lies the difference....modernity...class...marketing....sensuality....American glamour...and great taste...with just a sweet dash of sex....no one did it better...than H.....

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

@@CuirPhotodotNet Michael Kors ewww ! His knock off bags are big in the night markets of Patpong in Bangkok. I pity the people who think they snatched something classy.

[@corneliuswashington-gp1we]

@@Fashionindustrybroadcast ....one of the things that really MOVE ME...is that he was TRULY MODERN on every level...he was the FIRST OPENLY GAY MAN who REBUKED THE CULTURE of the STRAIGHT WHITE MALE BUSINESS WORLD at THAT LEVEL...CULTURALLY...and created his OWN SOCIAL WORLD and RULED IT...and INFLUENCED EVERYONE ELSE in the GAME...he was KEY to the START of LGBTQ CULTURE....he was completely SELF DIRECTED and he KNEW HE WAS PLATINUM QUALITY and he did NOT TONE IT DOWN to APPEASE ANYBODY...and i ADMIRE HIM FOR THAT....

[@rl839]

He lived and tried to top Chanel. It didn’t work!

[@martinsancassani3207]

The Netflkx-show simply forgot to show the big work behind Halstons fame!

[@tam1729]

This is an example of why I’m not big on fashion. Its an industry under satans empire. This is the devils work.

[@dirtnbloodnotherkids]

I like fashion but yeah the modern industry is pretty satanic

[@andyroo9381]

Give me a break.

[@uberglamazon]

You must be from Wyoming?

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

I guess you would be big on Donald Trump and Epstein then.

[@tam1729]

@@Fashionindustrybroadcast nope. They are all the devils Children

[@janelle144]

I had to turn it off. Too much gay partying, etc. I wanted to see info about fashion, not that.

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

It was very cinema verite

[@beetleything1864]

Haha. Quiet the sight with ewan McG getting a good rodgering. 😵‍💫

[@Fashionindustrybroadcast]

@@beetleything1864 You wouldn't get that on the Disney Channel ! ;) Not to Obiwan Kenobi

[@AliEtSaMaman]

You want the fashion without the gay? Would you want a milkshake without the milk?

[@tomvalveede6808]

Gays, Gay Men have Always made Fashion and have created Style. This comment is Absurd. "There would not be a Hollywood without Gay Men!" Elizabeth Taylor. Glad you left, your sort is always so Negatively Biased! 🌈♥️🎶🎉🌈🎶🎉♥️🌈🎶🎉🌈♥️🌈

[@zaodizao]

There is no such thing as American fashion

[@catherder4747]

LOL! I've seen some of the shite walking down the streets of Europe,, South America, Asia and Australia. To quote a line from an old Rod Stewart song "With a face like that you ain't got nothing to laugh about."

[@catherder4747]

LOL! I've seen some of the shite walking down the streets of Europe,, South America, Asia and Australia. To quote a line from an old Rod Stewart song "With a face like that you ain't got nothing to laugh about."