Adrian: Silver Screen to Custom Label
Adrian's great fashion influence is disproportianate to his name recognition. At his peak as head costume designer at MGM in the 1930s his looks for the film goddesses influenced how women wanted to look throughout the modern world. For the first time, even the Paris couture emulated his looks and those of the other Hollywood designers. And American women entering the workplace for the first time took their fashion cues from Adrian-dressed stars like Joan Crawford. When Adrian left MGM and opened his own business as the U.S. entered WWII, many thought he was crazy. He succeeded in using his endless creativity in the designs for his couture and ready-to-wear business, and  American women could now aspire to be dressed by the designer to the stars. His attraction to contrast and polarity, his myriad uses of beauty, his centered design philosophy, ethnic influences, and his keen wit,  informed  most of his design. Adrian closed his own business rather than have any other designer involved, and his name was almost forgotten. But we have many great films to remind us now of his stunning creations, and which serve as endless inspiration for modern designers.