African American travel club takes tour of historic Lake Worth, FL for Black History Month 2012. Macy's Boynton Beach hosted Private Shopping & Breakfast!

On Thursday, February 16, 2012, for Black History Month, 59 members of the Retirees, Seniors and Friends took a custom Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Lake Worth, Florida (in Palm Beach County) conducted by the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. This African American travel club was from Broward and Dade Counties in Florida. It was a sold-out tour with a waiting list.  MLFH made arrangments for Macy’s at the Boynton Beach Mall in Boynton Beach, FL to host private Shopping & Breakfast for the group prior to their arrival to Lake Worth, FL.  Upon their arrival to Macy's they were greeted by Mr. Jim Rodgers, Vice President for that Macy's store.  Raffles were conducted for a chance to win exclusive beauty gift sets.  Plus, MAC Cosmetics offered complimentary mini-makeovers for the special guests. 


Mr. Jim Rodgers, Vice President for Macy's with Barbara Johnson, group leader for the Retirees, Seniors and Friends at Macy's-Boynton Beach, FL which hosted private shopping and breakfast for the group.

This was Retirees, Seniors and Friends second time taking the MLFH’s Narrated History Bus Tour.  Last year in 2011, they took the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Delray Beach, FL which included a visit to MLFH's exhibit galleries inside the Boynton Beach Mall and also a trip to the Courthouse Museum in West Palm Beach.  The group enjoyed the tour immensely and immediately scheduled a return visit for Black History Month in year 2012.

 

MLFH’s Narrated Bus Tours have been rated by AAA Mid-America Home & Away Magazine as the “Most Unique Travel Gem”.  This tour program was introduced in year 2004 and to date more than 7,000 passengers have taken the tour.

 

This African American travel club formed a few years ago and they’ve traveled to various historic cities in America including Florida.  This is their second group visit to Palm Beach County, Florida.  They represent a demographic of professional African Americans who have retired in South Florida.  Many of them are of Bahamian heritage and they also symbolize a migration that took place more than 40 years ago in the 1960s of educated African Americans who moved to South Florida for job opportunities from the island of the Bahamas, and also African Americans who moved to South Florida from Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

 

For Black History Month 2012, MLFH scheduled a tour of historic Lake Worth, Florida because it was first settled in 1889 by an African American woman named Fannie James who owned with her husband Samuel James (who were both former slaves) 186 acres of land that stretched from Lake Avenue to 12 Avenue South in Lake Worth, FL.  The impetus for visiting Lake Worth was for the group to tour the new home of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council at the Montgomery building because that facility is located on property once owned by the former slaves Samuel & Fannie James.  In addition, three other historic black sites in the historic black Osborne Addition neighborhood in Lake Worth were visited that included the 1922 Grant Chapel AME Church, the 1927 St. John's Episcopal Church and the Osborne Colored School.

During segregation, African Americans lived in a section of Lake Worth designated Osborne Colored Addition.  It was platted in 1917 and many of the early settlers moved from neighboring Lantana, Florida after Lantana passed an ordinance that prohbited black residents.  Grant Chapel AME Church's origins were in Lantana, Florida then it moved to the Osborne Colored Addition in Lake Worth. It is the first African American church in Lake Worth.  Grant also served as the first location for the Colored School in Lake Worth.  Rev. Rosetta Clark of Grant AME re-told the history of the church when the tour guests visited.

St. John's Episcopal is the second oldest black church in Lake Worth which was established in 1927. It is still an active church located in its original 1927 church building which survived the devastating 1928 hurricane.  St. John's served as the second location for the Colored School in Lake Worth. Descendants of the founders of the church provided the history of St. John's.  George Glinton and Richard Knowles are descendants of the founders who were originally from Long Island, Bahamas. They were joined by St. John church member Theodore Morris who shared the history about the Big Red Bell located in front of the church.  So the story goes, the historic Big Red Bell was created in 1904 for the Fire Department in West Palm Beach, FL.  The Fire Department donated the bell to St. John's in the 1930s.  The church had to raise $100 to pay for the transportation costs for moving the Bell to their church site.  The Big Red Bell is tolled for special occasions.

