Norman Norell

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Norman Norell (actually Norman David Levinson ; born April 20, 1900 in Noblesville , Indiana , † October 25, 1972 in New York ) was an American fashion and costume designer .

Past life and education

Norman was the son of a haberdashery dealer, during the First World War he was at a military academy. But he soon recognized his artistic talent and studied fashion design at New York's Pratt Institute . After he was accepted into the Parsons School of Design , Norman David Levinson changed his name to Norman Norell .

Costume designer and designer

In the early 1920s he worked as a costume designer for the Astoria Studio division of Paramount Pictures , where he designed clothes for Gloria Swanson and other silent movie stars . Between 1924 and 1928 he worked as a costume designer for Broadway , as well as for Brooks Costume Company and for the costume wholesaler Charles Armor . In 1928 he worked for Hattie Carnegie , and Norman Norell gained invaluable experience over the next twelve years. During that time he designed Gertrude Lawrence's wardrobe and costumes, including for the play " Lady in the Dark ".

Teachers and entrepreneurs

From 1943 Norman Norell taught at Parsons The New School for Design , where he had been a course participant twenty years earlier. Together with Anthony Traina they founded the fashion label Traina-Norell . Norell became known for his simple yet elegant wool dresses with a high round neckline. His designs can be seen in films, including "Separate Beds" (Original Title: The Wheeler Dealers , 1963) with Lee Remick and " A Touch of Mink " (Original Title: That Touch of Mink , 1962) with Doris Day . Some of his cocktail dresses can be seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Norman Norell died of a heart attack on October 25, 1972 in his New York apartment and was buried in the Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville.

literature

  • Georgina O'Hara Callan: The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Fashion and Fashion Designers , New York: Thames and Hudson (1998)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Norell, Norman
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Livingson, Norman David (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American fashion designer and costume designer
DATE OF BIRTH April 20, 1900
PLACE OF BIRTH Noblesville , Indiana
DATE OF DEATH October 25, 1972
Place of death new York