Cassini, Oleg

Cassini, Oleg, 1913–2006, American fashion designer, b. Paris as Oleg Cassini Loiewski. Raised in Italy, he came to the United States in 1936, where in the 1940s he designed costumes for Twentieth-Century Fox and other Hollywood studios. After returning to New York, he designed elegant ready-to-wear dresses, while continuing to design for television and Broadway musicals. In the 1960s, he became the official designer to Jacqueline Kennedy, the wife of President Kennedy, creating the “Camelot” look that became synonymous with well-crafted style. He was known for such looks as the sheath and A-line dress, the turtleneck look for men, and the Nehru jacket. He continues to be an active designer while pursuing such varied interests as car and harness racing.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

• • Cite
  • Print