Born to a Russian diplomat and an Italian countess, Oleg Kassini would become the fashion designer best known for dressing First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy during the Camelot years. Cassini’s career began when he sold his own designs in his mother’s dress shop in Florence. In 1936, he moved to New York City and worked for several Seventh Avenue manufacturers. Hollywood would soon call, and by 1940 he was working as a costume designer for Twentieth Century Fox, where he would meet his future wife, actress Gene Tierney.

Cassini opened Oleg Cassini Inc., his own Ready-to-Wear company, based in New York City in 1950. His designs were known for their clean but feminine aesthetic. Fame would come quickly when he was chosen to be the “Secretary of Style” to first lady, Jackie Kennedy. Cassini’s background in film was perfect for dressing the first lady, because he knew how to dress a woman for the cameras. In 1000 days, he would put together over 300 outfits, including Jackie’s infamous pillbox hat. A-lines, sheath dresses, clean geometric lines, and bold color would become her trademark look.

Oleg would go on to have several innovative contributions to fashion. After learning of the numerous leopards killed, due to demand for leopard coats made popular by the stylish first lady, he introduced micro-fiber fake fur in 1999. He would also be credited with the introduction of colored dress shirts for men as well as the Nehru jacket trend.

Oleg Cassini passed away in 2006, at his home in Long Island. His was an epic career, spanning over 7 decades, full of some of the world’s most stylish women. Oleg contributed to the style of one of fashion’s most referenced style icons, Jacqueline Kennedy, and that contribution will never be forgotten.