1927 St. John's Espicopal Church and the Big Red Bell in Lake Osborne (formerly known as Lake Osborne Colored Addition) in Lake Worth, FL. Church member Theodore Morris is pictured with the bell. The church was established by black Bahamians from Long Island, Bahamas.  It was visited for the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History tour of historic Lake Worth, FL hosted for the Retirees, Seniors and Friends travel club.

In 1947, a free-standing building was erected to serve as the Osborne Colored School for grades 1st thru 8th. After integration it continued to operate as a day school until the 2000s then it became a Head Start Center which is its current function.  The visit to the Osborne School was amazing where the tour guests were greeted with welcome signs and their visit included a hot meal and musical performance by school's children.  Former Lake Worth Commissioner Retha M. Lowe greeted the Retirees, Seniors and Friends members too.  Lowe was the first African American commissioner for the City of Lake Worth where she also served as Vice Mayor.  Lowe served on the commission with former Lake Worth Mayor Tom Ramiccio who also participated in the tour with greeting the visitors at each of the historic sites in Lake Osborne. At the Osborne School, Ramiccio gave a history speech about Lake Worth settler Fannie James who was a property owner in the area before it was even Lake Worth.  During his term as Mayor, Ramiccio was instrumental with documenting the historical contribution of former black slave Fannie James and having a monument built for her in Downtown Lake Worth, FL.

The people of Lake Worth treated the Retirees, Seniors and Friends with dignitary status.  There was a caravan of black and white Lake Worth residents and supporters who followed the bus transporting the African American travel club to each of the historic sites in Lake Osborne neighborhood in Lake Worth, FL.

The finale visit of the tour was to the new home for the Palm Beach County Cultural Council which is now located in the Robert Montgomery, Jr. Building.  The architectural style of the 1940s building is Art Deco which originally served as a movie theater.  Nichole Hickey, Artists' Services Coordinator for the Palm Beach County Cultural Council greeted the African American travel club, and gave a brief lecture about the history of the building and the purpose of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council. Then the travel club guests took a self-guided tour of the facility and shopped in the Gift Shop.  Mr. Bill Nix, Vice President for Government Affairs for the Cultural Council, also welcomed, greeted, and mixed and mingled with the special visitors during their tour of the galleries.  The Cultural Council provided for each tour guest a tote bag.

Palm Beach County Cultural Council Vice President Bill Nix with Mrs. Barbara Johnson. The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History made arrangements for the African American travel club Retirees, Seniors and Friends to visit the new home for the Palm Beach County Cultural Council for Black History Month.  This is the first African American travel club to take a tour of historic Lake Worth, FL

The Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce also gave Welcome Packets in tote bags for each of the Retirees, Seniors & Friends members that included a complimentary copy of the nearly 300-page history book about Lake Worth entitled LAKE WORTH: Jewel of the Gold Coast.

Welcome letters were received from US Congressman Alcee Hastings, Florida State Representative Lori Berman, Palm Beach County Commissioner Shelley Vana, Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo. Click Here to read their letters.

The tour was highlighted in news media in The Palm Beach Post and HOT 105 South Florida Tom Joyner Morning Show.

To schedule a private group tour of Historic Palm Beach County, FL contact the Museum at 561-243-2662 or e-mail: Tour@DelrayBeachBusTours.org. Visit the website at MLFHMUSEUM.org. Click LIKE for MLFH's Facebook Page.

Here are more photos:

Macy's Boynton Beach, FL hosted a raffle of exclusive beauty products for the Retirees, Seniors and Friends which is an African American travel club from Broward and Dade Counties.

Macy's Boynton Beach, FL hosted a raffle of exclusive beauty products for the Retirees, Seniors and Friends which is an African American travel club from Broward and Dade Counties.

