American fashion designer and eight-time Coty Award-winner, Geoffrey Beene will be remembered, along with Bill Blass, as one of the godfathers of American sportswear. Beene was also known as a creator of fashion as art. The seventy-seven year-old died in his home in Manhattan today from complications associated with pneumonia. He leaves behind a sister, Barbara Ann Wellman of Conroe, Texas.

Beene initially studied to be a doctor. Eventually, he followed his passion designing women's clothes.

Women's fashions were his focus until 1969 when he introduced his first men's collection.

In 1976, he became the first American designer to show his collection in Milan, Italy. His creations were intentionally simple and functional from sportswear to tuxedos and ballgowns. He is best known for his high-quality, ready-to-wear clothing.

Today, Beene's work continues to be on display in museums around the world.

Highlights of Geoffrey Beene's Life

1927

Born in Samuel Albert Bozeman Jr. in Haynesville, Louisiana, USA. He later changed his name.

1943

Graduated from High School and got a scholarship to Tulane College pre-medical program.

1945

Went the University of Southern California (USC), but instead joined I. Magnin department store in Los Angeles, in the display department.

1947

Moved to New York and studied at the Traphagen School of Fashion for one year.

1948

Went to Paris, attending the Academie Julian, and l'Ecole de la Syndicate d'Haute Couture.

Worked for the great designer, Edward Molyneux.

In Paris he was inspired by Elsa Schiaparelli after he saw her French haute couture collections.

1951

Returned to New York and worked for Samuel Winston, who at the time was head designer at Harmay, a dress house on 7th Avenue.

1959

Joined the major garment house, Teal Traina.

1962

Set up his own house on 2nd Avenue in New York.

1963

Showed his first collection.

One of his dresses landed on the cover of Vogue.

Jean Shrimpton, the top model of the day, was shown wearing his beaded top and white gabardine skirt.

He gained a reputation for high-waisted, braid-edged empire line dresses, simple shifts and dresses made from a T-line shape.

Beene's short skirts with long coats became

1964

Won his first of 8 Coty awards.

Won the Cotton Council Award.

1965

Won the Neiman Marcus award.

1966

Introduced grey flannel and wool jersey fabrics to ballroom gowns.

1967

Showed dresses printed in a houndstooth plaid inset with undulating bands of lace. This fresh approach inspired the use of lace.

Long black evening dress constructed like a cassock and worn with a Cure (priest) hat.

Selected to design the wedding dress for Lynda Bird Johnson, the daughter of then-President Lyndon B. Johnson.

1968

Designed his "Mafia" collection, pin-striped suits which he dubbed "Alice Capone" as a joke.

Made sequined evening gowns with football numbers down the front.

1969

Introduced his first menswear collection.

1971

Introduced his Beene bag collection, a less expensive, sportier line which became a big success.

1975

Launched his Grey Flannel mens fragrance; one of the only fragrances I've ever bought for a man.

Won the Marshall Field Distinction of Design Award.

1976

Became the first American designer to show his collections in Milan, Italy.

1987

Launched his Bowling Green mens fragrance.

1988

Hosted a fashion show to called "25 years of Discovery" which benefited AIDS projects in Los Angeles.

Showed his first collection in Munich, Germany.

Received the Designers of America Special Award for Fashion as Art.

1989

Opened his retail shop on 5th Avenue in New York.

1992

Received the Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree from Rhode Island School of Design.

1993

Won the Silver Slipper Award for exceptional creativity in fashion, from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas.

Honored by Tom Kalin with the making of a documentary short film called 30 starring Claire Danes as a commemoration of Beene's thirty years in the business.

1994

Honoured with a Retrospective exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

Received Award of Excellence by the Costume Council of Los Angeles County Museum of Art for his book Unbound

Scored first on creative innovation and long term value by the Fashion Group.

1995

Nominated as Designer of the Century and Beyond by the Fashion Group International.

1996

Lt. Governor of Louisiana proclaimed April 27th as "Geoffrey Beene Day" in the State.

From 1989 to 1997 the Israeli-born designer Alber Elbaz trained under Geoffrey Beene, before leaving to join Guy Laroche.

2000

Honored by the city of New York with a bronze "Fashion Walk of Fame" plaque along 7th Avenue.

Books about Geoffrey Beene's life:

Geoffrey Beene: The Anatomy of His Work by Brenda Cullerton

Beauty and the Beene by Laura Jacobs

Thank you Geoffrey for your colorful and comfortable contributions to the world, for all the men and women you have dressed in style over the years, and for the many fashion designers you have inspired, young and old!