Born 1928 as Donald Marc Blumberg in New Haven, Connecticut, American fashion designer Donald Brooks was creator of the “American Look” founded in the 1950s and 1960s. He had an immense passion for stage and film, designing well over 3500 costumes. His efforts were recognized by an Emmy Award and numerous other honors; he was also nominated three times for the Academy Award and once for a Tony.
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| Fashion designs by Donald Brooks in the 1960s |
Towards the end of his career, Brooks’ designs were placed in the 2003 Parsons exhibit. The galleries showed a range of his designs, one being his evening wear.
Brooks died in 2005, at Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, New York. These amazing photos captured portraits of classic beauties wearing fashion designs by Donald Brooks in the 1960s.
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| Isabella Albonico in silk dress printed in swirls of pale brown and wine with lotus tendrils, by Donald Brooks, matching turban by Mr. John, jewelry by David Webb, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, June 1, 1960 |
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| Marola Witt in a shimmering bugle-beaded top over a black silk crêpe skirt by Donald Brooks, silver fox stole by Gunther Jaeckel, coiffure by Enrico Caruso, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, November 1, 1960 |
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| Model in silk surah dress, python-printed in shade between coral and brick by Donald Brooks, Autumn Haze EMBA mink coat by Revillon, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, January 15, 1960 |
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| Sandra Wright in linen dress worn with linen coat by Donald Brooks, turquoise necklace by Brania, earrings by Scaasi, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, March 1, 1960 |
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| Sondra Peterson in daytime silk chiffon dress and jacket in fawn print with spottings of black, brown and white, by Donald Brooks, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, May 1, 1960 |
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| Isabella Albonico in slinky black silk chiffon evening dress, to belt or not, by Donald Brooks, earrings by De Mario, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, June 1961 |
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| Danny Weil in white star-spangled navy silk dress with matching scarf by Donald Brooks, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, January 1963 |
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| Dorothea McGowan in coal-black twill dress with décolleté slashed to a high lifted bosom, by Donald Brooks for Townley, veiled hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, April 1963 |
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| Mirella Petteni in black, sleeveless mink pull-over by Ben Kahn, worn over white silk brocade pajamas by Donald Brooks for Townley, bracelets by Apex Art, photo by Helmut Newton, Vogue, October 1, 1963 |
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| Dorothea McGowan in black herringbone late-day dress of Dacron and cotton blend by Donald Brooks for Townley, hat by Lilly Daché, jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, Vogue, April 1, 1964 |
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| Veronica Hamel in Autumn Haze EMBA mink coat by Donald Brooks, photo by Virginia Thoren at the Claremont Riding Academy, New York for Town & Country, October 1964 |
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| Bettina Lauer in a natural-brown Russian broadtail lamb suit designed by Donald Brooks, photo by Helmut Newton for Vogue, 1965 |
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| Cher in stripes of navy and white spinning from one shoulder to the floor in jersey by Donald Brooks, earrings by Michael Hic, photo by Richard Avedon, Vogue, November 15, 1966 |
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| Editha Dussler (left) and Antonia in silk chrome yellow-and-black striped djellaba dresses tucked high on the thigh by Donald Brooks, photo by Henry Clarke in the Valley of Goreme, Turkey, Vogue, December 1, 1966 |
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| Jill Townsend in black point d'esprit lace dress with gathered top, halter back and short skirt by Donald Brooks, photo by Bert Stern, Vogue, February 15, 1966 |
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| Pam Barkentin in long silk dress of pink and white swirls turning fuschia and blue under black light, open at the midriff and back by Donald Brooks, jewelry by Betty Milham, photo by Hiro, Harper's Bazaar, April 1966 |
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| Wilhelmina in red, white and blue wool check suit, short-sleeved jacket and pants disguised as a skirt, by Donald Brooks, leather cap by Adolfo, gaiters by Evins, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, February 1, 1966 |
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| Agneta Darin and Marola Witt, silk prints by Donald Brooks, photo by Hiro, February 1967 |
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| Benedetta Barzini in silk print dress in waves of red and striking pink on white floating from a gathered neck by Donald Brooks, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, January 15, 1967 |
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| Camilla Sparv in a sequined pantsuit- black Mao jacket and white puckered halter-top pants by Donald Brooks, shoes by Christian Dior, earrings by Hattie Carnegie, photo by Francesco Scavullo, Harper's Bazaar, December 1967 |
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| Joanna Pettet in romantic white organza gown, its enormous skirt is garlanded with green-stemmed white tulips by Donald Brooks, photo by Francesco Scavullo, Harer's Bazaar, December 1967 |
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| Model in black-and-white crêpe print tunic, short and full and quite bare by Donald Brooks, white straw boater by Anello of Emme, photo by James Moore, Harper's Bazaar, January 1967 |
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| Models in romantic, long culotte dresses of pale porcelain-blue against a vivid red topped by a short bolero (left) or a sleeveless coat, by Donald Brooks, photo by Neal Barr, Harper's Bazaar, March 1967 |
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| Samantha Jones in tiered black lace pyjamas by Donald Brooks, photo by Gianni Penati, Vogue, September 1, 1967 |
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| Simone d'Aillencourt in purple jersey dress by Donald Brooks, photo by Henry Clarke at Nivas Palace, Udaipur, India, Vogue, June 1, 1967 |
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| Simone d'Aillencourt in purple print pajamas by Donald Brooks, photo by Henry Clarke, at Nivas Palace in Udaipur, India, Vogue, June 1, 1967 |
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| Birgitta af Klercker in gold sequined evening dress by Donald Brooks, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, September 1, 1968 |
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| Cynthia Korman in enormous-sleeved yellow blouse over voluminous skirt, Ann Turkel in cobalt blue halter dress with deep scarf, both by Donald Brooks in silk, photo by Bill Silano, Harper's Bazaar, May 1968 |
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| Françoise Rubartelli in the Inverness cape-coat in pale taupe-brown fleece, with detachable cape by Donald Brooks, muff by Reiss & Fabrizio, photo by Irvng Penn, Vogue, September 1, 1968 |
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| Pat McGuire in silk dress, in beautiful shade of pink, lavished with jeweled and filigreed braids at the hem and the molded bolero jacket by Donald Brooks, photo by Neal Barr, Harper's Bazaar, October 1968 |
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| Regine Jaffry in cotton three-piece suit in authentic quilt pattern from early America by Donald Brooks, Harper's Bazaar, May 1968 |
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| Veruschka in silk brown crêpe two-piece dress with bare midriff by Donald Brooks, coral-red beads by Marvella, sandals by Latinas, photo by Franco Rubartelli in Sedona, Arizona, Vogue, June 1, 1968 |
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| Vicki Hilbert in coatdress by Donald Brooks at Jordan Marsh, Harper's Bazaar, March 1968 |
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| Model in hostess gown of a colorful chrysanthemum burst printed on the thickest satin of new Qiana nylon by Donald Brooks, photo by Neal Barr, Vogue, February 1, 1969 |
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| Pat McGuire in Avisco crêpe hostess pajamas by Donald Brooks, Vogue, February 1, 1969 |