Members of the Retirees, Seniors and Friends shop at Macy's  Boynton Beach, FL for their field trip of historic Palm Beach County, Florida conducted by the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

Members of the Retirees, Seniors and Friends shop at Macy's  Boynton Beach, FL for their field trip of historic Palm Beach County, Florida conducted by the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

MAC Cosmetics at Macy's Boynton Beach, FL provided complimentary mini-makeovers for the private shopping and breakfast event for Retirees, Seniors and Friends which is an African American travel club

Retirees, Seniors and Friends group leader Mrs. Barbara Johnson shopped at Macy's Boynton Beach, FL for the travel club's Black History Month activity in Palm Beach County, FL

Volunteers Dolores Silver and Carol Ellis for the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History helped with greeting and sign-in for the private shopping and breakfast event at Macy's Boynton Beach, FL for the Retirees, Seniors and Friends

Volunteers Carol Ellis and Dolores Silver for the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History with MLFH founder Lori J Durante, (center) helped with greeting and sign-in for the private shopping and breakfast event at Macy's Boynton Beach, FL for the Retirees, Seniors and Friends

59 Members of the Retirees, Seniors and Friends African American travel club took a custom tour of historic Lake Worth for Black History Month conducted by the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. The group seated in the historic 1927 St. John's Epsicopal Church. The Retirees group was so moved by the history of the church they took-up a monetary collection for St. John's.

L-R: George Glinton and Richard Knowles (seated) are descendants of the founders of St. John's Epsicopal Church in the Lake Osborne neighborhood in Lake Worth.  Church member Theodore Morris shared the history about the Big Red Bell on the church site

L-R: George Glinton and Richard Knowles (seated) are descendants of the founders of St. John's Epsicopal Church in the Lake Osborne neighborhood in Lake Worth who told the history about the church.  Church member Theodore Morris shared the history about the Big Red Bell on the church site

Former Lake Worth Mayor Tom Ramiccio greeted the African American travel club at their visit to Grant Chapel AME in Lake Osborne in Lake Worth, FL. Grant is the oldest black church in Lake Worth, FL.

The African American travel club visited  Grant Chapel AME in Lake Osborne in Lake Worth, FL. Grant is the oldest black church in Lake Worth, FL.

Rev. Rosetta Clark of Grant Chapel AME Church in Lake Osborne in Lake Worth, FL. Grant is the oldest black church in Lake Worth, FL

Welcome signs at the Osborne School in Lake Osborne Addition in Lake Worth, FL

Welcome signs at the Osborne School in Lake Osborne Addition in Lake Worth, FL

Former Mayor of Lake Worth, FL Tom Ramiccio at the Osborne School gave an interesting history lesson about the contribution of African American settlers in Lake Worth, FL.

Lake Worth's first black commissioner Retha M. Lowe with Dr. Herman Jordan who is a native of Lake Worth, FL at the Osborne School.

Former Lake Worth Commissioner Retha M. Lowe with Lori J. Durante, Executive Director of the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History at the Osborne School in Lake Worth, FL

A hot buffet meal was provided at the historic Osborne School in Lake Worth, FL for the Retirees, Seniors and Friends

A hot buffet meal was provided at the historic Osborne School in Lake Worth, FL for the Retirees, Seniors and Friends

Nichole Hickey of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council with Mrs. Barbara Johnson at the Palm Beach County Cultural Council located in Downtown Lake Worth, FL

The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History made arrangements for the African American travel club Retirees, Seniors and Friends to visit the new home for the Palm Beach County Cultural Council

The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History made arrangements for the African American travel club Retirees, Seniors and Friends to visit the new home for the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.  This is the first African American travel club to take a tour of historic Lake Worth, FL

The Gift Shop at the Palm Beach County Cultural Council. The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History made arrangements for the African American travel club Retirees, Seniors and Friends to visit the new home for the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.  This is the first African American travel club to take a tour of historic Lake Worth, FL

Palm Beach County Cultural Council Vice President Bill Nix with a tour guest. The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History made arrangements for Black History Month for the African American travel club Retirees, Seniors and Friends to visit the new home for the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.  This is the first African American travel club to take a tour of historic Lake Worth, FL

