Bernard Newman (18 November 1903 – 30 November 1966) was the head designer for Bergdorf Goodman and head costume designer for RKO Pictures. He designed costumes for some 35 movies, dressing stars including Ginger Rogers, Katharine Hepburn, Lucille Ball and Helen Broderick. He was posthumously included in the Costume Designers Guild Hall of Fame in 2004.[1]
Bernard Newman | |
|---|---|
 Bernard Newman, Ginger Rogers, and a seamstress in 1935 | |
| Born | November 18, 1903 |
| Died | November 30, 1966 |
| Occupation | Costume designer |
| Spouse | Helen Keeler (m. 1935, div. ?) |
Biography
Bernard Newman was born in Joplin, Missouri in 1903.[2] He studied in Paris at the Art Student's League. He started working at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury goods department store in Manhattan, as a window dresser.[1] He later became the head designer for Bergdorf Goodman,[3] and his clothes were worn by film stars like Kay Francis.[4]
Newman started working as costume designer in the film industry in 1933, mainly for RKO Pictures. In 1934, he was hired by the studio to design for the upcoming Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film Roberta. The film took place in a Parisian fashion house and was an ideal opportunity for Newman to display his talents. The major success of Roberta secured Newman the position of head designer at RKO.[5] Fifteen of Newman's costumes for the movie were reproduced and merchandised by the Modern Merchandising Bureau.[6]
Newman's films with Ginger Rogers were his most frequent and successful collaborations in Hollywood. His designs feature in four of her popular 1930s musicals with Fred Astaire, Roberta, Top Hat, Follow the Fleet, and Swing Time.[7][8] He created a blue dress with ostrich feathers, to Rogers's specification, which she wore in the "Cheek to Cheek" sequence of Top Hat. Its tendency to shed feathers as Rogers danced earned her the nickname of "Feathers" from the film's crew and co-star Fred Astaire.[9][10] Other films he worked on include Sylvia Scarlett with Katharine Hepburn and You Can't Take It with You.[1]