the desinger
Life
Anne Klein was born as Hannah Golofski in Brooklyn, New York, in 1921. It was only in 1939
when she married her first husband (Ben Klein) that she changed her name to Anne Klein. During
the subsequent five decades of her life she garnered many acknowledgements of her position in
fashion industry, before dying suddenly in 1974 at the young age of 51.
http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/anne-klein/
The birth of a new house
The Anne Klein label was established in 1968 as a partnership with famed fashion guru Gunther
Oppenheim. A few years later in 1971, Anne Klein met Tomio Taki from Takihyo, who would later
invest much time and interest in the company. Initially, he wanted to establish a joint venture to
manufacture in the Far East with materials bought in Europe for sale in the US and Japan. But
margins were too thin. The interest remained however, and by 1973 Takihyo owned 25% of the
Anne Klein Company.
ttp://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Ki-Le/Klein-Anne.html#b
Achievements
Anne achieved a range of titles, awards and inventions over her life time. These range from the
quirky - in 1967 she patented a girdle designed specially for mini-skirt wearers to the highly public,
when she was awarded her very own bronze plaque on the “fashion walk of fame” in New York in
2001.
http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/anne-klein/
Other significant awards include:
 Mademoiselle Merit Award, 1954
 Coty American Fashion Critics Award, 1955, 1969, 1971
 Neiman Marcus Award, 1959, 1969
 Lord and Taylor Award, 1964
 National Cotton Council Award, 1965
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Klein
http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Ki-Le/Klein-Anne.html#b
Exhibitions:
 Versailles, 1973
 American Fashion on the World Stage
 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1993
http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Ki-Le/Klein-Anne.html#b
In many ways Anne Klein was a forerunner in the fashion industry. She established the concept of
separates dressing and advised women "Do not buy haphazardly, but rather with a theme of
coordination." She emphasised the interchangeability of clothing, and helped mark the beginning of
individual designer shops within retail environments when she set up Anne Klein Corners in major
department stores. http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Ki-Le/Klein-Anne.html#b
recent developments and other designers connected to the house
After Anne Klein's death in 1974 a number of famous names have worked with, and then later left,
her house to pursue their own careers. These include (until 1985) designers Donna Karan and Louis
Dell'Olio (winning several Coty awards in the process), subsequently followed by Richard Tyler,
Patrick Robinson, Ken Kaufman, and Isaac Franco.
Donna Karen exited the the House in a rather spectacular fashion by being both fired by Taki and
Frank Mori, and was then literally rehired the following Monday in order for her to begin a new
partnership. This became the highly successful Donna Karan New York line followed by the
diffusion line, DKNY.
It was only when Charles Nolan, formerly of Ellen Tracy, was hired as head designer in 2001that
the Anne Klein name returned to the catwalk after an absence for several years. But even he left
after 2 years and the replacements continued with Michael Smaldone, who only stayed for one
collection before moving to the house of Ann Taylor. The Klein house is currently owned by Jones
Apparel Group, who own the parent company.
http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Ki-Le/Klein-Anne.html#b
http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/anne-klein/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Klein
Anne Klein is also connected via a licence agreement to another famous fashion name, the
Luxottica Group. In addition to Anne Klein, the Luxottica Group also owns and operates designer
labels such as Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, DKNY, Miu Miu, and Prada.
http://www.thinkfashion.com/designer-brands/designer-profiles/anne-klein.aspx
Design style
Design features
 famous for matching
dresses and jackets,
 wasp-waisted dresses,
blazers
and
battle
jackets.
 also
made
hooded
blouson tops and slinky
jersey dresses.
 complimentary
belts,
chains,
shoes,
and
scarves
 The classic blazer was
the central garment with
shirt dresses, long midis
and trousers introduced
as well.
fabric
colour
Leather
Bright colours
this includes a wide variety of allows for mixing and matching
designer shoes. From platforms
and wedges to flats and
stilettos.
http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Ki-Le/Klein-Anne.html#b
http://www.thinkfashion.com/designer-brands/designer-profiles/anne-klein.aspx
design elements , innovation and style
Anne was particularly successful in the USA as a sportswear designers in the USA. Her clothes
were seen as “smart, practical and fashionable” www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/anneklein/ and "focused on the needs of the American business woman".
http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Ki-Le/Klein-Anne.html#b
She also invested and helped transform the junior sized market when she set up Junior Sophisticates
in 1948 with her husband. Before she started the focus was on buttons and bows but she turned to
designs with a more sophisticated adult look. This included recognising that clothes for juniors
should be designed for size rather than age. The first collection featured the skimmer dress with
jacket; full, longer skirts; small waists; and pleated plaid skirts with blazers.
Anne Klein focused on better quality whilst maintaining a similar look. She also developed (with
Taki) the bridge-line system. Depending on the garment, certain fabrics or manufacturing methods,
(or in some cases both) would change to offer a lower price for consumers. For example, a skirt
may be made from 8 leaves of fabric rather than 2. Jackets would be cut a little shorter in the back.
The resulting 3 inches of fabric saved increased productivity.
http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Ki-Le/Klein-Anne.html#b
Post Anne Klein
In 1974 Anne Klein died. Taki bought Oppenheim out. There was great contention between Taki,
Oppenheim, and Rubenstein regarding Anne's successor. Because Taki had the largest individual
stake in the company his equity position allowed him to promote the then assistant, Donna Karan,
who a decade later became a highly successful in her own right.
http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Ki-Le/Klein-Anne.html#b
Similaririties with my design
The trousers from the house of Klein feature long elegant legs, with minimal or no pockets. The
waist bands are high, and fitted. The waist band is near the natural waist line and features a
traditional fly zip closure.
Why I chose this designer
I like how the House of Anne Klein has clear, unfussy lines. The pieces present a more day time
look, compared to the more dressy formal pieces by some other designers. Trousers for me are a
practical choice, which should enable me to go about my daily life but at the same time feel elegant.
I feel the designs by the house of Klein manage to achieve both.
I'm not a person attracted to lots of detail, so the fact there are not loads of pockets or complicated
features is a plus, not just in terms of garment creation, but also the achievement of the overall
finished look. I also appreciate how much her legacy has helped contribute to the start of other
designer's careers. Her house has helped start many a famous name.