Palm Beach County Cultural Council Vice President Bill Nix with a tour guest. The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History made arrangements for Black History Month for the African American travel club Retirees, Seniors and Friends to visit the new home for the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.  This is the first African American travel club to take a tour of historic Lake Worth, FL

The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History made arrangements for Black History Month for the African American travel club Retirees, Seniors and Friends to visit the new home for the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.  This is the first African American travel club to take a tour of historic Lake Worth, FL

The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History made arrangements for Black History Month for the African American travel club Retirees, Seniors and Friends to visit the new home for the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.  This is the first African American travel club to take a tour of historic Lake Worth, FL

Boca Raton Museum of Art Trustees and Auxiliary Members took the MLFH Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Delray Beach & Visit MLFH

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History (MLFH) was proud to host the Boca Raton Museum of Art Trustees and their Auxiliary Club members for a private Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Delray Beach, FL.  

More than 40 members from the Boca Raton Museum of Art traveled on the bus for the tour which also included a visit to the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History.

The Narrated Bus Tour covers about 100 years of history and travels through five different historic areas and included for their tour Downtown Delray Beach, East Delray Beach,West Settlers Historic District, Frog Alley and the Pineapple Grove Arts District.  The historic sites visited were the 1936 Sandoway House Nature Center where they toured the center's amazing shell collection; the 1926 Colony Hotel and the 1929 historic church building for St. Matthew's Episcopal Church which is a church established by black Bahamian settlers to Delray Beach. The finale of the tour was a visit to the exhibit galleries for the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History.  Three distinct exhibits were viewed: Fashion Treasures; Queen of Prep: Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau; and Barbie: History, Fashions & More celebrating the 50th birthday of the Ken Doll.

The Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach was introduced in 2004 and to date, more than 7,000 people have taken the hugely popular tour.  In October 2011, MLFH introduced the new Taste History Culinary Tours of Historic Delray Beach & Boynton Beach, FL.  The first six-months of the culinary tour sold-out therefore, due to popular demand, the Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach were converted into the Taste History Culinary Tour which are now offered on both the third and fourth Saturdays of each month. The Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach is no longer offered on the fourth Saturday of each month but they are available for private group tours during the weekday. Call 561-243-2662 to inquire about your own private group tour.  The Taste History Culinary Tours are offered on the third and fourth Saturdays of each month, year-round plus private group tours are available for the culinary tour.Click here for more information.

Check out the photos from the private Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Delray Beach hosted for the Boca Raton Museum of Art Trustees and Auxiliary:




Shark Pool at the Sandoway House Nature Center



Anne Conti and Parrot at the Sandoway House Nature Center

Boca Raton Museum of Art member viewed the original Otis #2 Elevator at the 1926 Colony Hotel in Downtown Delray Beach

 

Doreen Alrod in the vintage lobby at the 1926 Colony Hotel



Members of the Boca Raton Museum of Art visit the 1926 Colony Hotel

Boca Raton Museum of Art visit the St. Matthew's Epsicopal Church in their 1929 building. Their orignal building from 1911 got destroyed by the 1928 Hurricane. This was one of their favorites visits for the tour.

Rev. Marcia Beam of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church is a descendant of the black Bahamian settlers who established the church.

Boca Raton Museum of Art Auxiliary Members visit the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History for the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Delray Beach

Boca Raton Museum of Art Auxiliary Members visit the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History for the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Delray Beach

Boca Raton Museum of Art Auxiliary Members visit the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History for the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Delray Beach

Anne Conte with Lori J. Durante at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History in front of the Palm Tree Mural

Lori J. Durante with Doreen Alrod at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

Mrs. & Mr. Conte visit the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History for the Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Delray Beach,FL

Members of the Boca Raton Museum of Art Auxiliary visit the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

World's largest fashion magazine, ELLE in United Kingdom, mentions Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History regarding style icon Iris Apfel

The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History (MLFH) has reached the Continent of Europe with a mention in an editorial in ELLE Magazine, the United Kingdom edition.  ELLE, a French publication established in year 1945, is the world's largest fashion magazine with over 40 editions printed in 60 countries.

