Born 1913 as Oleg Aleksandrovich Loiewski to an aristocratic Russian family with maternal Italian ancestry in Paris, fashion designer Oleg Cassini came to the United States as a young man after starting as a designer in Rome, and quickly got work with Paramount Pictures. He established his reputation by designing for films.
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| Fashion designs by Oleg Cassini in the 1950s |
Cassini became particularly well known as a designer for Jacqueline Kennedy while she was First Lady of the United States. The “Jackie Look” was to become highly influential and much admired. Among his inspirations were sports and Native American culture.
Cassini died from complications of an aneurysm in Manhasset, New York, in 2006 at age 92. These vintage photos captured portraits of classic beauties wearing fashion designs by Oleg Cassini in the 1950s.
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| Nina de Voogt in stylish jersey dress with a sweater bodice and textured wool jersey skirt by Oleg Cassini, turban by John Frederics, tan calfskin shoes by Andrew Geller, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, September 15, 1952 |
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| Linda Harper in high waisted sheath of grey tissue worsted by Oleg Cassini, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, December 1953 |
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| Model in captivating little suit of Celanese rayon in red or navy with striped halter blouse by Oleg Cassini, Vogue, April 1, 1953 |
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| Dovima in elegant black linen sheath, its only detail, two leather buckles at the shoulder, worn with platter of white organdy roses and organdy stole, by Oleg Cassini, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, June 1954 |
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| Gyongyi Armstrong in shirt dress of pearl-and-primrose silk taffeta print by Oleg Cassini, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, March 1, 1955 |
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| Model in luxurious EMBA Lutetia mink cape by Ralph Marano, brown and white tweed dress by Oleg Cassini, photo by Clifford Cassini, Vogue, September 15, 1955 |
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| Sunny Harnett in black and white bird's-eye tweed sheath with detachable clover-cut collar and few inches of a leather belt, by Oleg Cassini, toque by Sally Victor, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, August 15, 1955 |
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| Sunny Harnett in coat of pale beige-dyed Brazilian river otter lined in civet by Revillon, beige silk suit by Oleg Cassini, velours hat by Emme, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, December 1, 1955 |
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| Cherry Nelms in lovely cotton chiffon dress in black with coppery coin-dot stripes by Oleg Cassini, hat by Christian Dior-New York, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar U.S. June 1956 |
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| Model in black ribbed silk satin dress with streamers pointing up the pretty bodice line by Oleg Cassini, hat of point d'esprit, satin and glitter by John Frederics, photo by Leombruno-Bodi, Vogue, September 1, 1956 |
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| Lucinda Hollingsworth in black crêpe dress with portrait detail in black silk satin by Oleg Cassini, Harper's Bazaar, July 1957 |
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| Lucinda Hollingsworth in navy blue chiffon dinner-theatre dress, bare from the waist up in the back by Oleg Cassini, worn with chiffoned straw hat by Emme, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, March 1, 1957 |
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| Sunny Harnett in sheath dress by Oleg Cassini, photo by William Helburn, Vogue, September 1, 1957 |
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| Anne St. Marie in cotton and silk dress of loose nubby amber-brown mesh, double-buttoned and cinched by belt that appears only in center front, by Oleg Cassini, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, February 1958 |
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| Anne St. Marie in lace two-piece, the Angelique Look by Oleg Cassini, photo by William Helburn at Park Avenue and 63rd St. New York City, Vogue, October 1, 1958 |
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| Ivy Nicholson in dress by Oleg Cassini, hat by Sally Victor, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, April 1958 |
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| Ivy Nicholson in pure Irish linen sheath dress by Oleg Cassini, Harper's Bazaar, January 1958 |
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| Mary McLaughlin in wine-red and blue-green scarf print dress in silk surah with boat neckline and slightly bloused and belted by Oleg Cassini, t-straps by Bally, photo by Leombruno-Bodi, Vogue, January 15, 1958 |
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| Model in suit by Oleg Cassini, photo by William Helburn, Harper's Bazaar, September 1958 |
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| Sunny Harnett in evening gown by Oleg Cassini, Cadillac ad, Vogue, May 1, 1958 |
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| Evelyn Tripp in cocktail sheath with dramatically pinned decollete by Oleg Cassini for Sakowitz, Harper's Bazaar, September 1959 |
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| Isabella Albonico in dark pink coat by George Carmel over a blue wool and rabbit's hair dress by Oleg Cassini, hat by Emme, photo by William Bell, Vogue, January 1, 1959 |
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| Model in paisley-like print bubble dress with deep décolletage by Oleg Cassini, photo by William Helburn, Vogue, November 15, 1959 |