Vintage Oleg Cassini at Lord & Taylor in New York

Countdown to Olympus Fashion Week: Vintage Oleg Cassini at Lord & Taylor in New York through Feb. 8th.

Lord & Taylor is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Oleg Cassini's first Fifth Ave windows with Oleg Cassini: Then and Now-50 Years of Fashion. His Spring 2005 White Denim Collection and vintage designs are on display in the Fifth Ave windows of Lord & Taylor in New York through Feb. 8th.

Braving frigid winter temperatures, nearly 700 gathered on the 3rd floor of the store, including designers Joseph Abboud and Stan Herman, President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to celebrate with the legendary stylemaker tonight.

The line to meet the fashion icon began forming at 5pm, stretching the length of the building. Video clips of the former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy and the designer play on a plasma screen, just off the escalator. Photos of Mr. Cassini and pals taken during his years as a studio costume designer in Hollywood and at the White House are on view in a glass case.

Seated at a glass table, the designer signs copies of his acclaimed record of the Kennedy years, A Thousand Days of Magic . Vibrant and vital, Mr. Cassini turns 92 on April 11.

Born in Paris and educated in Florence, the Russian Count is the epitome of old world charm. His path to international fashion acclaim began at Jean Patou where he worked as a sketch artist. In 1936, he opened his own boutique in Rome, moved on to Hollywood to create glamorous costumes for film in the 1940's, then established himself as a successful ready-to-wear designer in the 1950's in New York.

Engaged to Grace Kelly and married to Gene Tierney, he transformed the face of American fashion when he was tapped by Jackie Kennedy in 1961 to be her personal White House couturier.

A Thousand Days of Magic is filled with original sketches and 200 color and black-and-white photos of the First Lady at the White House, as well as photos taken when she toured India, Italy, France and England. In his book, he details how he created the "Jackie look"-with pill box hats, chic suits and elegant strapless gowns.

In 2003, he was recognized with the CFDA Board of Directors Special Tribute Award for his contribution to American fashion. His signature styles for women during his illustrious career are the sheath, the A-line, the little white collar dress, the knit and the military look. He popularized the Nehru jacket, colored dress shirts and turtlenecks for men.

At tonight's party, Jane Elfers, Lord & Taylor 's CEO and President, presents the designer with an award in honor of his first Lord & Taylor windows 50 years ago.

While his Resort collection is exclusive to Lord & Taylor , Mr. Cassini's wedding gowns are available through David's Bridal, and are among the company's most coveted styles, ranking him the number one bridal designer in the country.

"I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to know Oleg Cassini, a truly modern renaissance man, who has made his passions his life work," said Lavelle Olexa, Lord & Taylor 's Senior Vice President of Fashion Merchandising and Public Relations.

On Mr. Cassinis behalf, Lord and Taylor made contributions to Artsconnection , a non-profit arts-in-education organization, to Chamber Dance Project , a not-for-profit ensemble performing new and contemporary ballets, and to the Lim School of Fashion .

Lord & Taylor
Oleg Cassini , Oleg Cassini collection at David's Bridal