From designer clothing to perfume, these fashionistas sure know how to create products that anyone could fall in love with. What’s better than that?
They’ve got Long Island ties.
Here’s a list of some fresh fashionistas who began, or continue, their life’s journey on the island:
Kenneth Cole
Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1954 and a graduate from John L. Miller Great Neck North High School, class of 1972, Cole’s “sole” is a Long Island native, according to Famous Fashion Designers. After graduating from Emory College of Arts and Sciences in 1976, Cole began his own shoe line under Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc, according to Industry.
40,000 sold shoes later during New York’s Market Week, Cole expanded his brand to feature clothing and other accessories for men and women. Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. now encompasses Kenneth Cole Collection, Kenneth Cole New York, Gentle Souls, Kenneth Cole Reaction, Kenneth Cole Unlisted and Tribeca. On top of this, he’s used his business to support social causes and spread awareness on issues such as AIDS and donates to many charities including Rock the Vote and Mentoring USA.
Donna Karan
Fashion surrounded Karan, born as Donna Ivy Faske, her entire life. Growing up in Hewlett, her mother was a model and her stepfather a suit designer, according to Biography. She immersed herself into the designer world early, dropping out of school at 14 and accepted into Parsons School of Design in New York City in 1968. Karan then got a job working for Anne Klein, eventually becoming associate designer.
Dressing for any occasion was easy after Karan’s DKNY launch in 1989. Her fashion line spearheaded workforce-wear with bodysuits, dress pants and more. Her brand soon expanded to menswear, perfume and other accessories. She co-founded the Hampton’s Super Saturday event where guests can purchase clothing, accessories and home goods from an array of designers including DKNY, Ralph Lauren, VINCE and more, where donations were made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance, according to Long Island Pulse. She stepped down from DKNY in 2015 and continues luxury lifestyle with her brand Urban Zen.
Michael Kors
Kors grew up in Merrick, and had an eye for fashion since he was little, according to their website. He told his mother at just five years old that she should cut off the bows on her wedding dress. He attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and in 1981, launched his own line, holding his first runway show in 1984.
His “all American sportswear” was designed for women to feel confident and in control, but his run to fame did not go without a few hurdles. He filed for bankruptcy in 1993 and eventually relaunched in 1997. Kors launched menswear in 2002 and expanded the brand to include bags, accessories, sunglasses, watches and more, befriending celebrities including Kate Hudson and Blake Lively, according to Long Island Pulse. Every third woman has one of Kor’s purses in her closet.
Steve Madden
The rise of Steve Madden was no easy “feet.” Madden grew up in Cedarhurst, where a store called Toulouse sparked his initial interest in fashion, according to World Biography. He attended two years of school at the University of Miami before returning to Cedarhurst for work, eventually moving to New York City to work as a sales representative for L. J. Simone where women’s boots were sold.
In 1990, Madden, with a little more than a $1000 investment, created 500 pairs of shoes to sell at stores around the city, and his Mary Lou design sold big, jumping to fame. The company began to dominate markets of women’s footwear, eventually expanding to men’s footwear, handbags, clothing and more. From 2002 to 2005, Madden served time in prison due to civil and criminal charges of securities fraud and money laundering. He resigned as C.E.O. and became the company’s creative and design chief. After his release, he maintained a crucial role in Steve Madden, and the company thrives as products are sold in 80 countries worldwide, according to their website.
Calvin Klein
As Brooke Shields said, “Do you know what comes between me and my Calvin’s? Nothing.”
We’ve seen the underwear advertisements, but how did Calvin Klein rise to fame? Born in the Bronx and now owning a home in the Village of Southampton, Klein graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1963 with an interest in women’s fashion, according to Biography. In 1968 he opened his first coat shop at the York Hotel in New York with $10,000. He secured a deal with Bonwit Teller, selling coats and dresses from his line.
Over the 1970s and 1980s, Klein expanded his brand to sportswear, blazers, lingerie, men’s underwear, perfumes, colognes and more, according to Business of Fashion. He launched fame and popularity with stars like Mark Wahlberg and Kate Moss, which helped save the company from possible bankruptcy in 1992. Calvin Klein Inc. was sold to Phillips Van Heusen Corp in December 2002, and Klein serves as a consulting creative director.
Ralph Lauren
Selling ties to his classmates between lectures, New York-native Ralph Lauren had a knack for fashion, according to Business of Fashion. Lauren grew up in the Bronx and attended Baruch College. He served in the military for two years before eventually joining Beau Brummell, a tie manufacturer. In 1967, he began his first neckwear line, labeling them “Polo,” according to a Ralph Lauren timeline.
In the late 1960s and 1970s, Lauren expanded his brand to a full men’s and women’s collection, Polo shirts and more, featuring his clothing in the 1974 film of “The Great Gatsby.” He sold $500,000 worth of ties in his first year and were displayed at many high-end companies including Paul Stuart, Bloomingdale’s and more, according to Business of Fashion. The Ralph Lauren Corporation became a public company in 1997 and celebrated 50 years in 2018, a brand now including home accessories and decor along with clothing. Stores across Long Island were opened in areas including Riverhead, Manhasset and Deer Park.
Tory Burch
“Xoxo, Gossip Girl.”
This 2007 show featured many of Tory Burch’s designs, one of the tell-tale signs of her success. Burch, a current Southampton resident, grew up in Philadelphia, Pa., and attended the University of Pennsylvania, according to Insider. She began her career writing for fashion companies such as Vera Wang and Ralph Lauren before launching her first boutique in New York City in 2004.
Back-to-back success with an endorsement by Oprah Winfrey in 2005 and creating her “Reva” ballet flat in 2006, her business was pushed into the spotlight. Burch expanded her brand to include shoes, handbags, clothing, jewelry and more, according to her website. She wants to empower women and support them with accessible capital, education and other resources, founding the Tory Burch Foundation in 2009. Her collections focus on color, travel and confidence for any woman, no matter their backgrounds. Burch’s main inspiration comes from her parents, Buddy and Reva Robinson.
Elie Tahari
Have you met former President Bill Clinton? Elie Tahari has. Let’s start from the beginning.
In the 1970s, Elie Tahari emigrated from Israel to the United States to begin garment work in New York City, according to his website. He brought popularity to tube tops and began his label in 1973. His first boutique was on Madison Ave, and since then opened up many places in New York, Boston, Atlanta, East Hampton, Las Vegas, Dallas, Aurora and Boca Raton, according to Famous Fashion Designers. Tahari is also another Southampton resident.
Tahari’s label expanded from womenswear to menswear and accessories. His pieces were featured in shows such as “The X Files,” and the Macy’s Passport show that raised over $2 million for AIDS research. In 1997 he co-founded Theory with Andrew Rosen and sold his shares in 2003. Tahari continued to expand his brand and took the label international, with locations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Istanbul and more, according to his website.
Anna Wintour
A leader in the fashion journalism industry. Born in London, Anna Wintour began her journey working at a boutique, taking fashion classes, and eventually working at OZ Magazine, according to the Wander Women Project. At just 21 years old, she became an editorial assistant for Harpers & Queen magazine before she moved to New York a few years later.
Wintour gained tremendous experience in the fashion industry with many bold roles. She became a junior fashion editor for Harper’s Bazaar, and worked for Viva, Savvy and New York Magazine, according to Business of Fashion. She was eventually chosen as creative director for American Vogue, became Editor-in-Chief for British Vogue and moved back to London. She pushed past the idea of material women, and ones that were now interested in business and topics not usually associated with women at the time.
Wintour eventually returned to New York in 1987 and was appointed as U.S. Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief. She currently resides in the Town of Mastic in Long Island.