The December 20, 2011 on-line edition of ELLE profiles famed interior designer and style icon Iris Apfel and her new M.A.C products.  M.A.C, a cosmetics line, has coupled its brand with a limited-edition Iris Apfel 20-piece collection available on-line.

The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History comes into the picture with the news story because back in year 2008, we launched a capital campaign and announced plans for a permanent building with a gallery dedicated to Iris Apfel and all her stylish possessions. Monetary donations can still be made to MLFH for the gallery plans.

Written by Amy Lawrenson, Here is the ELLE news story.

What's more is that Cindy Adams of the Examiner.com has penned about the Iris Apfel M.A.C Collection.  Read it here.



MLFH Executive Director/Chief Curator Lori J. Durante with Iris & Carl Apfel.

 The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History is also presently conducting a $12 campaign.

During this season of giving please consider a donation to MLFH among the gifts that you will give for the holidays. This year has been the 12^th anniversary for the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. 

But, like so many other organizations, MLFH is facing tough economic times and is in great need of your support.  Therefore, MLFH is conducting for the month of December a $12 campaign to raise $5,000 by December 31, 2011.  Donations can be made in any amount on-line.  Your support is extremely important.  $12 from you can make an important difference.  You can make your donation here in any amount.  Check donations can be mailed to MLFH at  P.O. Box 6127 , Delray Beach, Florida   33482.   Donations are tax-deductible.

Can you spare a $12 donation?  Donations can also be made by supporting MLFH with purchasing an annual membership.  Click here for the membership information. New members will receive a shopping coupon compliments of Hallmark at the Boynton Beach Mall. Please consider making the MLFH one of the charities to which you will give before the end of this year.


Your monetary support will help the operations of the exhibits and educational programs at MLFH.  Some of those programs include the MLFH school field trip program for children.  Back in year 2006, MLFH partnered with the Mathematics Department at the School District of Palm Beach County to develop the Mathematics in Design & History field trip program.  This math program infuses mathematical operations in the designs and shapes of historic items displayed at MLFH.  Students perform various mathematical operations that include Addition, Subtraction and Multiplication. For this math program, students also identify three-dimensional shapes, patterns and lines which all pertain to mathematics.

Visit MLFH at its current donated 8,000 square feet facility located inside the Boynton Beach Mall in Boynton Beach, FL USA  at 801 N. Congress Avenue, Suite 483  (Inside the Mall in the North Wing). 

MLFH is celebrating the holidays with a special Barbie Christmas for the Barbie history exhibit honoring Ken's 50th birthday; and also displayed is a Pink & Green Christmas Tree for the Queen of Prep: Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau exhibit.  And, opening this month is SCAASI: An Iconic American Fashion Designer.

MLFH's newest program is the Taste History Culinary Tour of Historic Delray Beach & Boynton Beach, Florida sponsored by Macy's. Due to popular demand, Taste History is now offered on the 3rd and 4th Saturday of each month plus private group tours are available.  Purchase tickets on-line.

Special thank you to Fred & Jean Sharf, the Patricia Ann Ravo Fund, the Boris & Edith Rueger Fund, US 1 AC Self Storage an the Simon Propert Group/Boynton Beach Mall.

For more information, call 561-243-2662 or go to MLFHMUSEUM.org

 

LIKE MLFH on Facebook at:

• Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History
• Lilly Pulitzer Fan Club at MLFH
• The Preppy American
• Taste History Culinary Tours

 

Season's Greetings, Happy Holiday and Happy New Year!

MLFH Presents its first Pop-up Museum Exhibit with 48-hour display of Arnold Scaasi gowns in the Recreation Center at Johnson & Wales University-North Miami Campus.

 

1980s Scaasi couture gown on display at Johnson & Wales University

SCAASI: An Iconic American Fashion Designer exhibition has been organized and developed by the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. Through a collaborative partnership with the College of Business at Johnson & Wales University in North Miami, FL, this Pop-up Museum Exhibit has a 48-hour display from December 7 – 8^th, 2011, at the school.

