Legendary New York nightclub, Studio 54, was renowned for its celebrity guests. Two years after his diagnosis, March 26, 1990, Halston died of Kaposi's sarcoma.Įwan McGregor plays Halston in the new Netflix series. When his health began to deteriorate, he moved to San Francisco, California, to be closer to his family. Sadly, Halston tested positive for HIV in 1988. Their relationship spanned over ten years.Īccording to The New York Times, Halston was known to have an affair with fellow designer, Luis Estevez. Working as a makeup artist, Hugo became Halston's on-again-off-again partner.įor a period, they lived together in Halston's home, before Halston hired Hugo to work as a window dresser for his store. Halston met Venezuelan-born artist, Victor Hugo, in 1972. Halston and partner Victor Hugo pictured with models at the New York Met. He added: "I've always hated things that don't work."Īfter designing a gorgeous green wedding gown advertising exec Mary Wells Lawrence, Halston was commissioned by her husband, the CEO of Braniff International Airways, to create uniforms for the airline.Ĭonsisting of chic, muted tones, the comfortable yet stylish uniforms were in complete contrast to Emilio Pucci's kaleidoscopic designs from the mid-1960s. Speaking to Vogue, Halston said he did away with "all the extra details that didn't work - bows that didn't tie, buttons that didn't button, zippers that didn't zip, wrap dresses that didn't wrap." Halston's business was backed by Texan millionaire, Estelle Marsh, going on to design simple, yet beautiful every day pieces for the women of America. While his designs for the retailer varied greatly from his made-to-order creation, he was one of a few designers laying the groundwork for today's trendy athleisure wear.It wasn't until the late 1960s that he opened a women's clothing boutique on Madison Avenue - at which point, Newsweek called him the "premier fashion designer of America".
#Victor halston series#
The series focus shifts to how Halston's lavish spending, drug addiction, and turbulent personal life only further serves to diminish his cachet.
While commonplace now (Missoni for Target, Hermès, and Apple), this type of luxury brand collaboration was unheard of at the time, and the deal turned the fashion world against him. In the series, Halston doesn't show much enthusiasm for the endeavor, but in real life, he announced the collaboration himself on live television, and it gave him the opportunity he craved: "to dress every woman in America," according to Bustle. In 1983, he signed a $1 billion six-year deal with JCPenney creating the industry's first "masstige" line. The deal was meant to give Halston a much-needed cash infusion. Halston loved being surrounded by an entourage and a select group of models known as the Halstonettes who, according to CNN, traveled with the designer and accompanied him to functions "often in coordinating outfits he'd custom-tailored for them."įresh off his triumph at The Battle of Versailles, Halston sold his company and his name to Norton Simon in 1973 for $16 million. According to Vogue, frequent guests at Halston's 101 East 63rd Street home included Elizabeth Taylor, Bianca Jagger, Anjelica Huston, Cher, and model Pat Cleveland. Halston's inner circle is whittled down considerably in the series.
The house in Montauk that Halston supposedly purchased actually belonged to Warhol, and Halston rented a cottage, one of several that comprised the artist's compound. The two spent holidays together and gave each other lavish gifts. Warhol would photograph Halston's fashion shows, and he was a fan of the designer's menswear so much so that he created an advertising campaign in 1982. According to Slate, not only were Halston and Warhol close friends, but they were also frequent collaborators. His pop-art paintings adorn the walls of Halston's apartment (Hugo did, in fact, steal several of the artist's works from his lover), and his name and famed Factory are mentioned in passing.
Andy Warhol's presence is felt if not seen in Halston.
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