B3 - LET’S TALK ABOUT DONALD BROOKS!

Bill Blass, Geoffrey Beene and Donald Brooks were known inside the fashion industry as "the three B's of fashion."

Donald Brooks however, never became as famous as Claire McCardell, Bonnie Cashin, Bill Blass and Geoffrey Beene, the design legends of his era. It is extremely surprising to me after pouring through pictures, press releases, bios and his work that Donald Brooks was not a HUGE star known to everyone!

According to the New York Times:

“Mr. Brooks emerged as American designers began to develop their own style during and after World War II, introducing more casual sportswear while stepping out of the backrooms of garment manufacturing to become fashion personalities with their own labels. “

Mr. Brooks's passion, however, and the majority of his career, belonged to stage and film costume design. I have been doing a lot of research lately and have been completely taken by Donald Brooks and his work and his incredible career...

Much more to come on Donald Brooks…. but in the meantime, enjoy these pictures from the archives...

B2: GEOFFREY BEENE -- ONE OF THE 3B's

A lot of you correctly guessed Geoffrey Beene!

Geoffrey Beene was truly an American master and was one Eleanor Lambert's favorite designers. In fact, the last fashion show Miss Lambert attended just after her 100th birthday in September 2003 was Geoffrey Beene and she placed an order as well!

So now we have 2 of our 3 B's...

Lisa Smilor from the CFDA guessed all three and so did an anonymous reader!

These are some pictures from Beene's early career...

B1: BILL BLASS -- ONE OF THE 3B's

If you guessed Bill Blass as one of "The Three B's" then you were correct! It was a tie between my friends Christian May of Masion 21 and Superstar Matt O'Grady!

Two more to go... who were the other Two B's...???

Hint: Miss Lambert did public relations for all three...

Keep guessing!

INSIDERS OF FASHION: THE THREE B'S

The break is over...

First came the emails on the blog, on Facebook and the Twitter.... "John Tiffany, please return to blogging..."

then my friends nudged me.... "John, get back to it, I really miss it..."

then... people on the street, at events and parties all around the city and last weekend people outside NYC asking what happened...

Empress of Fashion blog fans.... I hear you and I am back... and I plan to stay with you...

so... let's talk INSIDER FASHION...

Has anyone heard of: "The Three B's?"

take a guess... Who were the Big Three insiders of fashion -- whose names started with a B?

Who will be the first to guess all three?