Born in Haynesville, Louisiana into a family of doctors, Geoffrey Beene became a pioneer of American fashion. After dropping out of Tulane University’s medical program, Beene moved to California, New York, and Paris, successively, to pursue a career in design.

Beene began an eponymous womenswear label in 1963. He became known for his use of the triangle and boomerang shapes, and his unique “full circle” approach to design. His clothes highlighted anatomy, speed, and unrestricted movement, all of which became themes of contemporary American fashion. Beene later inaugurated a menswear collection, as well as a more casual, less expensive secondary line, one of the first of its kind.

In addition to the eight Coty awards he received over the span of his forty-year career, Beene won four CFDA awards, including that for lifetime achievement in 1998. Several museum collections house his designs, including the Costume Institute at the Met.

Born: August 30, 1924
Died: September 28, 2004