Hattie Carnegie (1886 - 1956) Austrian Clothing Designer, Jeweller

Dress designer Hattie Carnegie holding sketches in hand & sitting amid bolts of material. (Photo by George Karger/Getty Images)

Hattie Carnegie (1886 – 1956) was an Austrian Clothing designer and costume jeweller.

Biography

Her family settled in the USA when she was in her teens and took the Carnegie name. In 1909, with a friend, she opened a tiny dress and hat shop, New York, known as Carnegie—Ladies’ Hatter. In 1918, it became the Hattie Carnegie company and expanded to several shops. Threatened by the 1929 stock market crash, Carnegie launched a ready-to-wear line by talented young designers or copied from French originals. The firm also produced costume jewellery. Many of her designers succeeded, including Norman Norell from 1928, Pauline Trigére in the 1930s, Claire McCardell from 1939, and Halston in the 1950s.

Works

1950s Hattie Carnegie Red Silk Floral Print Cocktail Dress

Late 1930s Hattie Carnegie Black Raffia Sprout Hat

Hattie Carnegie 1950s Silk Color Block Skirt

1930's Hattie Carnegie Black Oversized Bugle Beaded Clutch

1950s Hattie Carnegie Cotton Day Shirt Waist Dress

1930's Hattie Carnegie Mauve Straw Hat with Opera Mask Buttons

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing. https://amzn.to/3ElmSlL

Fashion Books – Amazon

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