 

The exhibit showcases twelve couture gowns circa 1980s & 1990s created by Arnold Scaasi. They are displayed in The Recreation Center at Johnson & Wales University in North Miami, FL.  The Recreation Center has been transformed from the site of pool tables, card games and a laundry room to a red and black fabric draped gallery with red carpet as an ode to the design greatness of Arnold Scaasi.

When:

A Public Day for the Pop-Up Museum Exhibit will be hosted on Thursday, December 8^th from 2:15pm to 4:15pm at Johnson & Wales University.  Admission is Free.

 

Also on Public Day, Thursday, December 8^th at 3:15pm, fashion author Pamela Parmal will conduct a lecture about her book Scaasi: American Couturier.  The public lecture is free but books are sold separately and Parmal will be on hand to autograph the photographic book.  Reservations are required for the lecture due to limited seating.  E-mail: RSVP@MLFHMUSEUM.org or call: 561-243-2662.

 

Arnold Scaasi will be honored as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at a by-invitation-only awards ceremony at Johnson & Wales University.

 

Where:

The Recreation Center  (near the McGregor Library) at Johnson & Wales University  at 1701 N.E. 127^th Street, North Miami, FL

 

Sponsors:

Sponsors, to date: Fred & Jean Sharf, Patricia Ann Ravo Fund, Boris & Edith Rueger Fund, US 1 AC Self Storage and Aloha Cleaners.  Print News Media Sponsor is The Palm Beach Daily News

Special thank you to Johnson & Wales University in North Miami, Florida for the collaborative partnership.



1961. Arnold Scaasi. Photo by John French

  

About the Scaasi Collection at Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History is scheduled to present a feature exhibit of more than 20 Scaasi gowns opening on December 21^st at the Museum’s home inside the Boynton Beach Mall in Boynton Beach, Florida. The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History received that collection from the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. The exhibit has been curated by Lori J. Durante. For more information, visit MLFHMUSEUM.org or call: 561-243-2662.

     

About Arnold Scaasi:

Born Arnold Isaacs on May 8, 1930, the Montreal native studied at the Cotnoir-Capponi School of Design in Montreal and the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parisienne in Paris, where he apprenticed at the House of Paquin before moving to New York City to work with renowned designer Charles James (1953–54).  Shortly thereafter, Isaacs was turned around and became “Scaasi.” He gained recognition for his designs, and in 1955, the December cover of Vogue pictured a coat he designed for Dressmaker Casuals (a Seventh Avenue manufacturer), creating the buzz that helped Scaasi launch his ready-to-wear line the following year.  In 1958, the designer won the prestigious Coty Fashion critics Award and his success was assure  By 1964, Scaasi decided to devote his full attention to custom clothes, opening his couture salon.

 

Scaasi mastered draping and created refined silhouettes in sumptuous fabrics. His designs are intricately constructed, averaging approximately 120 working hours for each outfit and involving at least three different craftsmen.   They are made of the most luxurious, flamboyant, and expensive fabrics and furs, and feature asymmetrical necklines, pouffed sleeves, and billowy skirts in a wide range of bright colors.  Fur-trimmed gowns, feather-lined coats, and jewel-encrusted dresses are among the many extraordinary confections that bear the SCAASI label. 

 

Scaasi has received numerous honors during his long and successful career. In addition to the Coty Fashion Critics Award (1958), they include the Neiman Marcus Award (1959), three Chicago Gold Coast Awards (early 1960s), The Council of Fashion Designer of America (CFDA) Award for creative excellence (1987), and its highest honor, The CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award (1997).  In addition, he received in the National Arts Club’s Gold Medal of Fashion (2006), and The New York Landmarks Conservancy made Scaasi a Living Landmark of New York City.

 

Major retrospectives have been presented at The New York Historical Society, the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and the Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which staged First Ladies in Fashion: Featuring the Works of Arnold Scaasi.  His creations have also been included in numerous group exhibitions at The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of the City of New York, the Brooklyn Museum and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.  Scaasi has documented his unique experiences with famous women in his book, Women I Have Dressed (and Undressed!) (Scribner, New York, 2004).  He continues to design a costume jewelry collection, which is featured on the Home Shopping Network.

