Arnold Scaasi was a Canadian-born fashion designer known for his glamorous evening gowns and exuberant personality. Born Arnold Isaacs in 1930, he was interested in fashion from a young age and studied in Montreal and Paris before working with the designer Charles James in New York. He changed his last name to Scaasi ("Isaacs" spelled backward) in the 1950s to sound more Italian and sophisticated.
Though he launched his first ready-to-wear line in 1956 and achieved success, including the 1958 Coty American Fashion Critics’ Award, Scaasi preferred and became famous for dressing celebrities and First Ladies in luxurious, custom-designed gowns. This focus on couture clothing was unusual in the United States during a time of increased emphasis on mass-market fashion. He was part of the late 1950s/early 1960s shift in the fashion world, with New York rising in prominence compared to Paris, and was a founding member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
First Lady Laura Bush wearing a Scaasi gown, Christmas 2002
His flamboyant garments frequently involved bold, brilliant colors and embellishments like feathers, beads, ruffles, and sequins. One of his most famous outfits was the sheer pantsuit Barbra Streisand wore in 1969 to collect her Academy Award for Funny Girl. While his label grew to encompass multiple lines, including men’s wear, leisure wear, and perfume, Scaasi flourished primarily by making dramatic party gowns for wealthy women. He continued working for decades and in 1996 received the Council of Fashion Designers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of his many accomplishments.
Scaasi closed his dress business in 2010, married his longtime partner, Parker Ladd, in 2011, and died of cardiac arrest in 2015.
To learn more about Scaasi, check out Scaasi: A Cut Above from the Haggerty Library!