 

What is a Pop-up Museum Exhibit?

It has been recorded that the concept of the Pop-up Museum developed in the 1990s.  A pop-up museum can be defined as a short term exhibit existing in a temporary space. Pop-up museum exhibits are usually displayed in non-traditional spaces that are not museum facilities nor art galleries. Some exhibits designated as pop-ups have been mounted in places as varied as community centers or walk-in closets.  Simply, this type of exhibit “pops-up” for a brief period then it may move to another location. Hence, the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History's (MLFH) Pop-Up Museum Exhibit is a 48-hour display of Arnold Scaasi couture dresses displayed for a short-term in a non-museum space. The Scaasi display has been mounted in the Recreation Center at Johnson & Wales University in North Miami, Florida.  The Recreation Center also serves as the student laundry room which was transformed into a temporary museum gallery with the use of black and red fabric draping and a real red carpet.  The color red is Scaasi's trademark design.

 

 

Arnold Scaasi pop-up exhibit by the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History hosted at Johnson & Wales University in North Miami, Florida



Arnold Scaasi pop-up exhibit by the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History hosted at Johnson & Wales University in North Miami, Florida

 

Arnold Scaais passed away on August 4, 2015.  CNN reports:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/04/fashion/new-york-arnold-scaasi-death/index.html

August 4, 2015

Fashion Designer Arnold Scaasi is dead at 85

 

New York (CNN)Arnold Scaasi, the Canadian-born designer whose custom gowns graced celebrities such as Barbra Streisand and Elizabeth Taylor as well as a number of American first ladies, has died, according to friends and associates. He was 85.

Scaasi was surrounded by family and friends when he died from cardiac arrest early Tuesday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, according to his close friend Michael Selleck.

His prolific designs were celebrated in a 2011 exhibition at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts entitled, "Scaasi: American Couturier."

 

The exhibit grew out of the museum's acquisition of his archive and more than 100 custom designs for some of the 20th century's "most celebrated artists and most fashionable socialites, including Broadway, TV, and movie stars, such as Arlene Francis, Mitzi Gaynor, Barbra Streisand, Diahann Carroll, Mary Tyler Moore, and Elizabeth Taylor; Palm Beach and New York socialites including Mary Sanford, Ivana Trump, Joetta Norban, Gayfryd Steinberg, and Edna Morris; and first ladies Mamie Eisenhower and Barbara and Laura Bush," according to the museum.

One of his most talked about designs was a black sequined pantsuit Barbra Streisand wore to collect her 1969 Academy Award for Funny Girl.

 

His work was also featured at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History in Florida.

 

"The Arnold Scaasi designs definitely made a statement with high quality fabric and bold colors, and some of them incorporated geometric shape and ornamentation," the museum's executive director and chief curator, Lori Durante, said. "He had memorable personality ... a lot of spirit in his personality."

When Scaasi went into business in New York in the mid-1950s, he was one of few designers concentrating on custom-made clothing rather than ready-to-wear, according to the Boston museum. He launched his first ready-to-wear line in 1956.

 

Before Scaasi was 30, he had won the Coty American Fashion Critics Award for best designer of the year, and his designs graced the covers of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, according to the Boston Museum.

 

Scaasi has said that he preferred working directly with custom clientele on "luxurious and dramatic garments that suited their lifestyles," according to the museum.

 

"Mr. Scaasi was a character. He was a wonderful man and designer -- certain days I wanted to strangle him," said Glendina West, who said she worked for the designer for 40 years -- starting out housekeeper and eventually becoming his confidant. "He was temperamental, strong willed and always had to get the last say. And he was a wonderful boss."

 

The designer was married to his longtime partner, Parker Ladd, a former publishing executive who is 86, according to friends.

Scaasi published several books including a 2004 memoir titled "Women I Have Dressed (And Undressed)."

 

Born in Montreal as Arnold Martin Isaacs, Scaasi later changed his name.

West said a private funeral service is being planned for later this week, and a memorial service after Labor Day.